Power - Add Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8

How to Add a Power Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to add or remove a cascading (expandable) Power menu to the desktop context menu for all users to quickly Lock, Switch user, Sign out (log off), Sleep, Hibernate, Hybrid Shut down, Full Shut down, Restart, or Restart to Boot Options in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to add or remove the "Power" context menu from the desktop.

If you would like to have this customized for you, then please post what you would like in the Power context menu instead. I'll be happy to whip it up for you.

   Note

• Sleep - You will need to disable hibernate for this to sleep instead of hibernate.
• Hibernate - You will need to enable hibernate for it to work. It is by default.
• Hybrid Shut down - You will need to enable hibernate and have fast startup turned on for this to do a hybrid shut down instead of a full shut down. It is by default.
• Full Shut down - This will do a normal full shut down no matter if you have fast startup turned on or off.
• Slide to Shut down - Windows 8.1 introduces this option to be able to shut down your PC by simply dragging a screen down, or sliding a touch screen down.

   Tip

If you would prefer to add Lock, Switch user, Sign out, Shut down, or Restart as a separate desktop context menu item instead, then see the Related Tutorials links at the bottom of this tutorial.

EXAMPLE: "Power" Cascading Context Menu

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Here's How:

1. To Add "Power" to the Desktop Context Menu

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.​

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Add_Power_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg​

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2. To Remove "Power" from the Desktop Context Menu

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 3 below.​

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Remove_Power_from_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg​

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3. Save the REG file to your desktop.

4. Double click/tap on the REG file to merge it, and click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted to approve the merge.

5. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

6. Right click on your desktop to see the change.
NOTE: You can press the Windows+ D keys to go to the desktop.

   Note

The Switch User option will only work in the Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions by default.

If you have the Windows 8 edition, then you will need to also do this below for the Switch User option to work.

• Click on the Download button below to download the tsdiscon.zip file.
• Save the tsdiscon.zip file to your desktop.
• Open the tsdiscon.zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the tsdiscon.exe file to your desktop.
• Unblock the extracted tsdiscon.exe file.
• Move the tsdiscon.exe file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.
• If prompted, click/tap on Continue and Yes (UAC) to approve.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Lock, Log off, Restart, Shut Down, and Switch User in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Restart" Computer to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Restart" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Shut Down" Computer to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Shut Down" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Slide to Shut down" Shortcut in Windows 8.1
• How to Create a "Hybrid Shut Down" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Switch User" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Lock Computer" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create a "Lock Computer" Shortcut in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change Lock Screen Timeout Period in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn On or Off the Lock Screen Slide Show in Windows 8.1
• How to Add "Sign out" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Turn Fast Startup On or Off for a Hybrid Boot in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Create an "Abort" Shortcut in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Add "Safe Mode" to Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• Add or Remove Shutdown Power Menu from Sign in Screen in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Default Action of Alt+F4 "Shut Down Windows" Dialog in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Hide or Show "Sign out" in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Brink]

Well... I have UAC to a minimum, otherwise metro apps will not run...

When I hover over... it will not expand... other context menus expand fine.

Hello Highlander,

Try turning UAC back to the default level and merging the REG file again afterwards to see if that may help.

 

[Highlander]

Nope, nada... same thing!

 

[Brink]

Odd. Are you signed into an adminsitrator account?

Are you doing this from your desktop?

Do you get all of the prompts in step 4, and approve all of them when merging?

Does clicking on it expand it?

Are you having any other issues in Windows 8 that may be related?

Are you familiar enough with the registry to check to see if all of the entries in the REG file were added to your registry?

 

[Sean]

I have the same problem with the menu not popping out. All other menus are fine. I have US version with UK keyboard layout. Not touched the UAC from default. Logged in as Admin etc.

The entries under CommandStore/shell haven't hit the registry for some reason. The other entries are there.

 

[Brink]

Hello Sean, and welcome to Eight Forums.

The only thing I can think of is that you may not have approved all of the prompts at step 4. You may have clicked on cancel/no on one of them by mistake. This tutorial works perfectly for me on every system I test it on.

Try the Add_Power_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg again. Do you get all four Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK prompts when you do?

 

[Sean]

Ah OK it's working now! I must have clicked "No" or something on one of the prompts. Sorry about that .

Nice tweak though, thanks.

 

[Highlander]

Funny.. its working for me too...

how can i change the order of the menu?

 

[Brink]

Great news guys.

@Highlander,

Let me know what order you would like them in, and I'll upload a custom one for you.

 

[abushshabab]

Sleep Goes to Hibernate

Hi Brink,

Thanks for this enhancement. However on my system (Dell XPS Core i7-3770), the sleep goes to hibernate.

I disabled the hibernate in the power options for the active power plan, but that did not help.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello abushshabab, and welcome to Eight Forums.

That doesn't disable hibernate. It only turns it off for that power plan. Instead, you could use OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to disable hibernate.

Hibernate - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Forums

 

[abushshabab]

Hello abushshabab, and welcome to Eight Forums.

That doesn't disable hibernate. It only turns it off for that power plan. Instead, you could use OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to disable hibernate.

Hibernate - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Forums

Thank you for your prompt reply.

The tutorial you referred me to would disable hibernate completely (ant take it out of the menus, right?).
Is there a way to get the right-click | Power | Sleep to act like the Win+I | Power | Sleep instead?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Yes, it will disable hibernate completely, and remove "hibernate" from Power Options. It will still be listed from the tutorial, but non functional.

When you disable hibernate, sleep will work like that. See the blue NOTE box at the top of the tutorial for more details though.

 

[abushshabab]

Yes, it will disable hibernate completely, and remove "hibernate" from Power Options. It will still be listed from the tutorial, but non functional.

When you disable hibernate, sleep will work like that. See the blue NOTE box at the top of the tutorial for more details though.

I got it, so for some reason it is not possible to have both Sleep (Stand by) and Hibernate to be active together in this context menu.

How about Switch User? It does nothing for me.
Please pardon me for bothering you this much.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

It's no bother at all.

That's correct. You cannot have "Sleep" and "Hibernate" to be active at the same time, since "Sleep" would only function as "Hibernate" if hibernate is enabled.

"Switch User" should work no matter if you only have your user account or more than one user account on the computer. Are you using the final retail version of Windows 8?

Double check to make sure you have the "C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe" file.

 

[abushshabab]

It's no bother at all.

That's correct. You cannot have "Sleep" and "Hibernate" to be active at the same time, since "Sleep" would only function as "Hibernate" if hibernate is enabled.

"Switch User" should work no matter if you only have your user account or more than one user account on the computer. Are you using the final retail version of Windows 8?

Double check to make sure you have the "C:\Windows\System32\tsdiscon.exe" file.

I do not know. I think I am using the Dell OEM Windows 8 version whatever that is. The command prompt said:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]

I do not have the file you mentioned.

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Here's a clean copy of the tsdiscon.exe file in a ZIP file below.

View attachment tsdiscon.zip​

Download it to your desktop, extract (drag and drop) the .exe from the ZIP to your desktop.

Unblock the extracted .exe file.

Them move the .exe file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

If prompted, click on Continue to approve moving it there.

Afterwards, see if "Switch User" works for you.

 

[abushshabab]

Here's a clean copy of the tsdiscon.exe file in a ZIP file below.

View attachment 12977​

Download it to your desktop, extract (drag and drop) the .exe from the ZIP to your desktop. Unblock the extracted .exe file. Them move the .exe file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder. If prompted, click on Continue to approve moving it there. Afterwards, see if "Switch User" works for you.

It worked. Thank you so much, Brink.

 

[Brink]

That's great news. You're most welcome.

 

[hotrippr]

Could I get one with, Full Shutdown, Restart, Lock, and Sleep only please? Much appreciated.

 

[Brink]

Hello Hotrippr,

Sure thing. Here's the .reg file below for it. You can use the same Remove .reg file in step 2 to remove it if you like.

View attachment Add_Power_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg