The Often Overlooked Context Menu Part 3

Removing Unwanted Commands from Desktop context Menus

In my previous article I explained how to add additional commands to the Desktop Context menu. Now I’ll show you how to remove them. One of the System hacks, “Create Shortcuts to Themes, Desktop Background, Screen Saver, Display Settings and More” from Vishal’s website, “Tweaking with Vishal”, provided me with seven useful hacks that I installed on my computer.

The illustration below shows you the changes I made when adding these additional commands to the Desktop Context menu.

Before and After

Once these commands are added and if you no longer want them, you have to get rid of them all in one go. To do this you need to access the downloaded zip file and double-click on Remove Options.reg. This removes them all!

The Undo Option

Working with the Register

Unfortunately, I know of no way of removing them individually. It’s a case of all or nothing! I know these hacks are secreted somewhere in the System Register but I‘m blowed if I can find them.

From what I’ve gathered many context menu items are not stored in a single location.

Note: Many can be found by looking at one of these keys:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\ShellEx

Note: Items that are specific to folders can usually be found in one of these keys instead:

• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
• HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

Hacking into System Register to Remove a Registry Key

As long as you know exactly where to go in the System Register you are quite safe to perform this next task.

When I installed this system hack Adding the Device Manager and Control Panel to my Desktop Context menu; it is available from this hyperlink windows-vista-desktop-context-menu.zip; I was able to go into the Registry and remove each command.

These are the two commands I added to my Desktop Context menu.

Two new options!

Once you add these commands to your Desktop, you will have to open the System Register to remove them.

1. Type regedit in the Start Menu Search box.
2. When it appears at the top of the Search Box press the Enter key.
3. The Registry Editor opens.
4. Click on HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT to open.
   

   System Register's Root Keys

5. Now scroll down to find go to following key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

New commands located!

Note: If you’ve never been into System Register before be prepared for a surprise. It contains a huge number of system keys and entries controlling all aspects of your computer. Extreme caution is required when working in the System Register. Never delete keys willy-nilly!

6. Here you will see the two commands you’ve added – Display Settings and Gadgets.

7. Right click on Display Settings and select Delete.

Choosing Delete option!

8. The System Register then asks you to confirm your decisions.

9. Click the Yes button.

10.  The entry in the System Register is removed.

11.  Now do the same for the other entry, Gadgets.

Confirmation dialog box

11. Next time you right-click on the Desktop, your Context menu will be back to normal.

So there you have it! Hopefully these three articles will help you improve access to important features via the Desktop Context menu.