Recently we posted a simple script to restart Explorer in Windows:
Create Simple Script to Close and Restart Explorer Automatically in Windows XP, Vista and 7
And now we'll tell you how to add an option "Restart Explorer" in Desktop and Explorer context menu (menu which appears when you right-click) to make the task faster and easier.

HOW-TO:
Simply download following ZIP file, extract it and run the "Install.exe" file :
It'll automatically install the required files and will ask you to add the option into Windows Registry, accept the confirmation by clicking on "Yes" button and then OK.
Also check:
[AIO] Ultimate Tutorial to Customize My Computer Context Menu in Windows XP, Vista and 7
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7, Windows Vista.
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Uewd
Thank you very much. Now I have one in the context menu and one in quick launch. But sure I'll use this one.
Patrick
hmmm, i have one problem, if i can restart my explorer.exe so do is my uxsms, how to put that to right click context menu rather than "restart explorer" could it be "restart uxsms", just for my aero fix if uxsms doesn't work properly, i always click my friend's "restart uxsms" on desktop, can you help sir vg?, sorry for my english,
larry seltzer
Most of the time I want to restart explorer it's because it is hung or otherwise not functioning. But access to this menu option is through explorer, isn't it?
Dnyanesh Mankar
Thanks a TON! My Windows 7 Installation was suffering from chronic "Remote call procedure failed" errors which required the explorer to be restarted. It was a very tedious thing to do manually.
Kat D.
Thanks very much! I've been using the Task Mgr to restart explorer whenever my task bar wouldn't respond. This removes a few steps for me and makes it much easier to accomplish.
Stewie
This seems a terribly convoluted way of simply importing one of two registry files to install or uninstall....
Also, the batch file used is pointless.
_________________________________________________
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Restart Explorer]
"HasLUAShield"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Restart Explorer\command]
@=tskill explorer
_________________________________________________
will do the same thing but without the batch file.
@larry seltzer
Yes you are right. Though this is probably a tweak better suited to those of us who use custom explorerframes, start orbs etc. If you're getting frequent hangs from explorer; enough to warrant having its "fix" in your context menu - you should probably seek other solons
Reggie
Thanks so much for this! @ Stewie: Some of us don't have your level of knowledge and would prefer to have a simple one-click option in the event that explorer does have to restarted. Last time it happened to me, I had to go online to find out how to restart it. I know how to do it now through Task Mananger, but this simplifies things. Very handy and greatly appreciated.
Stewie
@ Reggie.
I think you misunderstand my comment, i like this "tweak", infact i've been using this same thing for a while now as it is, very handy. (also, try Ctrl+Shift+clicking an empty part of your start menu ;) )
Using "tskill explorer" does that same as "taskkill /f /im explorer" & "start explorer" - Using the taskkill method forces you to call a script of some kind as it requires more than one command.
kashifmin
Thanks...:)
Does this work on windows xp.....:)
Uewd
When I try to take ownership of a file using my account (administrator), it fails doing it. I have to switch on the hidden administrator account to take ownership of a file. Why I can't do this using my account?