Tutorial | Add Vista style context menu handler under Windows XP

[neo]

Tutorial | Add Vista style context menu handler under Windows XP

Windows Vista is the latest workstation version of Windows after a long delay and is designed for business and home users. First of all, we should understand the mean of Vista; We can check our dictionary or explore the encyclopedias. Vista as a beautiful view, for example, of countryside, a city, etc. In formal mean is a range of things that might happen in the future. According to name it’s really have a new look style (aero glass), with easier way to handle personalization and navigation menus.

The most interesting thing in Vista is its look, new icons, cursors, theme, sounds, login screen, boot screen, etc.

there are a lot of Transformation Pack and themes are available and we can change the look and feel of Windows XP to Vista. Here, I m going to introduced some registry hacks that may helps to make too similar look to Windows Vista in our existing Windows XP.

(1.) Add Delete and Rename option to Recycle Bin's Context menu

Navigate registry to : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder

Change the value of Attributes to 70 01 00 20 and the value of CallForAttributes to 0

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:70,01,00,20
"CallForAttributes"=dword:00000000

(2.) Rename Set Program Access and Defaults and Network Connections under Start Menu

By Default In Vista Set Program Access and Defaults and Network Connections are renamed as Default Programs

and Connect To respectively. In Windows XP, there is no option to rename these. Perfrom this task, follow the

steps.

Navigate registry to : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f7-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ShellFolder

Change the value of Attributes to 70 01 00 20 for Set Program Access and Defaults

Navigate registry to : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}\ShellFolder

Change the value of Attributes to 70 01 00 20 for Network Connections

Now U will get option to rename these.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f7-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:70,01,00,20

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}\ShellFolder]
"Attributes"=hex:70,01,00,20

(3.) Add Open Command Windows Here context menu under Drives and Folders with Hidden property

Windows Vista contains context menu of Open Command Windows Here but it doesn't display normally.

We can see and use this menu by clicking with Shift Key. Its not new thing, Windows 98 also contains Open With

context menu and we can see and use this as the same method as Windows vista.

Now this can be created in Windows XP as windows Vista.

If U have already created the menu, U can modify by following steps.

Navigate registry to : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd

Create a String value named as Extended and leave blank this one.

Navigate registry to : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd

Create a String value named as Extended and leave blank this one too.

here is the reg code.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; For Drives
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"
"Extended"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %1\""

; For Folders
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd]
@="Open Command Window Here"
"Extended"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\cmd\command]
@="cmd.exe /k \"cd %1\""

(4.) Add Checkbox Show Drive Letters in Folder Option

Its really simple registry hack; Windows Vista has checkbox to hide or show drive letters under Folder Option. We can add this option under Windows XP by using this reg code. Just Copy and Paste the code in txt file and save as *.reg and patch it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\ShowDriveLetters]
"Type"="checkbox"
"Text"="Show Drive Letters"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000002
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"ValueName"="ShowDriveLettersFirst"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"UncheckedValue"=dword:00000002
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000

Limitation: You have to Restart/LogOff the PC OR Kill the explorer process (explorer.exe) and restart using Task Manger to take effect.

Note : Save the reg codes into .reg files and patch these.

These are some registry hacks that may add some look and feel of Vista in windows XP. I m still trying to get more...

All members of MSFN are invited to contribute their registry hack or another tweaks that echances the WoW for Windows XP.

I hope, You like ...!

Edited February 28, 2007 by neo

[Dave.Net]

Thanks neo. These are very useful!

[neo]

Add Checkbox Show Drive Letters in Folder Option

1st Post has been Updated....

[nitroshift]

There is a mistake on your code for "show drive letters". Right after HKLM instead of the letter "a" should be "software".

[neo]

There is a mistake on your code for "show drive letters". Right after HKLM instead of the letter "a" should be "software".

thanx buddy