right-click functions on start menu don't work

[mlmll]

Hello all,

On my XP Home machine, when I right-click an item in the start menu, I have the contextual menu that pops up, and I could click on a function ("Explore", "Explore all users", "Sort by name" and so on...)

Well, the contextual menu still pops up, but for a couple of weeks, clicking some functions (like "Explore", "Explore all users&quot within it doesn't do anything anymore, and I can't remember of what I've done to disable this (no I'm not in a limited account) :-(

Note that "Sort by name" still works. :-I

Anubody knows how to fix this ?

Thanks *a lot* in advance.

MLL02

 

[helengordon]

I have a similar problem, but maybe a little worse: the contextual menu doesn't pop up. Right clcik producues no more than a quick blink.
Help. anyone ?

 

[linney]

Perhaps using System Restore to get back to when everything worked OK maybe the first thing to try.

Using the System File checking program by typing Sfc /Scannow in the Run Box will not do any harm and will check your files for corruption.

As a last resort before you get to the re-install windows stage you could download a Registry checking program that will scan your registry and fix up errors in there.

http://regvac.com/regvac.htm

 

[s0121]

Open Mouse in Control Panel.
On the Buttons tab, under Button configuration, select the Switch primary and secondary buttons check box to make the right button the primary mouse button. Clear the check box if you want the left button to be the primary mouse button.
Notes

To open Mouse, click Start, click Control Panel, and then double-click Mouse.
Be aware that if you switch the mouse buttons using the left mouse button, you will have to use the right mouse button to switch them back.
Related Topics
Frank Smith
s0121@starband.net
"SomeWhere in Kansas--"Near Dodge City"

 

[RiderJon]

If your right mouse click works on other folders, here's a test to see if only your right click on system was turned off (not sure if that is possible)

Here's a test you can perform to check if you accidently disabled the options of right click .... Beware it involves registry change, but then you can always use System restore to go back. I put "notepad" using this and so when I right click on start I get it as one of the options. And no problems yet .... 2 weeks and counting


1) Run "regedit" from start-run.
2) Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT --- Directory.
3) Click on shell and see if you have any folder/key there
---->Windows places all (or most) the .exe here. If there are none, that's your problem. You need to use "System Restore" to go back or manually enter all the goodies which I don't know the link to.

4) Either way create a new folder and change the value of "Default" key under that folder to "&Notepad".

Here's how to do that if you don't know:
1) right click on "shell" go to new -- key create a new folder ...say "Run Notepad".
2) Then click on this folder and you should see a default key on the right preview pane.
3)Right click on the "default" and then string value.
4) Enter "&Notepad".
5) close this window (dunno if you need to but do it anyway)


Now right click on the Start and see if you see "notepad".
If you don't, there must be a registry setting to enable it. That I don't know how to.

 

[helengordon]

odder and odder.. in fact the right click function has returned on its own. I did exactly nothing. The start menu kept showing "new programmes installed ", though there weren't, instead. But now that seems to have stopped too.
Thanks for all the tips anyway!
helen