Right click 'Open With' Command missing. Help Please.

Anonymous
2009-09-21T20:08:24+00:00

I realised a few days ago that the right click context menu 'open with' command is missing. However its there at the top of the window on the 'menu bar' or whatever.

Not sure how it happened. Maybe when i installed MS .Net Framework 3 SP1 or maybe when I cleaned registry with CCleaner.

I need to get it back please. Could u tell me how??? thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-09-22T12:20:29+00:00

Hi, scurvy:

By design, the Open With menu option is not available when you right-click executable files (.cmd, .bat, .pif, .scf, .exe, .com, or .scr), or shortcuts to executable files.

If you've lost the Open With menu option for ALL file types, including non-executable files, follow this steps:

  1. Click Start, All Programs, Accesories, Notepad.
  2. Copy and paste this text:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Open With]

@="{09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}"

  1. Click File, Save As, name the file "OpenWith.reg" (WITH THE QUOTATION MARKS) and click OK.
  2. Now double-click OpenWith.reg, click Continue, Yes, OK, and see if the problem is solved.

P.S: My personal advice is not to use ANY registry cleaner on the system.

Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-06-18T15:43:16+00:00

    (Windows 7 Professional)  Lost my Open With when the "Free File Viewer" got installed without my knowing it.  Once I uninstalled FFV, I didn't know how to get the Open With option back. 

    This worked great!  thank you!

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-06-07T16:51:46+00:00

    There is something screwy limiting the use of "open with" with certain extensions.  I "made up" a DOF extension and "open with" refuses to display when I right-click on it.

    VERY limited usefulness.  More fixing-what-wasn't-broke from Microsoft.

    This worked. I was skeptical.  But I gave it a try.  Success.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-04T21:08:06+00:00

    Hello, I tried all the fixes, one by one, but to no avail.  My last message said it would not import the "OpenWith.reg" file.  It said that it would only accept a binary fix.  Can you help me with this?  I'm not a pro but can usually follow good instructions.  Thank you.

    Carol D.

    One more thing, the popup says that this is not a valid registry quote.  I really need this option to make my work easier.  Thank you folks.

    I know this is an old thread but I found a different solution that might help future individuals with this problem. I recently had the same problem with my replacement computer at work. ( It was second hand so it might have had a virus at some point. ) Anyway I tried Daniel Martín method which wouldn't work for windows 7 since it needed to be run in regedit. So I did this, which worked:

    Open Regedit: Type regedit into the search bar (window 7 or vista or in Run for windows xp and earlier) and hit enter.

    Once in Regedit navigate to this folder

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

    You should see something similar to this:

    LDVPMenu

    OpenWith

    XXX Groove GFS Context Menu Handler XXX

    If OpenWith is missing right click ContextMenuHandlers and select New > Key

    Name this new key "OpenWith"

    Now click on the newly created key. On the right half of the registry editor you will see (Default). Right click this and select Modify.

    Enter this into Value Data and save:

    {09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}

    Should work now.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-06-04T21:06:02+00:00

    @scurvy

    I know this is an old thread but I found a different solution that might help future individuals with this problem.  I recently had the same problem with my replacement computer at work. ( It was second hand so it might have had a virus at some point. )  Anyway I tried Daniel Martín method which wouldn't work for windows 7 since it needed to be run in regedit. So I did this, which worked:

    Open Regedit: Type regedit into the search bar (window 7 or vista or in Run for windows xp and earlier) and hit enter. 

    Once in Regedit navigate to this folder

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

    You should see something similar to this:

    LDVPMenu

    OpenWith

    XXX Groove GFS Context Menu Handler XXX

    If OpenWith is missing right click ContextMenuHandlers and select New > Key

    Name this new key "OpenWith"

    Now click on the newly created key.  On the right half of the registry editor you will see (Default).  Right click this and select Modify. 

    Enter this into Value Data and save:

    {09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}

    Should work now.

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