Desktop hosed-can't right click anywhere

[Guest]

I've run into a problem with my desktop. I've always had my desktop icons
hidden and use fast launch bar or true launce. However, recently, I've not
been able to right click on the desktop and baring anything up. When I do, I
just get the hour glass and this morning let it go for 30 minutes before I
had to shut the system down.

I cannot even right click on files in explorer to view, run, etc. Same
thing happens.

I have some folders with word/text documents that have been added to the
quick launch task bar and when I click on them to open, they open and run in
a dos window and close very quickly. I can't see what is happening.

Help.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowrightclick.htm
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootlist/208.htm#4

 

[Guest]

Ramesh, thank you. This saved me. I had been evaluating Meta Comander Pro
and decided that I didn't want to purchase it. I uninstalled it. That is
apparently when my troubles started. When I ran the utility that you refer
to, I found the meta commander pro context menu still turned on. I disabled
it and the problem went away.

 

[Guest]

Ramesh, this solved my right click issue in all locations.

Now, I only have the clicking on folders to open them. When I do, the
folder doesn't open, it looks like some type of command is running in a dos
dialoag. I can't tell what is actually happening. The only way that I can
open the folder is to right click on it and select the "open" command. I can
then click on the documents inside and they will open(they're word or text or
html format).

Any suggestions here?

thx,

Roger

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Roger,

For the 2nd question:

This problem occurs when you alter the "Drive" / "File Folders" entries via
File Types dialog, to add a "Command Prompt here" or "Print Directory"
feature for folders. (example)

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321379
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321186

Resolution:

Click Start/Run and type this command to fix this problem:
(Tip from David Candy)

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

-or-

To fix this manually via registry:

If this problem is seen for Drives:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell
Set (default) to "none" (without ")

If this problem is seen for folders:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
Set (default) to "none" (without ")

 

[Guest]

You sir are great. I ran Candy's tip and it solved my problem.

thanks very much.

Roger

Roger,

For the 2nd question:

This problem occurs when you alter the "Drive" / "File Folders" entries via
File Types dialog, to add a "Command Prompt here" or "Print Directory"
feature for folders. (example)

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321379
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321186

Resolution:

Click Start/Run and type this command to fix this problem:
(Tip from David Candy)

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

-or-

To fix this manually via registry:

If this problem is seen for Drives:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell
Set (default) to "none" (without ")

If this problem is seen for folders:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
Set (default) to "none" (without ")

--
Ramesh, Windows XP MVP
http://windowsxp.mvps.org

Ramesh, this solved my right click issue in all locations.

Now, I only have the clicking on folders to open them. When I do, the
folder doesn't open, it looks like some type of command is running in a
dos
dialoag. I can't tell what is actually happening. The only way that I
can
open the folder is to right click on it and select the "open" command. I
can
then click on the documents inside and they will open(they're word or text
or
html format).

Any suggestions here?

thx,

Roger

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome Roger.