How to Add Your Name in Desktop Context Menu in Windows XP?

If you like this article, please share it with your friends and contacts on Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter using following buttons so that they can also enjoy the article:

NOTE: This tutorial has been featured by Microsoft. AskVG.com was the first website posting this unique trick.

As you all know about my "How to enable “VIEW” Menu on Desktop in Windows XP" tutorial which teaches you how to enable View menu in Windows XP Desktop context menu just like Windows Vista:

Many people have asked me how did I add my name on top in Desktop context menu as shown in above screenshot? So today I decided to write a small tutorial about it.

So here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to add any desired string in Desktop context menu:

1. Open “%windir%\System32\Shell32.dll” file in resource hacker and go to:

Menu -> 215 -> 1033

2. Now add following line:

MENUITEM "xyz", 33333, MFT_STRING, MFS_GRAYED | MFS_DEFAULT

Just after the:

215 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP "", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{

3. Replace "xyz" with any string which you want to add, e.g.

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

4. Click on "Compile Script" button.

5. Save the file and restart your Windows to see the affect.

BONUS TIP: You can remove "MFS_GRAYED" or "MFS_DEFAULT" or both to have some different look. "MFS_GRAYED" is used to disable the text, if you'll remove it, your name will look like an enabled item. "MFS_DEFAULT" is used to show the text in Bold, if you'll remove it, your name will be shown as normal text instead of Bold.

NOTE: If you are facing problems while saving a file after editing in resource hacker, then make sure you have disabled WFP (Windows File Protection) service using WFP Patcher.

Also if you are getting error "Can't create file...", that means you have edited and saved the same file in past and there is a backup file which needs to be deleted before saving this file again. Go to the folder containing this file and you'll see a similar file having "_original" in its name. Delete it and try to save the file in resource hacker.

Other similar articles that may interest you:

This article was posted by VG in following section: Resource Hacker, Windows XP.

If you enjoyed this article, you can subscribe to our RSS feed or free newsletter to get all new articles directly in your Inbox. Also check out our most popular articles and archive to read other interesting articles. If you have some news or tip to share, please send us.

Have You Checked Out Following Popular Articles?

Downloader

@MNK: BTW what 33333(Identifier) stands for? Isn't it a folder icon identifier in shell32.dll?

That number should stand for define which command perform when you click at that text in menu. Example my file:

[code]
215 MENUEX
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP "", 0, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM "~nnq&2603~", 2603, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED | MFS_DEFAULT
MENUITEM "", 65535, MFT_SEPARATOR, MFS_ENABLED
POPUP "&View", 28674, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED, 0
{
MENUITEM "Filmstri&p", 28719, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "T&humbnails", 28717, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Tile&s", 28718, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "Ico&ns", 28713, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&List", 28715, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED
MENUITEM "&Details", 28716, MFT_STRING, MFS_ENABLED

[/code]

28718 stands for thumbnails mode viewing.
28716 stands for details mode viewing.
etc...
33333 I'm not sure, but probably it's meaningless. Just a place where you've to put some number for correct procedual. For me, I put 2603 and nothing going wrong with me even I click it (enable, not grayed).

As I guess, problem'd be there if you put a number that duplicate any existed/functionable number. Whenever you click your name in context menu, a certain unwanted command performs (but in grayed mode, I think probably any number allow, 'coz disabled all of them already).
AJ

Hey, VG... Will this work on Vista. If not, can you make a tutorial to do the same thing for Vista.. please.

Thanks.
VG

^^ No. But its possible in Windows 7:

http://www.askvg.com/how-to-add-your-name-in-windows-7-desktop-context-menu/
jayant

its reellyy osum yaar n tht triks easy to do
Joel

VG,help needed i don't have a view in my desktop context menu
Joel

and 215 is not my desktop menu's resource
Kamal Nasser

Is there any way to add a link to a program (shortcut with parameters) in the desktop context menu like we can do in Windows 7?
Thanks
VG

^^ http://www.askvg.com/add-your-favorite-program-shortcut-in-desktop-context-menu-in-windows-xp/
Satyajeet

Hi Vg, i did it as u wrote also it shows in the dialog, but when i restarts my computer then there is no change in the context menu.
Help me please........
VG

^^ Have you disabled WFP service using WFP Patcher?