Repair Screen Saver File Association (Context Menu / Right-Click)

Windows XP Screen Saver does not launch (open) as expected when double-clicking a Screen Saver file. A configuration (settings) windows for the screen saver is displayed instead of the Screen Saver preview. The default verb for the context menu of the Screen Saver was changed to ‘Configure’ which will display the Screen Saver configuration window.

Screen Saver File Association set to Configure	Screen Saver File Association set to Test (Default)

NOTE

Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from "Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry".

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Navigate to:

   HKCR\scrfile\shell

5. Right-click (default) to select Delete.
6. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

   NOTE

   If the above steps did not solve your problem then use the Automated Fix Using an Registration File method below.

Manual Steps Using REG ADD

1. Open a Command Window.
2. Type:

   REG ADD "HKCR\scrfile\shell /ve

3. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

   NOTE

   If the above steps did not solve your problem then use the Automated Fix Using an Registration File method below.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

1. Download ScrnSvr.Assctn.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Right-click ScrnSvr.Assctn.reg to select Merge.
3. Now the registration entries are added for you.

NOTES

The ScrnSvr.Assctn.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the ScrnSvr.Assctn.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit.

Platforms Tested

• Microsoft Windows XP Editions

Related Articles

• Screen Saver Tab Missing – Display Properties
• Screen Saver Restricted (Greyed) Part 1 – Display Properties
• Screen Saver Restricted (Greyed) Part 2 – Display Properties
• Screen Saver Timeout Restriction (Greyed) – Display Properties

Version 1.1
Edited: May 13, 2012

Drag and Drop / Context Menus Restricted – Start Menu

Windows XP Drag and Drop / Context Menus are restricted for the Start Menu and the option is missing when customizing the Start Menu using the Taskbar and Start Menu applet located in the Control Panel. The most likely cause of this is malware utilizing Group Policy Objects which enforces policies for system settings and/or user accounts settings. The Group Policy for Remove Drag-and-drop context menus on the Start Menu will disable (restrict) dragging and dropping plus context menus for the Start Menu if enabled.

Group Policies are typically applied at businesses to control access to programs, system properties, and user account settings. For Home users, Drag and Drop / Context Menus can be disabled (restricted) from the Start Menu by these Group Policies but usually malware is the culprit. If you are a home user and the Drag and Drop / Context Menus is disabled (restricted) for the Start Menu and looks like the pictures below then there is a good chance you are infected with malware.

Drag and Drop / Context Menu – Start Menu

Drag and Drop / Context Menu Options Missing – Taskbar and Start Menu Properties	Drag and Drop / Context Menu Options – Taskbar and Start Menu Properties

NOTE

Ensure your computer is malware free before applying the following solutions.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows XP Registry, please backup your Windows XP Registry using the direction from "Using ERUNT to back up the Windows XP Registry".

Manual Steps Using Group Policy Editor

NOTE

The Group Policy Editor requires Administrative privileges and is only available for Windows XP Professional Edition. Windows XP Home users can use the Windows XP Registry method to remove the Group Policy restriction.

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type gpedit.msc in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. In the Group Policy Editor navigate to:
   
   User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Start Menu and Taskbar

5. Double-click Remove Drag-and-drop context menus on the Start Menu.
6. Select Not Configured.

NOTE

If the Drag and Drop / Context Menus are disabled (restricted) for the Start Menu on a per User account basis then the above method will not work, you will need to use the Registry Editor to remove the Group Policy.

Manual Steps Using Windows XP Registry

1. Click Start and then Run.
2. Type regedit.exe in the Run dialog box.
3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Navigate to:
   
   HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

5. Right-click NoChangeStartMenu to select Modify.
6. Change the value to 0.
7. Navigate to:
   
   HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

8. Right-click NoChangeStartMenu to select Modify.
9. Change the value to 0.
10. Quit the Registry Editor (Regedit.exe).

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Manual Steps Using REG ADD

1. Open a Command Window.
2. Type:

   REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoChangeStartMenu/t REG_DWORD /d 0

3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
4. Type:
   
   REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v NoChangeStartMenu /t REG_DWORD /d 0

5. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
6. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard.

NOTE

You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Automated Fix Using an Registration File

1. Download DrgDrpCntxtMnu.Allow.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Right-click DrgDrpCntxtMnu.Allow.reg to select Merge.
3. Now the registration entries are added for you.

NOTES

The DrgDrpCntxtMnu.Allow.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com). You also can view the contents of the DrgDrpCntxtMnu.Allow.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

Platforms Tested

• Microsoft Windows XP Editions

Related Articles

• My Recent Documents History is Cleared / Deleted at Logoff – Start Menu
• Favorites Menu is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• Help and Support is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• Logoff Icon is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• My Documents is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• My Music is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• My Network Places is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• My Pictures is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• My Recent Documents History Is Not Adding Recently Opened Items – Start Menu
• My Recent Documents is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• Network Connections is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• Programs Menu for All Users Profile is Missing from the Start Menu – Start Menu
• Run Command is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• Search is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu
• Shutdown Icon is Missing (Restricted) – Start Menu

Version 1.4
Edited: May 10, 2012

Adding an Elevated “Command Prompt Here” for Folders and Drives Context Menu

Adding an "Elevated Command Prompt" here for Folders and Drives context menus in Windows Vista is pretty much the same way as you do in Windows XP. You will need administrative privileges (which means Elevated Privileges for Windows Vista) to add the entries in the registry because this is a system-wide change.

The "Elevated Command Prompt" here context menu is a very useful because when you right-click on a folder to select "Elevated Command Prompt" then the Command Prompt window will open with elevated permission at that folder’s location. For example, if you right-click on "c:\program files\program.folder" then the Command Prompt will open with elevated permissions at "c:\programs files\program.folder".

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

    

CAUTION

Editing the Windows Vista registry can cause serious issues such as system instability when editing/deleting the wrong entries. Please use the Registry Editor with extreme caution.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows Vista Registry, please backup your Windows Vista Registry by creating a System Restore point using the direction from "Create a System Restore Point".

To Add "Command Prompt Here" to a Folder or Drive Context Menu with Elevated Privileges – Manual Method

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

For Folders

1. Open the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges" blog article for instructions.
2. Navigate to:

   HKCR\Directory\shell

3. Create a new key by right-clicking "shell" to select New > Key. Name the new key RunAs.
4. Double-click (default)located at:

   HKCR\Directory\shell\RunAs

5. Enter the following in the Value Data filed:Elevated Command Prompt
6. Create a new key by right-clicking "RunAs" to select New > Key. Name the new key command.
7. Double-click (default)located at:

   HKCR\Directory\shell\RunAs\command

8. Enter the following in the Value Data field:

   cmd.exe /s /k pushd "%V"

   [HKCR\Directory\shell\RunAs]
   Name: (default)
   Type: REG_SZ
   Data: Elevated Command Prompt

   [HKCR\Directory\shell\RunAs\command]
   Name: (default)
   Type: REG_SZ
   Data: cmd.exe /s /k pushd "%V"

For Drives

1. Open the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges" blog article for instructions.
2. Navigate to:

   HKCR\Drive\shell

3. Create a new key by right-clicking "shell" to select New > Key. Name the new key RunAs.
4. Double-click (default)located at:

   HKCR\Drive\shell\RunAs

5. Enter the following in the Value Data filed:Elevated Command Prompt
   
6. Create a new key by right-clicking "RunAs" to select New > Key. Name the new key command.
7. Double-click (default)located at:

   HKCR\Drive\shell\RunAs\command

8. Enter the following in the Value Data field:

   cmd.exe /s /k pushd "%V"

   [HKCR\Drive\shell\RunAs]
   Name: (default)
   Type: REG_SZ
   Data: Elevated Command Prompt

   [HKCR\Drive\shell\RunAs\command]
   Name: (default)
   Type: REG_SZ
   Data: cmd.exe /s /k pushd "%V"

To Add "Command Prompt Here" to a Folder or Drive Context Menu with Elevated Privileges – Using Reg Add

1. Open a command prompt with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" blog article for instructions.
2. Type the following in the elevated commands prompt window:
   • For Folders:

     reg add HKCR\Directory\shell\RunAs /ve /d "Elevated Command Prompt"

     reg add HKCR\Directory\shell\RunAs\command /ve /d "cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\""
     

   • For Drives:

     reg add HKCR\Drive\shell\RunAs /ve /d "Elevated Command Prompt"

     reg add HKCR\Drive\shell\RunAs\command /ve /d "cmd.exe /s /k pushd \"%V\""

To Add "Command Prompt Here" to a Folder or Drive Context Menu with Elevated Privileges – Using a Registration File – Method 1

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

1. Download RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Open a command prompt with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" blog article for instructions.
3. Change directories to the folder where you saved RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg. For example, if you saved the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg file to "c:\users\Bill", then type the following in the elevated command prompt window:

   cd "c:\users\Bill"

4. Then type the following in the elevated command prompt window to merge the registration file into the registry:

   RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg

5. Click Yes to confirm you want to merge the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg file into the registry.
6. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to merge the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg registration file into the Windows Vista registry. Click Yes to continue with the merge of the registration file. Refer to Image below.

   

7. If you are successful with merge of the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg registration file then the following window should appear. Refer to Image below.

   

   NOTES

   The RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg file is from my company web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

To Add "Command Prompt Here" to a Folder or Drive Context Menu with Elevated Privileges – Using a Registration File – Method 2

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

1. Download RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. If you have added "Run as Administrator" context menu for registration file using this article, "Adding "Run as Administrator" to a Registration File Context Menu" then right-click RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg to select Run as administrator.
3. A UAC Prompt should appear to allow access to the elevated Registration merge. Click on Continue to allow the elevated Registration merge to continue. Refer to the Image below.

   

4. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to merge the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg registration file into the Windows Vista registry. Click Yes to continue with the merge of the registration file. Refer to Image below.

   

5. If you are successful with merge of the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg registration file then the following window should appear. Refer to Image below.

   

   NOTES

   The RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg file is from my company web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the RunAs.Cmd.Here.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Related Articles

• Opening an Elevated Command Prompt
• Create a System Restore Point
• Opening the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges

Platforms Tested

• Microsoft Windows Vista, x86 versions

Version 1.5
Edited: May 3, 2012

Adding “Run as Administrator” to a Registration File Context Menu

If you are trying to merge a registration file in Windows Vista that has non-HKEY_CURRENT_USERS entries from a Standard User Account then the merge will probably fail because the registration file wants to write to system wide registry settings such as HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, for example. The only way I know of to accomplish the merge is to open an Elevated Command Prompt and then merge the registration file. But I grew tried of this very quickly so I modified the registry to add a "Run as administrator" to the Registration file (*.reg) context menu.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

    

CAUTION

Editing the Windows Vista registry can cause serious issues such as system instability when editing/deleting the wrong entries. Please use the Registry Editor with extreme caution.

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows Vista Registry, please backup your Windows Vista Registry by creating a System Restore point using the direction from "Create a System Restore Point".

To Add "Run as administrator" to Registration File Context Menu – Manual Method

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

1. Open the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges" blog article for instructions.
2. Navigate to:

   HKCR\regfile\shell

3. Create a new key by right-clicking "shell" to select New > Key. Name the new key RunAs.
4. Create a new key by right-clicking "RunAs" to select New > Key. Name the new key command.
5. Double-click (default)located at:

   HKCR\regfile\shell\RunAs\command

6. Enter the following in the Value Data field:

   regedit.exe "%1"

   [HKCR\regfile\shell\RunAs\command]
   Name: (default)
   Type: REG_SZ
   Data: regedit "%1"

To Add "Run as administrator" to Registration File Context Menu – Using Reg Add

1. Open a command prompt with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" blog article for instructions.
2. Type the following in the elevated command prompt window:

   reg add HKCR\regfile\shell\RunAs\command /ve /d "regedit.exe \"%1\""

To Add "Run as administrator" to Registration File Context Menu – Using a Registration File

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

1. Download RunAs.REGFILE.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
2. Open a command prompt with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" blog article for instructions.
3. Change directories to the folder where you saved RunAs.REGFILE.reg. For example, if you saved the RunAs.REGFILE.reg file to "c:\users\Bill", then type the following in the elevated command prompt window:

   cd "c:\users\Bill"

4. Then type the following in the elevated command prompt window to merge the registration file into the registry:

   RunAs.REGFILE.reg

5. Click Yes to confirm you want to merge the RunAs.REGFILE.reg file into the registry.
6. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to merge the RunAs.REGFILE.reg registration file into the Windows Vista registry. Click Yes to continue with the merge of the registration file. Refer to Image below.

    

7. If you are successful with merge of the RunAs.REGFILE.reg registration file then the following window should appear. Refer to Image below.

   

NOTES

The RunAs.REGFILE.reg file is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com).  You also can view the contents of the RunAs.REGFILE.reg file by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Platforms Tested

• Microsoft Windows Vista, x86 versions

Version 1.3
Edited: May 3, 2012