Adapting .REG Files.

Paul Black · 21 Feb 2020

Hello FreeBooter,

FreeBooter said:

Thanks, i have created batch script for this context menu.

I know exactly what I want so I might try and create a Batch Script [using your script as a basis], to include ALL the items I want.

With mine though, I would like them to pretty much show on ALL aspects of the Context Menu like Desktop, Folder, Drive etc.

As Edwin has pointed out, if I put the entries in either Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell or Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell,
then they should appear in ALL the Context Menus.

Thanks in advance.

Paul Black · 21 Feb 2020

Hello KeithM, thanks for the detailed explanation.

KeithM said:

If MUIVerb is deleted, DefalutText is used:

Do you mean is NOT detected?

Thanks in advance.

KeithM · 21 Feb 2020

No, because I started with it existing (per the reg file), and the ten deleted it for testing. so I meant deleted. But obvously, once deleted, it can't be detected either. It was meant to be an interactive learning exercise.

Edwin · 21 Feb 2020

Paul Black said:

......I would like them to pretty much show on ALL aspects of the Context Menu like Desktop, Folder, Drive etc.

I still don't get what you're trying to do.

Paul Black · 21 Feb 2020

Hello Edwin,

Edwin said:

I still don't get what you're trying to do.

What I would like is to have everything I need available via the different Context Menus [i.e. Desktop, Folder, Drive etc].

I have since downloaded a third-party context menu program, but when I look at the Registry, it has the software name included in the command, this is not what I want because I want to be able to uninstall the software and still have the Context Menu items available!

As an example, here is what the Registry shows after adding a System Tools menu using their software . . .

Code:

Z001AAA
Default - value not set
Icon= %SystemRoot&\system32\cmd.exe
MUIVerb - Open Command Prompt Here
NoWorkingDirectory

command
"%ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe" /RunAdmin "%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe" /s /k pushd "%V"

System Tools

All Tasks
Computer Management
Control Panel
Device Managermsconfig
Programs and Features
Registry Editor
Run
ServicesSnipping Tool
Task Manager

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Z001AAA

Z001AAA
Default - value not set
Extended
MUIVerb - Open Command Prompt Here
NoWorkingDirectory

command
"%ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe" /RunAdmin "%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe" /s /k pushd "%L"

. . . and . . .

Code:

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Z016AAE

Z016AAE
Default - value not set
Icon= %ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe,14
MUIVerb - Turn Off Options
SubCommands - 

shell - Default - value not set

Z017ADC
Default - value not set
Icon= %ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe,16
MUIVerb - Switch User

command
Default = "%ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe" /Shutdown /US

Z018ADC
Default - value not set
Icon= %ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe,17
MUIVerb - Log Off

command
"%ProgramFiles%\Easy Context Menu\EcMenu.exe" /Shutdown /L

etc
etc
etc

I don't really know how to change the Registry to ignore the software so I can uninstall it and still have the items available!

Paul Black · 21 Feb 2020

Hello FreeBooter,

You posted a Batch Script earlier in the thread and I thought that it might be easier to go down that route.
Can you please have a quick look at the code below to see if there is anything jumping out at you before I implement it over the weekend. I have obviously only included the specific items and not the rest of the code.

I would like this to appear in the Desktop, Folder, and Drive Context Menus . . .

Code:

Reg.exe add "HKCR\DesktopBackground\Shell\SystemTools" /v "MUIVerb" /t REG_SZ /d "System Tools" /f
Reg.exe add "HKCR\DesktopBackground\Shell\SystemTools" /v "SubCommands" /t REG_SZ /d "AllTasks;ComputerManagement;ControlPanel;DeviceManager;LocalGroupPolicyEditor;LocalSecurityPolicy;MSConfig;ProgramsAndFeatures;RegistryEditor;Run;Services;SnippingTool;TaskManager" /f
Reg.exe add "HKCR\DesktopBackground\Shell\SystemTools" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "imageres.dll,104" /f
Reg.exe add "HKCR\DesktopBackground\Shell\SystemTools" /v "Position" /t REG_SZ /d "Bottom" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\AllTasks" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "All Tasks" /f > Nul
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\AllTasks" /v "Icon" /t REG_SZ /d "control.exe" /f > Nul
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\AllTasks\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "explorer shell:::{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}" /f > Nul

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ComputerManagement" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Computer Management" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ComputerManagement" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "compmgmt.msc" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ComputerManagement\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "compmgmt.msc" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ControlPanel" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Control Panel" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ControlPanel" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "control.exe" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ControlPanel\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "control.exe" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\DeviceManager" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Device Manager" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\DeviceManager" /v "Icon" /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "devmgr.dll" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\DeviceManager\command" /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%%SystemRoot%%\system32\mmc.exe /s %%SystemRoot%%\system32\devmgmt.msc" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\LocalGroupPolicyEditor" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Local Group Policy Editor" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\LocalGroupPolicyEditor" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "gpedit.dll" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\LocalGroupPolicyEditor\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "mmc.exe /s gpedit.msc" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\LocalSecurityPolicy" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Local Security Policy" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\LocalSecurityPolicy" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "wsecedit.dll" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\LocalSecurityPolicy\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "mmc.exe /s secpol.msc" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\MSConfig" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "MSConfig" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\MSConfig" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "msconfig.exe" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\MSConfig\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "msconfig.exe" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ProgramsAndFeatures" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "ProgramsAndFeatures" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ProgramsAndFeatures" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "%SystemRoot%\System32\appwiz.cpl" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ProgramsAndFeatures\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "%SystemRoot%\System32\appwiz.cpl" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\RegistryEditor" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Registry Editor" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\RegistryEditor" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "regedit.exe" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\RegistryEditor\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "regedit.exe" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Run" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Run" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Run" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Run\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Services" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Services" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Services" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "filemgmt.dll" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Services\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "mmc.exe /s services.msc" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\SnippingTool" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Snipping Tool" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\SnippingTool" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "SnippingTool.exe" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\SnippingTool\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "SnippingTool.exe" /f

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\TaskManager" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Task Manager" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\TaskManager" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "taskmgr.exe" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\TaskManager\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "taskmgr.exe" /f

Thanks in advance.

FreeBooter · 21 Feb 2020

Code:

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ComputerManagement" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Computer Management" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ComputerManagement" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "Mycomput.dll,-204" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ComputerManagement\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "C:\Windows\system32\mmc.exe /s C:\Windows\system32\compmgmt.msc" /f

Computer Management was not running so i change its path.
Computer Management icon not displaying same goes for Run box.

Code:

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Run" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Run" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Run" /v "icon" /t REG_SZ /d "imageres.dll,-100" /f
Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\Run\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "explorer.exe Shell:::{2559a1f3-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}" /f

KeithM · 21 Feb 2020

I think you should bite the bullet & switch to PowerShell for registry manipulation. The Registry Provider in PowerShell lets you navigate & manipulate the Registry the same way you do the file system. Very intutive & very powerful.

What FolderTypes have a templeate created by Apply to Folders?:

Code:

$Defaults = 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults'
$FT      = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes'

(gi $defaults).Property | Select {$_}, {(gp "$FT\$_").CanonicalName}}

(gi $defaults).Property | Select @{N = 'ID'; E = {$_}}, @{N = 'Name'; E = {(gp "$FT\$_").CanonicalName}}

Fun Stuff!

KeithM · 21 Feb 2020

Paul Black said:

Hello Edwin,
What I would like is to have everything I need available via the different Context Menus [i.e. Desktop, Folder, Drive etc].
I have since downloaded a third-party context menu program, but when I look at the Registry, it has the software name included in the command, this is not what I want because I want to be able to uninstall the software and still have the Context Menu items available!
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Z001AAA
I don't really know how to change the Registry to ignore the software so I can uninstall it and still have the items available!

What you should do is export:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Z001AAA
Then do a search & replace in the reg file, replacing "Z001AAA" with "MyMenu". Saving & merging should create a duplicate memu without the softtware name.
Once you have the menu you want for one type of ProgID, you can export it & use Search/Replace to create the reg ifles for other items:

*
AllFilesystemObjects
DesktopBackground
Directory
Directory\Background
Drive
Folder (includes virtual/non-FileSystem/NavigationPaneItems)

Paul Black · 22 Feb 2020

Hello FreeBooter,

Thanks for taking the time to look and amend the script.

A couple of questions please!

[1] What is the reason for putting the Keys etc in: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\?

Can I also out them in: Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\ and Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\?

[2] I can't get the Programs and Features to work. I have tried several things including this . . .

Code:

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\ProgramsAndFeatures\command" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "control.exe /s %SystemRoot%\system32\appwiz.cpl" /f

Am I going MAD!

EDIT:

Is there any reson for the double percentage sign here? . . .

Code:

Reg.exe add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\DeviceManager\command" /ve /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%%SystemRoot%%\system32\mmc.exe /s %%SystemRoot%%\system32\devmgmt.msc" /f