Chuck 2. I ran the System File Checker and it copied a bunch of dll files, but the problem is still there. Then I went to Kelly's Korner, as you suggested, and I searched and found this: Restore Right Click .inf/Install That was the closest thing I could find. There was nothing I found that said "Open doesn't work with right-click." I downloaded the patch, but wanted to ask you first before I used it.

0

Tufenuf (Fabulous Thunderbirds), In Tweak UI, I unchecked a bunch of programs that are allowed to appear in the Most Frequently Used Programs section of the Start menu. No, I didn't undo the changes. I also didn't do a Sytem Restore yet because after creating my last System Restore point, I installed a bunch of programs. And believe it or not, I was about to create a new System Restore Point yesterday, when this problem occurred. I didn't want to do a System Restore right now because then I'll lose all the configuration and registry settings from all the new programs I installed. I figured getting the Open command to work again was a quick fix, but I guess not.

0

Here's some more information. The right-click Open command works everywhere else, It opens folders on the desktop and it opens (runs) programs in the Start menu. It just won't open folders in the Start Menu anymore.

0

Dom Fontana, It wouldn't hurt to try undoing those changes you made in Tweak UI, restart your computer and see what happens. Tufenuf

0

Tuf, I undid all the changes from TweakUI, rebooted, and still have the problem. I also ran a virus check and anti-malware scan, and it turned up nothing. I can't think of what else to do to fix it.

0

@ fontana In response to your # 7, I do not know. At Kelly's Korner, I think what you want is Line 215 in the right hand column. There are TWO seperate Reg files there.

0

Try the "Folder Association Fix" at the link below. The page has instructions for using it. http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_ass... Tufenuf

0

Chuck 2 and Tufenuf, I tried both of your suggestions and neither of them worked. Downloaded the fixes, applied one, rebooted, then applied the 2nd one, rebooted, and the problem is still there. Anything else you can think of?

0

I figured out how to fix the problem myself. For the benefit of others, here's how to fix it. Download the free program ShellExView from here: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexvi... It displays and allows you to edit all the entries in the context menu handler, which is the right-click menu. Usually the problem is with a non-Microsoft entry, so sort the list by company. Then look at all the non-Microsoft entries and disable them one at a time and see if it fixes the problem. When you find the one that fixes the problem, then keep it disabled. I found it right away. There was an entry for Power Iso and that was the last program I had installed. So, I disabled its entry and Eureka, the right-click Open command now works on the folders in the Start Menu (All Programs) again.

1

Dom Fontana, Glad to see that you fixed the problem and Thanks for posting how you fixed it as it will benefit others who may run into the same problem. I wish I would have thought of that as the link below states this. "5. When you right-click a folder in the Start Menu and choose Open or Explore, nothing may happen. (Whereas, it works fine in Windows Explorer.) " Right-click is slow or weird behavior caused by context menu handlers. http://windowsxp.mvps.org/slowright... Tufenuf

0

Hey, Tuf. Glad I could do a little to try to help. You find something that works, you pass it on. The PC always seems to have these little niggling things that pop up. I liked my old Atari 800 and Amiga 2500 computers better, but they're gone now, so most of us are using PCs. This is a great site, so I'll come around again from time to time. And thanks again for your time and help.

0

Dear Dom Fontana, can't thank you enough for your method. Worked great =) I downloaded shellexview program and i got it strait away as well. Mine was caused by magic iso, strage, yours was poweriso. Anyway,thanks for writing up the solution as many would have said: "thanks, i fixed it, bye" I registered an account to tell you this. Yay for right click, explore and Yay for you !!!!

0

Hi, darkplanner. I'm glad you fixed it. Thank you for the kind words. That was very nice of you to sign up just to tell me that. I apprecate it. One other thing. I made a slight mistake. It turns out the program that was causing the problem for me was also MagicISO, just like you. I don't know why I put PoweISO. I can't edit my message anymore, but maybe the Sysop can. Anyway, I'm glad we both got it fixed. Happy right-clicking.

0

Tufenuf. Are you able to edit my message above where I described the fix, to say that the culprit was MagicISO and not PowerISO? If not, for the benefit of everyone else, please note that it's MagicISO (not PowerISO) that causes the problem with the right-click Open command. Sorry for any confusion.

0

Dom Fontana, I can't edit your post but you don't need to worry about it as if others read the entire thread they'll see the correction. Thanks again for posting back the fix. Tufenuf

0

Okay, great.

0

I had the same problem and fixed it by going to the start menu properties, choose customize, then advanced... and re-checked off the option for "drag and drop" for the start menu and whalah! it works again Cheers!

0

eboy. I had checked that first, but "drag and drop" was already selected for me. I had heard that fixes it in some instances. I'm glad it worked for you

0