Add Your Favorite Application Shortcut in Desktop Context Menu in Windows Vista and 7

Here is a tutorial to add any application shortcut in desktop context menu of Windows Vista and 7:

1. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell

now under this key create another key with any name and in right-side pane set its value to the label, which you want to show in desktop context menu, like Media Player, Winamp, Firefox, anything else.

2. Now create another key under this newly created key with name command. and in right-side pane set its value to the exact path of application, like:

C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
C:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe
etc...

3. Thats it. Now you can check your favorite application shortcut in desktop context menu.

4. You can create as many shortcut as you want. Simply create a separate key for all the applications.

5. Following is a ready-made code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\WMP]
@="Windows Media Player"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\WMP\command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Windows Media Player\\wmplayer.exe"

Just change the label and path to ur desired application and save with the name "vishal.reg" (including the quotes) and run it.

U can also set the application shortcut to show only when u press <SHIFT> key by adding "Extended" String value in right-side pane of the newly created key:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\WMP]
@="Windows Media Player"
"Extended"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\WMP\command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Windows Media Player\\wmplayer.exe"

Now thats another benefit to use Vista and 7. I have checked this in XP but it was not working.

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This article was posted in Windows 7, Windows Vista.

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42 Comments

M4573R

I want like this:
http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/1637/newpicture6zv.jpg

That i can't click on it. How can i do that?
VG

^^ Add "MFS_GRAYED" in the last of the string you want to make it disabled. like following:

MENUITEM "!*~.VISHAL.~*!", 33333, MFT_STRING, MFS_GRAYED

I have mentioned it in my "All About Resource Hacker" tutorial. Just go through the "Resource Hacker" section and read the tutorial.
M4573R

^^ And how do i that with Vista??

There is no Menu -> 215 -> 1033.

Can you help me? I like this site
VG

Try "%windir%\System32\en-US\Shell32.dll.MUI"
M4573R

I found it, but by saving ResHacker says: "Cannot rename original file. Saving cancelled."

Really Thanx For Your Help (my english is very bad:P)

M4573R
VG

Yeah coz its a system file which is in use by Windows. You can do any of following:

1. Save the file at any other location and then use "Replacer" to replace files. You can find replacer in "Downloads" section.

2. Rename existing "Shell32.dll.mui" file to some other name and then save the file. Now it may allow you.
M4573R

By both Windows says: Acces Denied. I've tried it in ms-dos, but the same error.

You know what to do?
VG

Then do as following:

1. Save the file at other location.
2. Rename the original "Shell32.dll.MUI" file to "Shell32.dll.MUI.backup"
3. Now copy the other saved file to "%windir%\System32\en-US" folder.

Now I think Windows should not give any error and if it works then reboot the system to take affect.
M4573R

I can't change the name, Windows give a error again...
VG

^^ Seems you don't have proper permissions on the file. You'll have to take ownership of the file before following the steps. You can take a look at following links and can use any of them:

Link1
Link2