Windows 10: Add Per-directory Case Sensitivity Context Menu in Windows 10

How to: Add Per-directory Case Sensitivity Context Menu in Windows 10

How to Add or Remove Per-directory Case Sensitivity Attribute Context Menu in Windows 10


If you have used the Windows Subsystem for Linux, youre probably aware that it allows you to treat your Windows file systems (mounted under /mnt/c, /mnt/d, etc.) as case sensitive. This means, among other things, that you can create files whose names differ only by case (e.g. foo.txt and FOO.TXT).

However, using those files in Windows was not really possible. Since Windows applications treat the file system as case insensitive, they cannot distinguish between files whose names only differ in case. While File Explorer would show both files, only one would be opened regardless of which one you clicked.

Starting with Windows 10 build 17093, Microsoft introduced a new way to handle case sensitive files in Windows: per-directory case sensitivity. Microsoft uses this ability in the Windows Subsystem for Linux to give you better interoperability when using case sensitive files, and you can also use it yourself with regular Windows applications. As of Windows 10 build 17110, this behavior is the default.

Case sensitivity in Windows
The Windows NT family of operating systems (including Windows 10) has always had the ability to perform case sensitive file system operations. Applications can pass the FILE_FLAG_POSIX_SEMANTICS flag to the CreateFile API to indicate that they want the path to be treated as case sensitive. However, for compatibility reasons, there is a global registry key that overrides this behavior; when this key is set, all file operations are case insensitive, even when the FILE_FLAG_POSIX_SEMANTICS flag is specified. Since Windows XP, this has been the default.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux uses another mechanism, which itself bypasses that registry key, allowing us to perform case sensitive file system operations. This is what allows Linux applications running in WSL to use file names that differ only by case, just like they can on real Linux, even with that global registry key set.

Unfortunately, this leaves you with files that cant be accessed by Windows applications. While you could change the global registry key, that still would only work for those applications that use FILE_FLAG_POSIX_SEMANTICS, and this would change the behavior for all files on all drives, which may not be intended and may break some applications.

Per-directory case sensitivity
To solve this problem, Microsoft added a new case sensitive flag (attribute) that can be applied to NTFS directories (folders). For directories that have this flag set, all operations on files in that directory are case sensitive, regardless of whether FILE_FLAG_POSIX_SEMANTICS was specified. This means that if you have two files that differ only by case in a directory marked as case sensitive, all applications will be able to access them.

Starting with Windows 10 build 17107, Microsoft has added the ability to view and modify this flag to the fsutil.exe command.

Note that the per-directory case sensitivity flag is not permission to the directory.





This tutorial will show you how to add or remove a Case Sensitivity Attribute context menu for users to be able to query and set the case sensitivity attribute per-directory in Windows 10.

*Warning While you must be signed in as an administrator to add or remove this context menu, all users will be able to use the context menu when added.
*note If you get an "access is denied" message in the command output when using the context menu, then you will need to use the elevated

option in the context menu instead.


EXAMPLE: Case Sensitivity Attribute context menu for folders (directories)











Here's How:

1. Do step 2 (add) or step 3 (remove) below for what you would like to do.


2. To Add Case Sensitivity Attribute to Context Menu
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Add_Case_sensitivity_attribute_context_menu.reg

Download

3. To Remove Case Sensitivity Attribute from Context Menu
*note This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

Remove_Case_sensitivity_attribute_context_menu.reg

Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

6. When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

7. If you like, you can now delete the downloaded .reg file.


That's it,
Shawn


Related Tutorials

• How to Enable or Disable Case Sensitive Attribute for Folders in Windows 10
• How to Add a File Attributes context menu in Windows 10

:)

 

Custom context menu entries

So, just throwing this out there, in case somone knows.

I have added a custom context menu entry for the program rightload, since by default the menu is broken in vistax64.

It works pefect with single files, but when I select mutiple files and try to open, I get mutiple instances of the program (which makes sense), here is my entry:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Rightload\Rightload.exe --server=1 --autostart %1

So the %1 passes the filename to the program, and when I select multiple files it is just opening multiple instances of rightload each with a different file.

What I'd like to do is be able to pass a list of the files selected to the program. Since I know it is capable of uploading multiple files from the context menu, all in one instance.

So, is there something I can pass besides %1 that will do this? I have looked around and can't seem to find an answer anywhere... *Frown

 

CCC Context menu

I was recently greeted to a new entry in my desktop context menu after installing 8.12 drivers with the Catalyst Control Center:





I have no idea what the second entry does, since clicking it results in nothing happening.
So I open up CCC and find this new section:





It's completely disabled. I only have a single HD3850. The IGP on my mobo is nVidia, which is disabled anyway.

I spent the last hour or so finding a way to remove the second entry, and this is the only thing I could find:
Deleting this key removes both entries from the context menu
Code: KEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ACE[/quote] This solved one problem and caused another. I do not like the tray icon, so I have it disabled, so the only way I know to get into CCC is via the context menu. Does anyone know of a way to disable just the "Configure Additive Graphics" entry and keep the CCC entry?

If I kept both disabled, is there some sort of shortcut I could make to get there instead? I don't want to have to go to Display->Settings->Advanced->CCC every time.
EDIT: Just made a hotkey to get there. *Smile

 

Adding a context menu for a directory

I have a program that opens a "run box", similar to the run box when you press Win-R, but in the current directory, allowing me to run programs in that directory. If I add this context to the "folder" item, it works. However, I have to constantly back-tab
to the left hand pane, select the menu, then tab back.

-- This works

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\runcmd\command]

@="C:\\Execs\\Gohere.exe \"%1\""

However, I want to be able to click on an open space in my directory window on the right hand side, or press shift-F10 with nothing selected, and see the same option. So I found this option:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shell\runcmd\command]

@="C:\\Execs\\Gohere.exe \"%1\""

When I do this, I see the menu in the main window (or by pressing shift-F10), but when I run it I get this error:

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel."

Is there a resolution for this issue? I'd like to be able to run a custom program I write myself from this context menu.

Thanks.

 

Context menu problem

Hi,

Your concern with the context menu can be due to the configuration of your device and/or broken system files. To better understand your concern, we'd like to know the following:

• The last known changes made/activities performed on your device prior to your concern.
• If you've experienced your concern on all areas in Windows 10 where context menu is expected to be available. Examples are File Explorer and desktop icons.
• The version and build of Windows 10 that you're using on your device. To check this, you can perform the steps posted on this
  
  link.

In addition, we'd like to request for a screenshot of your concern with the context menu.

In the meantime, we'd recommend performing a clean boot in Windows to isolate software conflicts on your device. To do this, you can perform the steps posted on this link.
In the clean boot environment, check if you'll be able to load the usual options for the context menu. The link will also provide steps to isolate the possible cause of the issue. Once you're done troubleshooting, check the How
to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting section to revert your device to normal boot.

If you still experience your concern while in the clean boot environment, we'd recommend creating a new user/administrator account to isolate profile related issues. To do this, you can perform the steps posted on this

link.

We look forward to your response.

 

Remove Play with Windows Media Player Context Menu in Windows 10  

Choose Default Apps in Windows 10 Windows 10 Apps Features Tutorials

Step 1. Open with > choose another app




Step 2, click More apps





Step 3. scroll down to the bottom of the list to find Look for another app on this PC





Step 4. browse and find Windows Media Player wmplayer.exe then click Open