Taskbar Context Menus - Enable or Disable

INFO: This will show you how to Enable or Disable the context (right click) menu for the Start menu and button, Taskbar buttons, and Clock for all users on the computer. By default, these context menus are enabled.

NOTE: Disabling these context menus does not prevent users from using other methods to issue the commands that appear on these context menus. It just hides and prevents access to the context menus.

RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Customize the Context Menu for the Start Menu in Vista

2. How to Turn Group Similar Taskbar Buttons On or Off in Vista

3. How to See the Date and Time on the Taskbar in Vista

4. How to Add or Remove a Toolbar on the Taskbar in Vista

5. How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar Thumbnail Previews in Vista

6. How to Lock or Unlock the Taskbar in Vista

7. How to Add or Remove a Toolbar on the Taskbar in Vista

8. How to Change the Date and Time in Vista

9. How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window in Vista

10. How to Enable or Disable Lock the Taskbar in Vista

11. How to Enable or Disable Taskbar Toolbars in Vista

12. How to Enable or Disable Adding and Removing Taskbar Toolbars in Vista


EXAMPLE: Start Menu and Button, Taskbar and Taskbar Buttons, and Clock Context Menus

Start_Menu_Context_Menu.jpgTaskbar_Context_Menu.jpgTaskbar_Button_Context_Menu.jpgClock_Context_Menu.jpg


METHOD ONE:
Through the Local Group Policy Editor:
NOTE: This is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions.

1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Start Menu and Taskbar. (See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on Remove access to the context menus for the taskbar and click Properties.

Group_Policy.jpg

6. To Enable Taskbar Context Menus -
A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click OK. (See screenshot below)
B) Go to step 8.

7. To Disable Taskbar Context Menus -
A) Dot Enabled and click OK.

Properties.jpg

8. Close Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.


METHOD TWO:
Through the Registry :
NOTE: This will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:
1. To Enable Taskbar Context Menus -
A) Enable_Taskbar_Context_Menus.reg < Click To Download

2. To Disable Taskbar Context Menus -
A) Disable_Taskbar_Context_Menus.reg < Click To Download

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.
5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply changes.


The Manual Way:
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Reg1.jpg

5. To Disable Taskbar Context Menus -
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click New -> DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type NoTrayContextMenu and press Enter.
C) Right click on NoTrayContextMenu and click Modify. (See screenshot below)

Reg2.jpg

D) Type 1 and click OK. (See screenshot below)

Modify.jpg

E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

Reg3.jpg

F) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Taskbar Context Menus -
A) In the right pane, right click on NoTrayContextMenu and click Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click Yes to confirm deletion.

7. Close regedit.
8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply changes.


That's it,
Shawn