Remove Gadgets & Screen Resolution from Windows 7 Context Menu
Customizing the Windows 7 Desktop Context Menu
Upon upgrading to Windows 7, users may observe the inclusion of new entries – Gadgets and Screen Resolution – within the desktop context menu. These additions, while potentially useful to some, can clutter the menu for others. This article details the process of removing these items.
Understanding the Issue
If you right-click on the desktop in Windows 7, you’ll notice these new options appearing at the bottom of the list. Furthermore, it’s possible to also remove the Catalyst item, as previously covered in a separate guide detailing the removal of the ATI Catalyst Control Center from the desktop context menu.
Removing Gadgets and Screen Resolution
Typically, modifying context menu items involves a straightforward registry edit. However, the new Windows 7 entries are protected by specific permissions, making their removal somewhat more complex. This guide provides a workaround for those comfortable with registry modifications.
Begin by opening the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) via the Start menu search or the Run dialog box. Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell
Upon reaching this key, you'll find that while the new items are visible, they cannot be directly removed or renamed.
To proceed, we must first adjust permissions. Right-click on the 'DesktopBackground' key and select 'Permissions'.
Within the Permissions window, disregard most of the displayed information and click the 'Advanced' button.
Switch to the 'Owner' tab. Select 'Administrators' from the list, and then check the box labeled "Replace owner on subcontainers and objects". Ensure this box is checked before clicking 'Apply'.
Return to the 'Permissions' tab. Select 'Administrators' from the list (it should already display 'Full Control'). Check the box that reads "Replace all child object permissions with inheritable permissions from this object". Confirm this checkbox is selected before clicking 'Apply'.
Windows will prompt you for confirmation, asking if you are certain you want to proceed. Confirm your decision.
You should now be able to rename or delete the desired keys. It is highly recommended to create a backup first by right-clicking on 'DesktopBackground' and choosing to export it as a .reg file.
To remove 'Gadgets' and 'Screen Resolution', for instance, delete their respective keys (after creating a backup, of course).
After removing the unwanted items, and potentially the ATI Catalyst entry, you’ll have a cleaner, more streamlined desktop context menu.
Further customization options for the context menu will be explored in a future article.
