Windows doesn't offer any direct mechanism to add advanced options to the context menu, and we've previously shared a list of the best external resources for doing so. However, today we'd like to mention a true classic from the Nirsoft software package: NirExt. All it does is add three additional parameters to the context menu: creation of shortcuts with expanded functions, folder properties, and alternative execution with command and priority settings.
Unfortunately, the context menu is something we've never fully mastered in Windows. I'd even go so far as to say that with good optimization, a user could replace the entire Start menu, following a style similar to the old Fluxbox in Linux. While there are some clones out there, their development has been irregular.
How to Add Advanced Options to the Context Menu with NirExt
In total, the entries NirExt adds are three: Folder Options, Create Shortcut+, and Advanced Run. Folder Options lets us modify the icon associated with a folder, add a comment, and show a warning in case someone tries to delete it. Create Shortcut+ goes beyond standard shortcut creation, with the possibility of inserting comments, modifying the startup folder, and incorporating secondary commands into the execution. Finally, Advanced Run is a miniature version of the AdvancedRun tool offered by Nirsoft. Unlike its big sister, this entry only enables auxiliary commands, startup folder, window state, and priority.
If my memory serves me right, NirExt is one of Nirsoft's oldest programs, dating back to 2003 or 2004. However, its absolute portability and lack of dependencies allow NirExt to work on 32- or 64-bit Windows 10 as if it were the first day. If you regret those entries or only want one in particular, all you need to do is reopen the executable.
