Remove Winamp Context Menu Items - Vista Guide

Removing Winamp Context Menu Items in Windows Vista

A common frustration is the addition of entries to the Windows Explorer right-click menu by various applications, and the difficulty in subsequently removing them. Winamp provides a preferences panel designed for configuring these menu items. However, this functionality appears to be ineffective within the Windows Vista operating system.

The root cause of this issue lies in the Winamp installer's execution with administrator privileges. This grants it the ability to add global menu items. Conversely, running Winamp under a standard user account restricts the modification of items initially installed with elevated permissions.

Resolving the Issue

To rectify this, locate Winamp within the Start Menu. Then, right-click on the application's entry and select "Run as administrator." This step is crucial for enabling the necessary permissions.

Following this, access the Winamp preferences. This can be done through the system tray icon or via the application's menu. Navigate to General Preferences, then select "Jump To File," and finally, "Shell Options."

An interesting behavior is observed within this dialog. If no items are currently selected, it's recommended to select all available options first. Then, deselect those you wish to remove from the context menu.

This action effectively resets the context menu entries, ensuring only the desired items remain visible.

Final Steps

After completing these steps, right-clicking on a folder should no longer display the unwanted Winamp entries. It’s important to remember that adding or removing these items requires launching Winamp with administrator privileges.

This workaround remains necessary until a permanent solution is implemented by the developers.