Windows 7 Kill Explorer Context Menu Switch

Elmer

Extraordinary Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
If you're into modifying system files etc. you'll soon get fed up of logging out/in or using Task Manager to stop and re-start Explorer.exe all the time. Even if Explorer has died and you can r-click the desktop this will save you logging out/in or launching Task Manager (Ctrl+Alt+Delete).

Here's the handy alternative:-

How to Kill and Revive Explorer.exe using the Context Menu.

First, make yourself a .bat file (make a New Text Document.txt, then when you save it change .txt file extension to .bat) and call it KILL EXPLORER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.bat, enter this text code and save :-
Code:
@echo off

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
sleep [B][COLOR=Red]4[/COLOR][/B]
start explorer.exe
The 4 is adjustable, giving a slight sleep (4 is 3 secs, 6 is 5 secs, 2 is 1 secs etc. 1 is 0 secs but it makes your monitor look like it's popping!!(not advisable!)).
Then make yourself a .reg file (as per the New Text Document.txt above), call it KILL EXPLORER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.reg and enter this text code and save it:-
Code:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Restart Explorer]
@="[COLOR=Red]Kill Explorer or whatever you want here to show in context menu[/COLOR]"
"Icon"="[COLOR=Red]An:\\optional\\path to\\add a 16x16.ico[/COLOR]"
"Position"="Top"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\Restart Explorer\command]
@="[COLOR=Red]The:\\path\\to your\\KILL EXPLORER OR WHATEVER YOU WANT.BAT[/COLOR]"
Click and merge the .reg file into your registry.

Then in the background empty space of any Folder or your Desktop you will be able to right click and you will have an "Explorer Kill Switch" at the top of your context menu.

ExplorerKill.png


Hope that's of use to somebody. It's assisted me, oooh, lost count of the times!
 
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