Add “Power Options” Cascading Menu in Windows 7 and Later Desktop Context Menu

Almost all computer users need to restart, shut down or hibernate their systems at some time and doing all these things were easy enough in previous Windows versions such as Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7. But suddenly Microsoft introduced Metro UI in Windows 8 and removed the Start button and Start menu from Windows 8. Although you can get start button and start menu back using this tutorial but that’s a different thing.

Many Windows 8 and later users are facing problems in getting used to this new Metro UI and Start Screen and the most difficult part of this new interface is the missing power options. There is no direct option given to restart, shut down, hibernate, sleep your PC.

Oh yeah, you can select these options using new Charms bar or by clicking on Taskbar and pressing “Alt+F4” key combination or by pressing “Ctrl+Alt+Del” keys together to choose a power option from the given list. There are a few other known ways as well but why do we need to follow so many steps? Why not provide a direct option for such an essential task? Believe me selecting these power options from start menu was far better and easier.

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I really do hope that Microsoft will do something regarding it in final version of Windows 8 and will add a direct option to perform these power related tasks. But in the meantime you can use this tutorial to get an easy access to all power options.

NOTE: This trick will work in Windows 7 and later Windows versions only.

In this tutorial, we’ll tell you how to add a new cascading menu in Desktop context menu (right-click menu) which will provide easy and direct access to all following power options:

  • Lock
  • Log Off
  • Switch User
  • Sleep
  • Hibernate
  • Restart
  • Restart with Boot Options Menu
  • Shut Down
  • Shut Down (Hybrid)

Using this new menu, you just need to right-click on Desktop and select the desired power option to immediately restart, shut down your system or do other above mentioned stuff.

FYI, We are going to use the same method in this tutorial which we shared long time back for Windows 7 users. Check out following link to learn more:

Add Cascading Menus for Your Favorite Programs in Windows Desktop Context Menu

The above mentioned method helps you in adding cascading menus for your favorite program shortcuts in Desktop context menu of Windows 7 and later. Use of cascading menu doesn’t increase size of your default Desktop context menu and you can add many shortcuts under it. The above tutorial has been featured on various popular websites including Microsoft’s own website.

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Back to the tutorial, using the same registry trick given in the above mentioned topic, we’ll add a new menu “Power Menu” in Desktop context menu which will contain all power options inside it.

Following is a screenshot of this new “Power Menu” in action:

Power_Menu_Shortcut_Desktop_Context_Menu_Windows.png

As you can see in above screenshot, you get all power options in this new cascading menu which makes it really easy and convenient to restart or shut down your computer system.

You just need to download following ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted “Add Power Menu.REG” file. It’ll ask for confirmation, accept it.

That’s it. It’ll immediately add the new “Power Menu” into Desktop context menu of Windows 7 and later. All options are working perfectly and have been tested in different computer systems having Windows 7 and later.

PS: If the cascading menu doesn’t work for you, first take ownership of following key in Registry Editor:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\Shell

Then run the registry script again.

If you want to remove the new “Power Menu” in future, you can run the “Remove Power Menu.REG” file included in the ZIP file. It’ll remove the menu.

Now Windows 8 and later users can also restart or perform other power related operations on their computer systems quickly and easily with the help of this new cascading menu.

NOTE 1: The new “Restart with Boot Options Menu” shortcut will help you in restarting Windows 8 and later in advanced startup options screen so that you can access troubleshooting options such as Safe mode, system restore, refresh or reset PC, disable driver signature option, etc. Generally you need to press Shift key while clicking on Restart option present in Charms Bar to access this boot options screen but using this shortcut you can directly launch it. You can check this link to learn more about boot options menu screen.

NOTE 2: If you don’t know about Hybrid Shut down, its a new type of shut down introduced in Windows 8. Its faster than the traditional shut down process. Check out this topic for more info.

PS: You can customize this “Power Menu” according to your requirements such as add/remove options, change options names, change menu position in context menu, etc by editing the REG file in Notepad. Check out following master tutorial to learn more:

Also Check:

Published in: Windows 7, Windows 8

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

NOTE: Older comments have been removed to reduce database overhead.

  1. This is quite useful, especially for Win8! Thanks, btw what Does Shut Down (Hybrid) do??? Is it the new standard Win8 way of shutting down, and does it work for 7? Thanks. 🙂

  2. ^^ Its a new type of shut down introduced in Windows 8. Quite faster than traditional shut down.

  3. Does “Hybrid Shutdown” make any difference? Should I use normal instead? I’m using normal home-pc, not laptop.

  4. Sleep “C:\Windows\System32\rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,SetSuspendState 0,1,0”
    don’t work if hibernation is ON, this is “SleepComp.vbs” code
    ——————————
    Dim objShell
    Set objShell = CreateObject(“Shell.Application”)
    objShell.ShutdownWindows
    set objShell = nothing
    Set WshShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
    With objShell
    WScript.Sleep 200
    WshShell.AppActivate “Shut Down Windows”
    WshShell.SendKeys “ss”
    WshShell.SendKeys “{TAB}”
    WshShell.SendKeys “{Enter}”
    End With
    Set objShell=Nothing
    ————————————————-
    note:
    English Version:
    must be: WshShell.SendKeys “ss”

    Polish Version:
    must be: WshShell.SendKeys “uu”

  5. ””Power Menu” in Desktop context menu which will contain all power options inside it”

    real nice one. but after registry cleaning by tuneup 2014 this does disappear and again has to be done manually. please help.

  6. Absolutely Beeeeeeeeutiful!!! Thank you!!!

    Now, is there a way to place all of these options into one “Power” button on the desktop and/or the taskbar?

    Thank you!!!!

  7. Perfect!!!!! That’s the one!!!!!! Thank you very much!!!!!! Just a note, you have to run the install as administrator or it won’t install. ;)))))))))))))))))))))))))

  8. When I Hover Over The Power Menu It Dosen’t Open Anything! I Did It Manually And Downloaded Your Script And Downloaded The Freeware… I Even Restarted! 🙁

  9. thx so much! That worked i took ownership of the keys and it worked i just had to check full control for users. At first i checked full control for admins and it didnt work but now it does

  10. Thanks! Works great in Desktop context. How can I get it to work in My Computer context?

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