How to add menu items under right-click or context menu

Contributed by William_Wilson February 9, 2006  
Tagged: Windows

This tutorial explains how to add programs to right click menu.

(I will be adding a link for command.com or a DOS prompt as that is what was specifically asked for, but any application can be added in similar fasion)

Right Click in Window (not on file or folder):

I am not sure there is a way to modify this menu, but if i find it i will add it here.

Right Click on File:

-open regedit (start\run, type regedit)
-expand until you are in: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell
-if the key ’shell’ does not exist, right click on * and add new key and name it ’shell’
-to add the item right click on ’shell’ and create a new key, the name of this key will be what appears in the menu. I named mine “cmd”
-next right click your newly created key “cmd” and create another key under it named “command”
-double click the default entry in this folder and type in command.exe
-(if you are doing a different program, you would do the complete path to that program instead of command.exe)
-that’s it your done, now when you right click on a file the option to open a command prompt will be there!

Right Click on Folder addition:

(I realize there is a recipe for this already, but now it’s all in one place)
-open regedit (start\run, type regedit)
-expand until you are in: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
-if the key ’shell’ does not exist, right click on ‘Folder’ and add new key and name it ’shell’
-to add the item right click on ’shell’ and create a new key, the name of this key will be what appears in the menu. I named mine “cmd”
-next right click your newly created key “cmd” and create another key under it named “command”
-double click the default entry in this folder and type in command.exe
-that’s it your done, now when you right click on a folder the option to open a command prompt will be there!

Enjoy addition of any program you wish.
As always questions may be sent to william_a_wilson@hotmail.com

-William. § (marvin_gohan)