DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

how to delete unnecessary entries from start button

16 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/how-to-delete-unnecessary-entries-from-start-button.48555/

S
Shasta Original post #1
Feb 5, 2007 at 3:58 PM
hi
when we right click on the start button there r some options
open
explore
search
scan start menu (created by anti virus programme)
properties
open all users
explore all users
but apart from these, some programmes add their options here. How can those entries or options be deleted without disturbing the above mentioned options.
Plz let me know.
Vishal Gupta
Feb 5, 2007 at 4:05 PM
In regedit goto:

Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex
and under these keys, u'll get ur desired extra keys, which u can safely delete. :)
S
Shasta #3
Feb 5, 2007 at 4:26 PM
but how would i know which r the necessary ones?
actually there r 2 entries which i want to delete
1. add to windows media player list
2. play with windows media player

when i installed windows media player 11 these entries were not there but they suddenly appeared a few days back.

if u can tell in detail it wud be gr8.
n2casey
n2casey #4
Feb 5, 2007 at 4:40 PM
Vishal Gupta said:
In regedit goto:

Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex
and under these keys, u'll get ur desired extra keys, which u can safely delete. :)
Vishal, as I think u didn't understand the question.
Look at the screenshot,

*img179.imageshack.us/img179/5229/stbuconmnxz6.jpg

and tell what to do if someone wants to delete the WinRAR or any other entry from the Start button Context Menu only.
S
Shasta #5
Feb 5, 2007 at 4:59 PM
yeah that's right. that's exactly what i meant
S
Feb 5, 2007 at 5:03 PM
Can you not right-click on the entry and select delete?

Arun
ilugd
ilugd #7
Feb 5, 2007 at 5:05 PM
you can't rt click in a rt click menu sakumar.
S
Feb 5, 2007 at 9:16 PM
Oops, my bad... Anyway, the rightclick of Startmenu is the same as that of Folders...

Option 1: Edit the File Types "Folder" and "File Folder" in the Explorer > Tools> Options > File Types. Your changes will apply to the context menus of Folders as well.

Option 2: Edit the context menu items in the registry under HKCR\Directory and HKCR\Folder

Arun
n2casey
n2casey #10
Feb 5, 2007 at 9:31 PM
sakumar79 said:
Oops, my bad... Anyway, the rightclick of Startmenu is the same as that of Folders...

Option 1: Edit the File Types "Folder" and "File Folder" in the Explorer > Tools> Options > File Types. Your changes will apply to the context menus of Folders as well.

Option 2: Edit the context menu items in the registry under HKCR\Directory and HKCR\Folder
OK. I know that trick but take a look at my post. I have mentioned that the context menu entries of Start Button shud b changed, not of Start Menu Folder or any other folder/directory.
anandk
anandk #11
Feb 5, 2007 at 9:32 PM
there are some good rt-click menu or context menu editors there too
Context Menu Editor *www.snapfiles.com/get/contextmenueditor.html
is one.

"HACE Mmm" *www.hace.us-inc.com/mmm.shtml is a slightly difnt one...

more on rt-click options here at *www.virtualplastic.net/html/ui_cntxt.html
Vishal Gupta
Feb 5, 2007 at 10:38 PM
All of these entries will be present in:

Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Else u can also remove them from the software settings itself, like in case of WinRAR. :)
alsiladka
alsiladka #13
Feb 5, 2007 at 11:18 PM
For WinRAR, you can remove the shell entry very easily.
Heres how-

1. Open WinRAR.
2. Click on Options > Settings
3. Navigate to the Integration Tab.
4. Uncheck the check boxes under the Shell Integration section on the right side.
5. Click on Ok and your job is done.
n2casey
n2casey #14
Feb 5, 2007 at 11:21 PM
Vishal Gupta said:
All of these entries will be present in:

Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers
Else u can also remove them from the software settings itself, like in case of WinRAR. :)
But Vishal this will affect whole OS. I mean to say that, * is for all file types, Directory for all directories & Folders is for all folders. So the options will b changed for all such things.
What to do if one want to change the context menu entries of Start Button Only???
Vishal Gupta
Feb 5, 2007 at 11:56 PM
^^
U can't!
All context menus for "Directories" work for Start menu coz Start menu is also a folder containing Programs folder.
S
sakumar79 #16
Feb 6, 2007 at 5:46 AM
Vishal is right... AFAIK, when you change context menu for Start Menu, you will automatically have it changed for all folders/directories...

Arun