Applications

How To: Fix Slow Right Click Menu Problems

Sometimes with Windows Operating Systems, problems occur after an application, utility or patch is installed. Often the problem may not be found until you perform a function or action such as right clicking a folder or file, making it more difficult to fix.This happen to me sometime ago but I found a neat little program called ShellExView that isolates the programs causing this problems.

ShellExView can do more than this simple task but for now we’ll just concentrate on how it helps you isolate and identify the cause of a misbehaving context menu handler.What is a context menu handler? It’s a shell extension that adds functionality to context menus when you right click a file or folder and a menu appears. Examples are paste, copy, cut, open with, share, etc. When programs such as Zip utilities or Ant-Virus applications are installed, you will also see additional options added to the context menu.

Since context menu handlers can be added to the registry in several different areas, ShellExView easily identifies these areas, and lets you disable all programs or one at a time, which removes the option from the context menu, allowing you test and identify the cause.

Okay lets get started, download ShellExView and open it by double clicking on the exe.If your using Vista right click and run it as Administrator.

As you can see it is a very detailed list and looks complicated but don’t worry its quite simple. To find the context menu handlers, sort the Type column, so the context menu handlers are displayed together.

If I suspected AVG Aniti virus was the culprit, I’d just right click on AVG7 Shell Extension Class and select disable or highlight and press F7 and answer Yes to disable.

Now when I right click on a folder or file, the Scan with AVG option will be gone for the context menu and if AVG was the problem, right clicking will be faster.

Note: If the Scan with AVG option is still present, you will need to reboot for the change to take effect.

If disabling AVG7 Shell Extension Class did not fix the problem, then enable AVG7 Shell Extension Class and disable another non-Microsoft context menu handler and repeat the above steps until the problem is solved.

If there are many, disable in groups, 3 or 4 context menu handlers to help isolate the problem faster. If the problem goes away, enable one at a time (in the group) until you find the offending application.

ShellExView provides lots of information, and you can also scroll to the right and look at the File Extension or File Created Time columns to help narrow down where the problem may reside, or view the properties of an Extension name.

After you have found the problem, try uninstalling the program and see if the problem fixes itself. If not, contact the vendor for support.

ShellExView is a great tool to have around when there are odd problems. Best of all it is free!

Also Read:

• How To: Add Command Promp In Context Menu Windows XP
• How To: Make An Invisible Folder
• How To:Delete Files That Can’t Be Deleted
• How To: Use Copy To Folder And Move To Folder In Vista
• How To: Get Rid Of Thumbs.db In Windows XP

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