Start Menu - Customize Context Menu

How to Customize the Start Menu Context Menu in Vista​

information   Information
When you right click on the Start Menu button (orb) or in the Start menu, you will see the context menu with it's default menu options. This will let you add your own shortcut items to this context menu.

EXAMPLE: Before and After Start Menu Button (Orb) Context Menu
Start_Menu_Before.jpgStart_Menu_After.jpg​
​

Here's How:
NOTE: For an example, I will add NotePad to the Start Menu context menu. You can add whatever program shortcuts you like and as many program shortcuts you would like.
1. Open the Start Menu.​
​
2. In white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.​
​
3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​
​
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: It's there, you just have to scroll past all the file extensions. ;)​
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Shell​
​

5. In left pane, right click on Shell and click on New and Key.​
Shell_Reg.jpg​
​

6. Type the name you want to appear in the context menu and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: This will usually be the name of the program. For example: NotePad.​
New_Key_Shell.jpg​
​

7. In left pane, right click on the program name (Ex: NotePad) from step 6and click on New and Key. (See screenshot below)​
NotePad_Key.jpg​
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8. Type Command and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​
New_Key_NotePad.jpg​
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9. In the right pane of the Command Key, right click on (Default) and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)​
Command.jpg​
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10. Type in the full path of the program you want to add a shortcut for and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: For the NotePad example, you would type: C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe​
Modify_Command_Default.jpg​
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11. The registry should now look similar to this, with the NotePad example.​
Command2.jpg​
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12. Close regedit.​
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13. Right click on the Start Menu button (orb) and see the item in the Context Menu. (See screenshot below)​
NOTE: You may need to click on a empty space on the desktop and press F5 to refresh the desktop first.​
Start_Menu_After.jpg​
​

That's it,
Shawn




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I am trying to get the windows explorer shortcut to show up here, but cannot find the location of explorer.exe. %SystemRoot% does not seem to work. Any idea where Windows Explorer can be found? I want to do this since it is impossible to configure the right-click -> Explore option to open to a desired folder. Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

I also want to find out how to add a program to the right click menu within windows explorer, and to open the folder that I right clicked on within windows explorer.
e.g. I use a music file tagging utility that used to have a right click menu in XP, but has problems with this in Vista 64 bit. It used to open the folder in the program when I right clicked on a folder and chose this program. Any idea how to do this now in Vista 64? Please let me know.
 

My Computer

System One

Hello Supsuper.

Welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

Q1) The location for the Windows Explorer EXE is at C:\Windows\explorer.exe .

Q2) You can right click on the file and use Open With to have that file open in a selected program that supports the file extension type. This tutorial will show you how to if needed.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

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
Re: Windows Explorer Default Opening

Despite what most people say I have discovered a way to right click - start - explore to open where you want however it does require a registry edit.

1. open registry editor and go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\Shell\Explore\Command
2. rename DelegateExecute to Old-DelegateExecute (or something similar just in case)
3. I added new string value and left the defaults but this step is probably not neccesary
4. Change the value of (Default) REG_EXPAND_SIZE to the path you want as in instuctions above. Mine was %SystemRoot%\Explore.exe /e, c:\

works great!
 

My Computer

System One

Great find Steve, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn
 

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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