Adding your own OEM Link to the Start Menu (XP)

[Xander]

Credit to this page.
I've got an HP XP machine on my bench and the HP shortcut on the start menu caught my eye again. I decided to finally look into adding my own.


Weblink button:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Sets the button name
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] 
 @="Update Windows" 
 "LocalizedString"="Windows Update Site" 
 "InfoTip"="Visit Microsoft and look for updates for Windows XP" 

; Sets the icon to C:\Windows\System32\help.ico
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
  @="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\shell32.dll,-24"

; Sets the action to this website
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag] 
 "CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}" 
 "method"="ShellExecute" 
 "Command"="Updates Windows XP" 
 "Param1"="http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com"

Email link button:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Sets the button name
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] 
 @="Email YourCompanyName" 
 "LocalizedString"="Email YourCompanyName" 
 "InfoTip"="Send us Email" 

; Sets the icon to C:\Windows\System32\help.ico
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
  @="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\shell32.dll,-24"

; Sets the action to this website
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag] 
 "CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}" 
 "method"="ShellExecute" 
 "Command"="Email YourCompanyName" 
 "Param1"="mailto:support.YourCompanyName.com@yourprovider.com"

Run a Program:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Sets the button name
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] 
 @="My App" 
 "LocalizedString"="My App" 
 "InfoTip"="This launches My App!" 

; Sets the icon to the help icon
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\shell32.dll,-24"

; Sets the action to your app, and the right click action to configure your app
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]
"CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}"
"method"="ShellExecute"
"Command"="My App"
"Param1"="c:\\MyApp\\Myapp.exe"
"properties"="c:\\MyApp\\Myapp.exe /config"
"propertiestext"="Configure My App"

The DefaultIcon sections can be replaced with:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\TLC.ico"


And, it should go without saying that this will replace any existing manufacturer's links in the Start menu (not that anybody ever uses them).

 

[PaulRome]

@#$%^& Sweet. Thanks.

Best of luck

 

[Xander]

Might be worth mentioning that I've already been in communication with Nick/FoolishTech about including this in an upcoming D7.

 

[PaulRome]

Might be worth mentioning that I've already been in communication with Nick/FoolishTech about including this in an upcoming D7.

Read my mind. I was thinking about asking him if there was a way to incorporate this into dsupport.

 

[FoolishTech]

I should have a workable solution in place for upcoming v4.7.5 - will post back here when I do.

 

[Keith G]

This works perfect, thank your hard work!


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=41.742329,-87.656026

 

[FoolishTech]

Just thought I would add to the topic in addition to adding this functionality to D7...

More functionality:

Add a PROGRAM instead of the email or website. Just put the full path to the program in the Param1= bit. e.g.

Param1=c:\windows\foo.exe

Also, want RIGHT CLICK options for it? In

HKCR\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag

simply add a string value named properties and place your string in there, e.g. c:\windows\foo.exe and another string value named propertiestext to contain the text e.g. Run This App Instead. You'll see now you can right-click and select that option. You may also use a website or email link in the properties field instead of an app.

NOTE for anyone reading, you will have to restart explorer or log off/on for the visual changes to the start menu to take effect, however you can modify the actions of the button and changes will take effect without logging off.

EDIT: Here's the .reg file version Also NOTE to use the HELP icon, there is no \windows\system32\help.ico so you'll need to use this text: %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-24

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Sets the button name
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}] 
 @="My App" 
 "LocalizedString"="My App" 
 "InfoTip"="This launches My App!" 

; Sets the icon to the help icon
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\DefaultIcon]
@="%SystemRoot%\\system32\\shell32.dll,-24"

; Sets the action to your app, and the right click action to configure your app
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}\Instance\InitPropertyBag]
"CLSID"="{13709620-C279-11CE-A49E-444553540000}"
"method"="ShellExecute"
"Command"="My App"
"Param1"="c:\\MyApp\\Myapp.exe"
"properties"="c:\\MyApp\\Myapp.exe /config"
"propertiestext"="Configure My App"