Windows Settings to This PC and Navigation Pane

(original post edited)

I am still working on adding settings to This PC and Navigation Pane. I created the registry file below based on your reg file for adding Google Drive to Nav. Pane and a tutorial on WinHelpOnline. I got the hack to work, sort of. Settings Icons was added but didn't launch anything. Can anyone please help? Thanks!



I generated a unique CLSID, {5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}, from Generate GUIDs online.
Do I need separate keys with WOW6432Node keywords for 64-bit systems?
For default icon, InProcServer32, and InitPropertyBag, do I have to use hex keywords?

Other questions/comments are noted before the registry keys.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Add Windows Settings to This PC and Navigation Pane

; Add generated CLSID, named extension, set location of icon, defined info tip, added to navigation pane to make it visible, and set location in navigation pane

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}]
@="Windows Settings"
"DefaultIcon"="SystemSettingsBroker.exe"
"InfoTip"="Windows Settings"
"System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree"=dword:00000001
"SortOrderIndex"=dword:00000042

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}]
@="Windows Settings"
"DefaultIcon"="SystemSettingsBroker.exe"
"InfoTip"="Windows Settings"
"System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree"=dword:00000001
"SortOrderIndex"=dword:00000042

; Provide dll to host the extension. Is shell32.dll correct? and is threading model correct?

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\InProcServer32]
@="%systemroot%\System32\shell32.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\InProcServer32]
@="%systemroot%\System32\shell32.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Both"

; Define instance object

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\Instance]
"CLSID"="{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\Instance]
"CLSID"="{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}"

; Provide the file system attributes of the target folder and set the path for the sync root (are they both correct?)

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]
"Attributes"=dword:00000011
"TargetFolderPath"="explorer ms-settings:"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]
"Attributes"=dword:0000000f
"TargetFolderPath"="explorer ms-settings:"

; Set the appropriate flags to control your shell behavior and set appropriate shell flags (are they both correct?)

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:f080004d
"FolderValueFlags"=dword:00000029

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WOW6432Node\CLSID\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=dword:f080004d
"FolderValueFlags"=dword:00000029

; Register your extension in the namespace root

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}]
@="Windows Settings"

; Hide your extension from the Desktop

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
"{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}"=dword:00000001

; Show Windows Settings in This PC in Folders section

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace\{5109a410-7478-44c0-b5b0-964a7e07a9ff}]
@="Windows Settings"
"DescriptionID"=dword:00000003

Hi, although this doesn't answer your precise question, this is available if of any interest:
Add Settings to Context Menu in Windows 10

and
Win key + I
opens Settings

More examples, closer to what you want: (ignore the rubbish label for the link). If you were to examine this, and info from the tutorial about creating a shortcut to Settings, you might be heading in the right direction:
Access Denied


Also there are context edit tools that can add entries...whether they address My PC specifically is another matter.

No, I mean by taking selective information from different sources you should derive enough to achieve your aim.

Thus- what command do you need? (See shortcut tutorial)
- how do you obtain an icon?

Then - how do you add a new context menu where you want?

Try to put those two together..

This shows how to create a new context menu entry for My PC:
Access Denied

As it involves making changes to the registry, make sure you back up keys first, and take due precautions

Ok, I've (almost) done it, using a free tool:
Easy Context menu v1.6

This allows you to create new entries and add them to the program's options.

The result first as an added option in the program:


Here you see the added option for Settings.

Here's how: (but amend this by not checking Settings - I got this wrong).


And the effect:

Best leave you with what you want to do, I think.