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Miscellaneous Software

View and Disable Options that Appear When Right Clicking on Files and Folders

SUMMARY: ShellMenuView lets you remove extraneous entries when you right-click on files and folders in Windows Explorer.

As you install and uninstall software in Windows, applications add entries to the list of items displayed when right-clicking on files and folders. For example, when installing and running the Winamp multimedia player, you are given the option to add right-click menu items to files Winamp can play, queue, or add to its Bookmarks.

If you wish to remove some of these options, especially those from programs you have already uninstalled, NirSoft has created ShellMenuView. For each menu option, the application displays the related extension(s), menu key, file type, type description, the application that will be executed when selecting the menu item, as well as other pertinent information.

An example of right-clicking a file that has had items added to its right-click menu

Besides viewing, enabling, and disabling items, ShellMenuView lets you open a menu item's related key in the Windows Registry Editor. HTML reports can be generated, allowing you to share your list with others if requiring technical support. You can also view a file extension on NirSoft's File Extensions Information website, providing lists of common applications used to open many file extensions.

Disabling right-click menu options via ShellMenuView

ShellMenuView is freeware and comes as a .ZIP file that does not require an installer - just unzip the file to a new folder and run shmnview.exe. Windows 2000 and Windows XP are mentioned to be supported, though Windows 98 users can view the list of entries but not disable them. Support for later versions of Windows was not mentioned in the System Requirements at the time this tip was written, though since the Versions History mentions Windows Vista, it may run on that platform.

ShellMenuView can be downloaded at the following address:

* ShellMenuView: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shell_menu_view.html

This tip was written regarding ShellMenuView v1.12 on a Windows XP machine. Features, information, and screenshots for other versions / operating systems may vary.