Power User Tasks Menu (Win + X) - Edit in Windows 8

How to Edit Win+X "Power User Tasks Menu" in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This will show you how to add and remove shortcuts and groups to the Power User Tasks Menu using the easy to use Win + X Editor program for only your user account in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

Thank you to our member hb860 (aka: Happy Bulldozer) for creating the free Win + X Menu Editor program.

   Note

With "Win+X Menu Editor" you are able:

• to add new items (shortcuts and groups).
• to remove any item in Win+X menu.
• to rename any shortcut in Win+X menu. (right click or F2)
• to reorder Win+X menu items.

   Note

In Windows 8.1, a Shut Down menu has been added to the Power User Tasks Menu that can include the Sleep, Hibernate, Shut down, and Restart options.

If you shut down from the WIN+X menu in Windows 8.1, it will perform a full shut down even if you have Fast Startup turned on.

EXAMPLE: Power User Tasks Menu

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Here's How:

1. Click on the Download button below, and download the WinXMenuEditorRelease.zip file for the free Win + X Menu Editor program, and save it to you desktop.
NOTE: When you click on the download button below to go to the winaero.com site, be sure to click on the gray download button at the bottom of the progams's description, but above the Comments section.

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2. Extract (drag and drop) either the x64 or x86 folder that is the same as your 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) Windows 8 to your desktop.
NOTE: Be sure to only extract the one that is the same for your Windows 8, or it will not work properly.

3. Open the extracted x64 or x86 folder, and run the WinXEditor.exe file.

   Note

This is a standalone exe file that only runs, and does not install on your computer.

If you like, you could move the x64 or x86 folder to where you like, create a shortcut of the WinXEditor.exe file, then with this shortcut Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.

4. You can now edit your Power User Tasks Menu to how you like with the free Win + X Menu Editor program.
NOTE: If you like, see the demo video below for more on how to use Win + X Editor.

5. When finished making the changes you want, click/tap on the Restart Explorer button to apply them.
NOTE: You can click/tap on the Restore Defaults button at the top left corner, click/tap and on Yes when prompted to restore the Power User Tasks Menu back to default.

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Related Tutorials

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• How to Open the Win+X "Power User Tasks Menu" in Windows 8 and 8.1
• Show Command Prompt or PowerShell in Win+X Power User Tasks Menu in Windows 8.1
• How to Add a "Power" Cascading Desktop Context Menu in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. I'm glad that it worked for you.

 

[hb860]

Win+X Menu Editor for Windows 8 is updated!
>> version 2.0.0.1 <<

• hashlnk is not required anymore, all its functions are ported into the Win+X Menu Editor source code
• Numerous bugs are fixed, such as sorting bug or crash on empty Win+X menu
• Improved "add a program" feature
• New clean and useful UI with hotkeys, new icons
• The ability to move shortcuts between groups
• New feature - "Presets", which allows you to add various commands in Win+X menu, such as shutdown
• options, calculator and so on.
• fixed a bug with built-in items renaming

Video with new version:
[video=youtube;fn3W9waszvg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn3W9waszvg[/video]

Download link

 

[Brink]

Thank you HB. Tutorial updated.

 

[hb860]

Thanks to you too :thumb:

 

[hb860]

I have implemented the most requested feature - add a control panel item.
I understand that not everyone knows all shell:::{GUID} commands of Windows 8 so I made UI.

2.5.0.1

• Bug fixed: if you try to add a shortcut which is already in Win+X menu folder, then application will show you .NET framework error.
• New feature - "Add a Control Panel item" allows you to add any control panel applet including hidden like "Network Connections" or "All Tasks(God Mode)".
• Improved icons resolving for Win+X menu items
• "Add a program" now not a button but drop-down menu.
• Some very minor non-critical bugs are fixed

Download link

 

[znod]

Very useful. Thanks to all responsible.

 

[hb860]

v2.6
New feature - "Add an Administrative Tools item" allows you to add any Administrative Tools item quickly and easy.

Download link

 

[ChrisRaabe]

Win+X Editor error

Hi Sergey,

I've some problems with v2.6



with details:

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path  'C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative  Tools'.
   at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)
   at System.IO.FileSystemEnumerableIterator`1.CommonInit()
   at System.IO.FileSystemEnumerableIterator`1..ctor(String path, String  originalUserPath, String searchPattern, SearchOption searchOption,  SearchResultHandler`1 resultHandler, Boolean checkHost)
   at System.IO.Directory.InternalGetFileDirectoryNames(String path,  String userPathOriginal, String searchPattern, Boolean includeFiles,  Boolean includeDirs, SearchOption searchOption, Boolean checkHost)
   at System.IO.Directory.InternalGetFiles(String path, String searchPattern, SearchOption searchOption)
   at WindowsFormsApplication1.Form1.GetAdministrativeTools()
   at WindowsFormsApplication1.Form1.Form1_Load(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.18046 built by: FX45RTMGDR
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework64/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
WinXEditor
    Assembly Version: 2.6.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.6.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/WinAero/WinXEditor.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.18046 built by: FX45RTMGDR
    CodeBase:  file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.18022 built by: FX45RTMGDR
    CodeBase:  file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.18045 built by: FX45RTMGDR
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Data
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.18046 built by: FX45RTMGDR
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_64/System.Data/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Data.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Core
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.17929 built by: FX45RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Core/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Core.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.18046 built by: FX45RTMGDR
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

After pressing Continue the panel is empty

I'm using Windows 8 Pro x64 and of course the x64 version of Win+X Menu Editor.

Best wishes,
Chris

 

[hb860]

Hi, I see strange thing in exception you posted.
I use the following code to retrieve AD tools items:
string AdinistrativeToolsPath = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(@"%AllUsersProfile%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools");

Can you check that directory exists or not?
Just press Win+R and put %AllUsersProfile%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools into Run dialog box

 

[ChrisRaabe]

Hi, I see strange thing in exception you posted.
I use the following code to retrieve AD tools items:
string AdinistrativeToolsPath = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables(@"%AllUsersProfile%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools");

Can you check that directory exists or not?
Just press Win+R and put %AllUsersProfile%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools into Run dialog box

Hi Sergey,

you're right the folder "Administrative Tools" doesn't exist inside "Programs" on my computer. I've moved it into "System Tools" to shorten the "All Programs" tree in start menu in StartIsBack.

I think it would be better to access "Administrative Tools" by its CLSID ::{d20ea4e1-3957-11d2-a40b-0c5020524153} which is independent of location.

Have a nice day,
Chris