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Monday, April 9, 2012

Windows 8 “Win+X” Menu in Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu

When you right-click on extreme bottom-left corner of screen, you get a new hidden menu showing shortcuts to lots of useful system tools such as Task Manager, Control Panel, Run, Power Options, Command Prompt, etc. You can also access this hidden menu using "Win+X" keyboard shortcut, that's why its also called "Win+X Menu".
Following is a screenshot of Win+X menu present in Windows 8:
Windows_8_Consumer_Preview_Quick_Access_Menu.png
If you are not using Windows 8 but want to have a similar thing in Windows 7, here is something interesting for you!
Today in this topic, we are going to provide some ready-made registry scripts which will bring Windows 8 "Win+X" Menu to Windows 7 Desktop.
Although we can't get the Win+X Menu at the same location in Windows 7 but we can add it to Desktop context menu so that you can access it quickly and easily by just right-clicking on Desktop.
We have used the same method in creating this Win+X Menu for Windows 7 which was mentioned long time back in following exclusive tutorial:
Add Cascading Menus for Your Favorite Programs in Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu
Using the above mentioned tutorial, we have created a few Registry scripts which can add a new cascading menu in Desktop context menu containing all the shortcuts present in Windows 8 "Win+X" Menu. You can put this Win+X Menu at top, middle or bottom of Desktop context menu.
You can also select whether you want to show icons for all shortcuts or want to have a clean menu without icons similar to Windows 8 Win+X Menu.
Following is a preview of Win+X Menu added in Windows 7:
Windows_8_Win%2BX_Menu_Windows_7.png
And following is an example of how the "Win+X" Menu looks in different positions:
Windows_8_Win%2BX_Menu_Position.png
To add Win+X Menu in Windows 7 Desktop context menu, you just need to download following ZIP file, extract it and run the appropriate REG file:
Download Registry Scripts to Get Windows 8 Win+X Menu in Windows 7
Once you extract the ZIP file, you'll get 3 folders:
  • Add Win+X Menu with Icons
  • Add Win+X Menu without Icons
  • For German Language Users
All these 3 folders contain REG files to add Win+X Menu in Windows 7 Desktop context menu at top, middle or bottom. Just run the desired REG file, it'll ask for confirmation, accept it. That's it. It'll immediately add "Win+X" Menu at desired position in Desktop context menu. "For German Language Users" folder contains the same registry scripts to add Win+X Menu in German language.
An extra REG file "Uninstall.reg" is also available in ZIP file to remove the Win+X Menu if you don't like it and want to remove it.
You can also watch following video showing this "Win+X" Menu in action in Windows 7 along with a working demo:
Feel free to share your feedback or suggestions in your comment...

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