Remove Open File Location from Context Menu

Question

Is there any way to remove the Open File Location option from the Context Menu when right-clicking a shortcut?  This will help prevent students from accessing the C drive.  I have already hidden the C drive via Group Policy, however right-clicking a shortcut and selecting Open File Location still allows them to gain access to the C drive.  As a work around I have disabled the ability to display the Context Menu all together when right-clicking via Group Policy.  But I would prefer to just simply remove the Open File Location option.

Answer 1

Although, I could not find the following registry key:  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile.  I does not seem to exist in my systems.  I have checked a hand full of computers just to ensure it was not just my test machine.

I am running Win7 professional service pack 1 64-bit if it makes a difference.

Hi,

The key exists in my systems here, one of them running W7 64-bit. Try here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\LNKFILE

Answer 2

Glad that worked. For the 2nd question, I don't know of any other workaround to disable Open File Location option in the Properties sheet.

Answer 3

Thanks Ramesh!

Removing this registry key deleted the Open File Location from the Context Menu:

HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

Although, I did notice that there is another location were you can open the file's location.  When you right-click a short-cut and select Properties, on the Short-cut Tab there is a button for Open File Location.  I did find a work-around to disable this, but I'm wondering if there is a better way like removing the Short-cut Tab on all property menus.  So far I have changed the following registry key value from (undefined) to none:

HKEY_Classes_Root\Software\Folder\shell

This causes Windows to open an error message box when the Open File Location button is pressed.  However, it does take about 15 seconds to close the Properties Menu Dialog Box.  Do you know of a better way?

Answer 4

Ramesh,

Thanks for you reply.  I was able to delete the following registry keys once I had ownership:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryLocation\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Results\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}

However, this did not remove the Open File Location context menu item. So, I have restored the registry keys.  Although, I could not find the following registry key:  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile.  I does not seem to exist in my systems.  I have checked a hand full of computers just to ensure it was not just my test machine.

I am running Win7 professional service pack 1 64-bit if it makes a difference.

Answer 5

Hi,

Open File Location Context Menu is implemented in these registry locations:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryLocation\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Results\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}

You may backup those keys and then delete the keys. One or more branches may be owned by TrustedInstaller, and if so, you'll have to change ownership accordingly before deleting them.