Personalize - Add or Remove Expanding Desktop Context Menu

How to Add or Remove Expanding "Personalize" Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to add or remove a custom Personalize expanding desktop context menu for all users in Windows 8 and Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise.

While all users can use this context menu, you must be signed in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

   Warning

This tutorial will not work in the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions since they do not have the personalization features included in them.

For the Windows 7 Starter and Windows 7 Home Basic editions, see OPTION TWO in the tutorial link below to add Personalize instead.

Desktop Background - Change in Windows 7 Starter

EXAMPLE: Custom Expanding "Personalize" Desktop Context Menu

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Here's How:

1. If you have not aleady, you will need to first take ownership in Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1, and set permissions to Allow the Administrators group Full control of both the Personalize and command registry keys below. (see screenshot below)

NOTE: If you already did this step previously, then you will not need to do it again.

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HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personalize​

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HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personlize\command​

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2. Do either step 3 or 4 below for what you would like to do.


3. To Use the Custom Expanding "Personalize" Desktop Context Menu

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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Use_Custom_Personalize_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg​

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4. To Restore the Default "Personalize" Desktop Context Menu

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A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the .reg file below, and go to step 5 below.​

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Restore_Default_Personalize_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg​

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5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK.

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


That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• Add or Remove "Personalize" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change Your Desktop Background and Slide Show in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
• How to Switch Between Themes in Windows 8

 

[Akip]

Wow, I guess I have some problem over here. See this pic:



Look at that, the Personalize context menu is not expandable. Why?

 

[Brink]

Hello Akip, and welcome to Eight Forums.

It looks like you may have missed the second part of step 1 for the registry key below. Please double check and try again to see if that was it.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Personlize\command

 

[Akip]

Yeah sorry, I forgot that step.

Thanks Shawn

 

[Brink]

No problem. I'm just glad that you got it working.

 

[MSerif]

Hello,

I followed the tutorial. Personalize menu is running smoothly at first. It is always disappearing automatically after a short time (Windows 7 - Ultimate / 64 bit). I don't know why...

 

[Brink]

Hello MSerif, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Odd. Do you know if this happens after a Windows Update?

 

[MSerif]

Hello MSerif, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Odd. Do you know if this happens after a Windows Update?

Thank you (albeit this is eightforums)

I don't think that problem is related about Windows updates. I had this issue from the beginning.

I also tried with WinAero; same problem... It is automatically deleted from the Registry. However, there is no problem with the other registry keys (on context menu).

 

[Brink]

Are you using any 3rd party tweaking type program that could be removing it by mistake?

 

[MSerif]

Are you using any 3rd party tweaking type program that could be removing it by mistake?

Yes. Kerish Doctor running in the background. If the registry key is deleted by Kerish Doctor, I will look for a setting for it.

 

[Brink]

If you don't see a setting, you could see if the context menu stays after temporarily disabling or uninstalling "Kerish Doctor".

 

[MSerif]

I did a full scan with Kerish Doctor. The program listed registry errors. I saw the personalize registry key. I ignored the file. I think the problem is resolved.

Thank you for your help.

 

[Brink]

Great news.