Add items or links to open a programs in the desktop right click menu Applies to Windows XP Pro and Windows Vista

When you right click on your blank desktop a menu appears. This is the desktop right click menu. This menu usually contains default links such as personalize or properties, view, new, and more. This tutorial will show you how to add items to your right click menu. You can basically link to anything as long as you know the command to enter. For example if you type a command into the run box to start a program, then this is the command to use.

To change the desktop right click menu we need to edit the registry which is not for the new computer users to try. Editing the registry can cause your computer to not run or stop working completely.

How to add a link to your right click menu?

Open the run box by pressing the WIN KEY and R.
Then type regedit into the run box and press ok.
Expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
Look for Directory, expand this.
Expand background.
Now Select the word Shell and right click on it to being a menu up.
Choose New.
Then choose Key.
Name your key Control Panel. Press ok.
Then select the word control panel and right click on it.
Choose new, then choose key.
Type in command.
Then select command and look in the right window.
Right click on the word default and enter the command to make control panel run which is rundll32.exe shell32.dll,Control_RunDLL
Now close the registry and go to your desktop, right click and choose control panel.

registry edit right click menu

Watch this video on how to add a control panel link to the right click menu on your desktop.

Here are some registry files I have made to make it easy for you. There is on file to add and one to remove. I especially find it very handy to have the task manager link and a shut down link in the right click menu.

Add a control panel link to the desktop right click menu

AddControlPanelToDesktopMenu.reg

RemoveControlPanelFromDesktopMenu.reg

Add a add or remove programs link to the desktop right click menu

AddRemoveProgramstodesktopmenu.reg

RemoveAddRemoveProgramstodesktopmenu.reg

Add a restart link to the desktop right click menu

Restartinrightclickmenu.reg

RemoveRestartinrightclickmenu.reg

Add a task manager link to the desktop right click menu

TaskmanagerOnrightclickmenu.reg

RemoveTaskmanagerOnrightclickmenu.reg

Other commands to try when adding a link to the right click menu:

shutdown -s -f -t 0 Shutdown

shutdown -r -f -t 0 Restart

control appwiz.cpl Add or Remove Programs

Notes on adding a link in the right click menu:

You can experiment with commands to open programs.
Just remember that editing the registry is dangerous.
You can easily get a command to open most programs by looking for the file with the .exe file extension.

Creating, saving, copying, pasting, and moving files or folders on your computer.

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About the Author

Mitz wrote this article and others for tips4pc.com Browse for more articles that are written in an easy to understand way. Also see our very popular Video Tutorials page. Watching a video is a very easy way to learn about computers.

I hope you've found this tutorial clear and easy to understand. If you have more questions, feel free to visit our FORUM and we'll be happy to help.

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