Help: Adding My Videos Folder To Start Menu - Windows XP Only

Okay, I am halfway to being able to add the My Videos Folder (the only of the special My <Files> folder I really use) to the start panel. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, make sure you have the new XP start menu not classic, then open your start menu. The right side is the start panel, and it should have links to things like My Documents, My Music, My Computer, etc. The only one you can't add to it (you add features to it from the properties page) is the My Videos File.

No, my method:

1) Knowing Windows as well as I do, first thing after experimenting with properties and doing a web search is hit the registry, where I find the following key, and it is the only key relating to the start panel or involving both the start menu and the My <Type> Folders:There was a similar MyDocs key and MyMusic key so I was sure I had hit the jackpot. So, I exported the key and all subkeys and changed all references to "MyPics" to "MyVids" and added the new key, no change to the start panel or the properties page.

2) So, I look at the subkeys and the data for the keys, and I find these pices of data under the main key:So, I open up a dll viewer (IconView version 3.5, freeware) and look at icon 236 and see it is the icon for the My Pictures folder, so I change the number to 238 (the number for the My Videos icon). I notice from similar keys such as the MyMusic key that the last number in the text reference matched the last number in the icon reference, so i try changing the text reference to -30488, which turns out to not exist (or simply not work, I'm not sure).

3) So I change the text from pointing at a shell32.dll reference to simply "My Videos" and low and behold, on the properties page appears a reference to the My Videos file and adding it to the start panel. So I check the radio button that says add to panel as link, nothing happens. So I keep looking at the keys, and I see one called policy with a sub key like such:
I do a little online research and find out this is a reference to a windows policy, but I can't find a similar poicy for the My Videos folder, so I became stumped.

Now the question(s):
1) Does anyone know of an existing windows policy for the My Videos folder?
2) Does anyone know how to copy and edit an existing policy?
3) Does anyone know how to create a new policy regarding something like this from scratch?

~Viz

P.S. Just for your reference, a copy of the original MyPics key and sub keys and my new MyVids key and subkeys.

Original MyPics key as exported by RegEdit:

New MyVids key as exported by Regedit:

P.P.S. If anyone knows where to get a free legal copy of some software that will reveal the entire contents of a dll file, not just icons but text, functions, the works, please let me know.

IMP. NOTE: Some of the Registry Keys were too long and were distorting the forum page. Hence they've been broken up and shown in TWO lines using the "_" (underscore) character. Wherever you meet an "_" it means the next line is the continuation of the one prior to it.

 

 

 

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

About revealing the contents of a DLL, I would like to know the software that can do that too. So vizskywalker, if you ever found out, can you please post it here? Thanks.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Try Resource Hacker - that'll reveal all kinds of embedded resources in DLLs - icons, bitmaps, text, string tables etc. but I don't know of any that will reveal functions too all in one shot.. There are separate tools for them.

Try these links:
Resource Hacker:
http://www.angusj.com/resourcehacker/

DLL Function Viewers:
http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/dll_export_viewer.html

A good one to scan dlls and build a heirarchical list of all dependencies and functions is Dependency Walker:
http://www.dependencywalker.com/

I use most of these tools - particularly Resource Hacker and Dependency Walker and they help me along in every single step.. Simply couldn't do without those two. Besides, Resource Hacker not only shows you the embedded resources - but allows you to modify them too. Infact, one of the approaches to getting rid of the pissing-off Ads and Side-Tab in MSN Messenger is to use Resource Hacker and modify a part of it's layout CSS which is embedded inside Messenger.EXE

Just google for "list function in dll" and you'll get plenty of other variations.

 

 

 

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Well I didn't read through all of the technical junk, but can't you just drag and drop the folder with the right click button?

That always works for me... unless it's something totally different... then sorry.

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

As I understand, this isn't like you thought. He wants to add My Videos folder where My Documents, Recent Documents, My Music, My Pictures and My Computer area and it's impossible to do it with drag and drop.

I guess I understood right as I should understand. If no, then sorry, because I didn't read all the post. It's huge

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Well, I do understand what you are trying to do, but I'm not confident enough to start screwing with my registry... Although I have just now stumbled across a partial solution.

1) Right click taskbar or start menu button and go to properties.
2) Under the start menu tab go to the customize button (assuming you aren't using the "Classic Start Menu")
3) Under the advanced Tab there is a list of "Start menu items:"

This apparently controls all the right side of the start menu, and it doesn't take to long to realize My Videos was left out, but if you go to My Documents (near the top of the list) you can select "Display as a menu" instead of "Display as a link". This causes the My Documents link on the top right of the start menu to allow you into it and all subfolders. Try it out, It seems to be the fastest way to get to the vids folder just using my keyboard so good luck.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

True, I had found that solution, but it also places all the other sub folders on my Start Menu which takes up more room than I want. Actually, mostly this exercise was in getting Windows to do what I wanted, not having to find a work around. But it is a useful suggestion for those who want quick access.

~Viz

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

EDIT
Dear WeaponX, I didn't use the code tags because they screwup the registry file, and I was concerned about people that don't edit their registry all the time not realizing this. So to those that don't edit thier registry, please becareful with the cut and paste of the code. I can not explain how it should look with the code views, so you will have to play with it. in the hex edit you must make sure that every \ is at the end of a line, not at the beginning.
EDIT

Hi Guys,

I know I'm reviving an old post, but I did it. I was doing the same thing vizskywalker was, and got stuck in the same place. I searched google and found this post but nothing to help. So I started searching the Registry for the Menu entries so I could add a new one for my new folder. They aren't in there which means it's hard coded into explorer.exe . What I did find though are 2 sets of keys that make the other areas of the start menu!

The first set would mess up the start menu everytime I added a new entry. bummer! The second set however didn't! I now have a new folder on my start menu here's a screenshot:



Ok, I would type out a long walkthrough on how to do it, but I stink at explaining so I'll do it this way instead.

Send me $400.00 USD.............. No just kiding, it'll be $500.00

anyway,

First you need to open regedit. Start > Run and type regedit and hit enter.

Next you need to find the last of the menu keys. to do this, go to edit > find (or hold CTRL and press F). In the find field, type {2559a1f0-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} . Now scroll down until you are at the last one. On my computer it was {2559a1f5-21d6-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}. Now left click it one time to highlight it.

Next you need to open Notepad. Start > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad.

Next you need to decide which registry file you want from below. I have provided 2 kinds here, but they can be modified to direct where ever easily. The first will be a "My Downloads" menu item that leades to "My Documents\My Downloads"

Once you have copied the code from below, paste it into the notepad window. (hold CTRL and press V)

Next you have to change the key sequence. To do this we are going to go back to Regedit and look at that last key. Take note of the nineth character, on my computer it was {2559a1f5. Now go back to notepad and make sure the nineth character in the key is incremented by 1. So if the last key in your regedit was {2559a1f5-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0} then the key in Notepad should look like {2559a1f6-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}.

If you have to change the number of the key in notepad be sure to change them all with Replace!!!

Now save the file somewhere easy to find, and name it MyFolder.reg .

Now go to it, and double click it. It will ask if you are sure you want to insert the data, click yes.

After it's inserted, log off (not restart) and log back in to see the change.

If for some reason this doesn't work, it's easy to fix. Just open regedit (Start > Run and type regedit and hit enter) and delete the key you just added. It's in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{2559a1fX-21d7-11d4-bdaf-00c04f60b9f0}. X is the number you added.

Hope this helps.
Lost In The Void

My Downloads (Folder must be made in My Documents and named My Downloads)


My Videos

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Lost in The Void, It's been awhile since you posted the walkthrough on adding folders but this is something I've just stumbled across and it worked great (after I made a few adjustments to the code because of the code tags. The only thing is that I would now like to add more folders and folders that exist on different disk drives if it's possible. Where in the registry code does it specify the folder to open? What would I have to change. Because what I would like to do since there is no way to add the new folders to the same place as the existing folders I figure that I would just remove the existing ones and recreate them with the new group so they are all grouped together. you can e-mail me at goatman_christ@yahoo.com Thanks

-James

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Adding Quick Access Shortcuts
Help: Adding My Videos Folder To Start Menu

I know you guys are playing around to figure something out ( and I admire that and wish I could do all that kind of stuff myself ), and I also wanted to add My Videos and My Downloads to the Start Menu ; but there are a lot of people out there ( including me ) who are not as savy as a lot of you Computer Gurus so here is an easy way to access whatever " folder " or " file " you want . Just " right-click " and HOLD mouse button and Drag & Drop a shortcut on Quicklauch taskbar or right-click Taskbar and Click on Toolbars and then Create a " New Toolbar " of whatever you want by browsing to where it is and clicking on it .I do this with the Control Panel and Accessories and find it extremely convenient . I also have a whole bunch or shortcuts to different folders in my Quicklaunch Area , even one of the Quicklaunch Folder so I can add whatever to it that much more easily . Good luck with your project , I would still like to find out how to do what you are trying to do also .

-Lucien J. Dumouchel

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)