Accessories - Cascading Desktop Context Menu

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    Accessories - Cascading Desktop Context Menu

    Accessories - Cascading Desktop Context Menu

    How to Add a "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Add a "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7

       Information
    This will show you how to add or remove a cascading (expandable) Accessories menu to the desktop context menu for all users in Windows 7.

    This is the same folder and items as in the Start Menu - All Programs - Accessories folder.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

       Note
    By default, the Windows Mobility Center context menu item below will only run on laptops, notebooks, and tablet PCs.

    However, if you would like to enable the Windows Mobility Center to be able to run on a desktop computer, then see:

    Windows Mobility Center - Enable on Desktop Computer


    EXAMPLE: Accessories Cascading Context Menu
    NOTE: The far left screenshot is for the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions. The middle screenshot is for the Windows 7 Home Premium editions. The far right screenshot is for the Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions.
    Accessories - Cascading Desktop Context Menu-example-1.jpg

    Accessories - Cascading Desktop Context Menu-example-2.jpg

    Accessories - Cascading Desktop Context Menu-example-3.jpg

    Here's How:
    1. Add "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu
    NOTE: Use this download if you have Windows 7 Starter or Home Basic edition installed.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    1-Add_Accessories_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
    B) Go to step 5.
    2. Add "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu
    NOTE: Use this download if you have Windows 7 Home Premium edition installed.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    2-Add_Accessories_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
    B) Go to step 5.
    3. Add "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu
    NOTE: Use this download if you have Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate, or Enterprise edition installed.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    3-Add_Accessories_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
    B) Go to step 5.
    4. Remove "Accessories" Cascading Desktop Context Menu
    NOTE: This is the default setting, and is for all editions of Windows 7.
    A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
    Remove_Accessories_from_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg
    5. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

    6. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

    7. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

    8. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
    That's it,
    Shawn








  1. Posts : 41
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64-bit SP1
       #1

    Another Great Tutorial


    Another Great Tutorial... Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,978
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    You're most welcome Kevin. :)
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #3

    reg entries gone missing


    Ok Brink here is a strange one.
    I recently applied this reg hack to my win7u x64 system.
    Worked like a charm for a while - but now the reg entries have gone missing...

    I performed the hack manually (being careful of course) using regedit.
    Got myself a great little Applications menu going for several days. Then installed one of NirSoft's excellent tools (specifically view web cache)
    It didn't do what I wanted so I uninstalled it and rebooted.

    The HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Accessories entry is still present and accounted for but...

    The HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell entries I manually added have disappeared entirely from the registry - yet the functionality of the "Applications" in the desktop context menu still work, icons are still present and as long as I don't add any more it all continues to work somehow.

    Deep searches of the registry don't show up the CommandStore\shell entries at all - which is strange given the paths must be held somewhere for the applications and associated icons to be found.

    Strangely enough my reg key for "Explorer" shows up as lower case "explorer". Don't think this is related because a system image restore from a backup well before this reg hack was done shows a lower case "explorer" in the reg key. Only a clean install image shows it as an upper case "Explorer" key.

    Worse still if I now try to add any additional entries to the Applications list the newly added application does not show up in the context menu (indicating it is not registered) even though the entry under the CommandStore\shell key is present (but the previous ones still AWOL).

    I have also checked under the WoW6432Node and that is the same (as would be expected given it is a mirror of the normal reg entries as far as I understand).

    Anyone seen this before or have any suggestions?
    Code:
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Apps]
    "MUIVerb"="Applications"
    "SubCommands"="explorer;maxthon;firefox;|;outlook;paintxp;cmd;|;others"
    "Position"="Top"
    explorer key that is missing the entries that were manually entered previously...
    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer]
    "ListViewPopupControl"="{8be9f5ea-e746-4e47-ad57-3fb191ca1eed}"
    "BrowserCFCreator"="{57f8510b-a5e2-41da-a8f0-8a5ae85dfffd}"
    "GlobalFolderSettings"="{EF8AD2D1-AE36-11D1-B2D2-006097DF8C11}"
    "LVPopupSearchControl"="{fccf70c8-f4d7-4d8b-8c17-cd6715e37fff}"
    "FileOpenDialog"="{DC1C5A9C-E88A-4dde-A5A1-60F82A20AEF7}"
    "IconUnderline"=dword:00000002
    "GlobalAssocChangedCounter"=dword:0000006d
    <...snip...>
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommandStore]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommandStore\shell]
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommandStore\shell\Windows.burn]
    "CanonicalName"="{c501e86c-b7e3-4667-95c5-73872080c0a8}"
    "MUIVerb"="@shell32.dll,-31352"
    "Icon"="shell32.dll,-320"
    "Description"="@shell32.dll,-31383"
    "CommandStateHandler"="{3756e7f5-e514-4776-a32b-eb24bc1efe7a}"
    "CommandStateSync"=""
    <... snip other Windows.* entries...>
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommandStore\shell\Windows.burn\command]
    "DelegateExecute"="{b91a4db4-3630-11dc-9eaa-00161718cf63}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommandStore\shell\Windows.undo]
    "CanonicalName"="{9220429d-663d-4b4e-be56-6be053c9a71c}"
    "MUIVerb"="@shell32.dll,-31261"
    "Description"="@shell32.dll,-31262"
    "CommandStateHandler"="{3756e7f5-e514-4776-a32b-eb24bc1efe7a}"
    "CommandStateSync"=""
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommandStore\shell\Windows.undo\command]
    "DelegateExecute"="{50cc2c18-b48c-4764-8f3f-0331ed295ce4}"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\CommonPlaces]
    <... snip ...>
    Last edited by Brink; 26 Jun 2011 at 22:33. Reason: removed broken link
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,978
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello Steve, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    The entries you mention in the code box you posted above are not entered properly, and is not included in the REG file download in this tutorial. Since it was not entered properly in the registry, this is why you are having this issue.

    You should either delete what you manually entered in the registry, or do a system restore using a restore point dated before you did this to undo it.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #5

    I seriously need a truckload of dead chickens, voodoo dolls and a couple of high level priests qualified to do exorcisms.

    Ok as my system config mentions I have two identical laptops (the second one is for business continuity disaster recovery or just trying Win7 things out before I mess with my production laptop). As part of the DR plan I make a system image of the primary laptop then load that system image onto the secondary laptop.

    Now the original registry hack was done on the primary laptop. It was the one that "lost" the additional CommandStore\shell reg entries.

    I thought ok I will apply the supplied reg hack download files to the secondary laptop (as Brink suggested). The hack worked perfectly as I would expect. Now what is wierd and requires the dead chickens is that I had the primary laptop running regedit next to the secondary laptop.

    When I confirmed that the reg hack file had done its job on the secondary laptop I went back to the primary laptop and to my surprise the CommandStore\shell entries that were previously missing had magically (que sound of Twilight Zone doo doo doo doo) reappeared.

    Before anyone wonders - I manually change the computer name and IP addresses (I use static IP) after I load the system image of the primary laptop on the secondary laptop. So there is (as far as I can tell no name or network overlap between them).

    I am totally mistified...
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,978
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Steve,

    You got me as well, but I'm happy to hear that they are back and working for you now.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #7

    bug in regedit?


    Ok I think the two laptops talking to each other was a furphy (for anyone old enough to remember the movie Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) - IMDb - the quote "WARN: THERE IS ANOTHER SYSTEM" comes to mind LOL).

    However...
    First up I am running Win7 Ultimate 64 bit - not 32 bit (not sure if this has anything to do with the issue but it is worth stating it). The 64 bit registry has a 32 bit "reflection" system in it - cf WoW6432Node which according to Microsoft has a "last writer wins" setup cf:
    Registry changes in x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 and in Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

    If I run Brink's script the context menu appears and works as expected, but it would seem if the registry key for "explorer" is in lower case then the added sub keys don't appear. For some strange reason the registry key turned upper case "Explorer" did appear at one stage (clean install shows it as Explorer) in which case the added sub keys under CommandStore\shell are visible.

    If I try to add the keys manually (as my original setup had done) then the context menu fails to work (sometimes...)

    If I make my own context menu reg script (see below) it works properly but if the reg key for CurrentVersion\Explorer shows as CurrentVersion\explorer then the added subkeys are not visible.

    From what I understand the registry is not case sensitive, so I can only put this down to one of the following:
    1. a bug in regedit for 64 bit systems
    2. the lookup mechanism for the DeskTopBackground\Applications\SubCommands is somehow hard coded for a match on "Explorer" not "explorer"
    3. not enough dead chickens...
    4. there is some application/service on my systems that continually updates the registry in some strange way.

    I would be interested to hear if anyone else's "explorer" entry is starts with a lower case "e" instead of an upper case "E".
    The key in question is:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

    My own modified version of Brinks context menu code
    Code:
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Applications]
    "MUIVerb"="Applications"
    "SubCommands"="explorer;maxthon;|;cpanel;outlook;|;faststone;paintxp;|;others;run"
    "Position"="Top"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\explorer]
    @="Explorer"
    "icon"="C:\\Windows\\explorer.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\explorer\command]
    @="C:\\Windows\\explorer.exe C:\\Users\\stephen"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\maxthon]
    @="Maxthon"
    "icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Maxthon\\Maxthon.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\maxthon\command]
    @="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Maxthon\\Maxthon.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\cpanel]
    @="Control Panel"
    "icon"="C:\\Windows\\System32\\control.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\cpanel\command]
    @="C:\\Windows\\System32\\control.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\outlook]
    @="Outlook Express"
    "icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\Outlook.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\outlook\command]
    @="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Microsoft Office\\Office14\\Outlook.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\faststone]
    @="FastStone"
    "icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\FastStone Image Viewer\\FSViewer.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\faststone\command]
    @="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\FastStone Image Viewer\\FSViewer.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\paintxp]
    @="Paint (XP)"
    "icon"="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\MSPaintXP\\mspaintxp.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\paintxp\command]
    @="C:\\Program Files (x86)\\MSPaintXP\\mspaintxp.exe"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\others]
    @="other apps"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\others\command]
    @="C:\\Windows\\explorer.exe C:\\Desktop\\apps"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\run]
    @="Run"
    "icon"="imageres.dll,-100"
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\run\command]
    @="RunDLL32 shell32.dll,#61"
    Oh one thing I did learn is that you need to escape backslashes in reg scripts ie. \ becomes \\
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,978
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Steve,

    By default, it's "Explorer" instead of "explorer". The REG downloads in the tutorial all use Explorer.

    Yeah \ vs \\ is a bit tricky. For a REG file, you must use \\ to add a path, while only \ if you are entering it directly while in regedit.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium
       #9

    I am really pleased to see such great things here. Thanks for these shares.
      My Computer


 
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