Select all - Add to Context Menu in Vista

How to Add "Select all" to Context Menu in Vista​


information   Information
By default in Vista, you have to either click on Edit (Menu bar) and Select all or press CTRL+A to select all items in a Windows Explorer window.

This will show you how to add Select all to the context menu of the desktop and blank area in a folder window for all users to be able to easily select all items in a Windows Explorer window in Vista.

While you must be logged in as an administrator to add or remove the context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu.


EXAMPLE: "Select all" added to context menu
NOTE: You would right click on a empty area on the desktop and in a folder window to see these.

Add_Desktop.jpgAdd_Folder.jpg​






OPTION ONE
To Add "Select all" to Context Menu

1. Click on the Download button below to download the .zip file below, and save it to your desktop.​
​
Add_Select_all.zip​
​
download​

2. Unblock the .zip file.​
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3. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Add_Select_all.reg and selectall.vbs files to your desktop.​
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4. Move the selectall.vbs file into your C:\Windows folder. If prompted, click on Continue to approve.​
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5. Double click on the Add_Select_all.reg file to merge it.​
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6. If prompted, click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.​
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7. Select all has now been added to the context menu in Vista.​
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8. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded files.​
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OPTION TWO
To Remove "Select all" from Context Menu

NOTE: This is the default setting.
1. Click on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and save it to your desktop.​
​
Remove_Select_all.reg​
​
download​

2. Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.​
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3. If prompted, click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and OK.​
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4. Open the C:\Windows folder, and delete the selectall.vbs file.​
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5. Select all has now been removed from the context menu in Vista.​
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6. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.​
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That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

 

Attachments

Last edited by a moderator:
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Thanks for this. I thought it looked like a good idea so I installed the .reg file and "Select all" was added to the context menu. Clicked an empty area in the window and tried it but got the following error:

"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permission to access the item."

Select all still works with Ctrl + A and from the Edit menu. Any idea why it won't work? I have full permissions on the folder in question.

Vista Home Basic 32 bit
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Walt,

Does "Select all" work properly for you for other locations, and does it only happen for this one folder?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
Hi Brink, thanks for your reply.

I found another site that has a similar reg edit and it's working for me.

** REMOVED **

It has a .vbs file you add to C:\Windows. The .reg file also looks different from yours. Not really sure why one works and the other doesn't. I'm pretty sure I didn't try yours on any other folders.
 

My Computer

System One

The tutorial is working just fine for me, so I'm not sure why it's not for you. :huh:

The differences is that there option uses a .vbs file to select all using send key, while mine uses the native select all command.

Tutorial updated back to the original method to work better.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2, 4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2, 8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system, Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam, HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn, APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI, Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy Y0F94AV
    CPU
    i7-7500U @ 2.70 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB DDR4-2133
    Sound Card
    Conexant ISST Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.3" UHD IPS touch
    Screen Resolution
    3480 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    512 GB M.2 SSD
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