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

 

[hotrippr]

Thanks a lot, works like a charm!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[wins]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\safemode]@="Restart to Boot Options"
"icon"="shell32.dll,-290"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CommandStore\shell\safemode\command]
@="Shutdown -r -o -f -t 00"

Another useful entry will be Restart to Boot Options

 

[Brink]

Hello wins,

Agreed. Added Boot/Startup Options to it.

 

[Narayan]

Can We use it in Windows 7 Ultimate?

 

[Brink]

Hello Narayan,

You wouldn't want to use the "Hybrid Shut down" or "Restart to Boot Options" items in Windows 7, so here's a .reg file below that will work in Windows 7 as well for you. You can use the same Remove .reg file in step 2 to remove it if you like in the future.

View attachment Add_Power_to_Desktop_Context_Menu.reg

 

[Narayan]

OK Thank You Very Much....

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Narayan.

 

[LittleJay]

Thanks much for this tutorial Brink! It is very helpful.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Jay. Glad you like it.

 

[Win8win]

awesome tutorial!!!
help me very much!!
thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Tom. I'm glad you found it helpful.

 

[sense1707]

Thanks Brink, great little tweak.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Sense. Glad you like it.

 

[entropy]

Hello guys,

When I click on sleep my computer hibernates instead. Any suggestions?

I am running windows 8.1 PRO

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Entropy,

You will need to disable hibernate for it to sleep instead of hibernate.

 

[entropy]

Thank you for replying Brink, however, when I press the power button on my laptop windows do go to sleep and do not hibernate.
Which command is being triggered when I press the power button on my laptop? Can this command replace the one in the context menu?

Thanks again!

 

[Brink]

Entropy,

You would need to have hibernate enabled for that, but then Sleep in the context menu will hibernate instead. It's an either or option.

Hibernate - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Help Forums​

If you do, then double check using the tutorial below to see if your power button action is set to hibernate.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/14956-power-button-action-change-windows-8-a.html

 

[Deleted member 57465]

Hi Shawn. In the tutorial, you have 2 download links: add, remove. However, both of them appear to point to the same URL (the add reg file). Would you please double check the URLs and update the "remove" URL? Thanks for all your helpful posts.

 

[Brink]

Hello Kris, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Thank you for letting me know. It is now fixed.