How to add more things to the Power User (Win-X) menu?

How can I add more things to the menu that appears when I press the Windows key and X at the same time?

Searching through the web I found this website, but what's there doesn't work.

Perhaps this ability was removed form the release version of Windows 8?

Sergio

Posted 2012-11-03T16:21:23.720

Reputation: 61

Answers

It works, that post you refer to is the old one. Rafael released a new version that is compatible with the Release Preview and still works in the RTM version as well.

You can find an updated post here and download the executable program here. The program requires you install the redistributable package of Visual C++ 2010. If you don't want to install it, I just built it not to depend on it.

It's actually quite useful to me, I use it to have a fast way to restart and shutdown the system:

Custom Win+X menu example

And the procedure is quite simple actually:

Create a shortcut of what you want to have in that menu.
Rename it, set up its arguments, etc. Essentially finish it to your liking.
Drag and drop that shortcut over the program, or open a command prompt and run:

hashlnk path_to_shortcut.lnk
Open a explorer window and navigate to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Windows\WinX, or input that in the run dialog (Win+R).
There you'll see group folders with shortcuts inside (and you can create more groups), move your shortcut to the group you want it to appear.
Restart the Explorer process from the task manager for example, or reboot.

After that the shortcuts will appear in the menu just like any other item there.

Here you have extensive information on how to customize it too.

Xandy

Posted 2012-11-03T16:21:23.720

Reputation: 3 442

Thank you it works now, but how did you add Restart ans Shutdown? What program are you using? – Sergio – 2012-11-03T17:07:41.753

I just have a shortcut to shutdown -r -t 0 for restart and shutdown -s -t 0 for shutdown. Their execution opens two cmd windows but it's ok by me. – Xandy – 2012-11-03T17:27:55.253

I just replace it, wrote a small shutdown program so that no command prompt window appears. To use it: if no parameters are specified log-off is performed, -r restarts the system and -s shuts it down. If you want to force any of those add -f too. So I'm using shutdown2 -r for restart and shutdown2 -s for shutdown. You can grab the executable files and source here: http://goo.gl/3Pdvq

– Xandy – 2012-11-03T18:39:15.003

Perhaps check out Win-X Menu Editor by "WinAero".

Found the link via GHacks.net

Works fine for me (Win 8 Pro x86). It's got all the needed bits and pieces included with it.

I have no affiliation with any of them. :)

Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007

Posted 2012-11-03T16:21:23.720

Reputation: 103 763

I have tried it but it didn't allow me to customize the shortcuts once they were added and it crashed once, so I'm going to do the other way. This program is graphical though. – Sergio – 2012-11-03T17:09:29.687

Download Win+X menu editor which will let you achieve what you want. With Win+X Menu Editor you'll able:

to add new items.

to remove any item of Win+X menu.

to change display name of any item of Win+X menu.

to reorder Win+X menu items.

avirk

Posted 2012-11-03T16:21:23.720

Reputation: 15 151