A real stumper for the registry hackers... Lost Bitmap Image from New context menu.

Hi, All,

Here's a real stumper! I need some advice from someone who really
understands the "guts" of Win XP!

I am using Win XP SP2, and I have recently lost the "New Bitmap Image"
template option in my right-click "New" context menu.

(I frequently use this option, although I haven't recently, so I've no
idea how long it's been missing.)


I have spent the last few hours trying everything I could think of,
and every remedy I could find Googling the web, to get the option
back!

Here's the story...


When I right-click on my desktop I see five of my usual six preferred
options under the New menu (Microsoft Word Document, Streets & Trips
Map, TablEdit File, Text Document and WinZip File). Only the "Bitmap
Image" option is gone.


Here is what I've tried to get the option back, in approximate order
of trying:

The Bitmap Image DOES show in the Document Templates window in
TweakUI, and was checked as usual. I tried unchecking-rechecking, and
also tried uncheck-reboot-recheck and uncheck-reboot-recheck-reboot.
None of these combinations worked, even temporarily.
(TweakUI DOES modify the [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bmp\ShellNew\NullFile]
registry entry as expected, but the Bitmap option does not respond and
disappear/reappear on the menu as it is supposed to.)


I downloaded and ran the "restorenewcontextmenu.reg" file from Kelly's
Corner.

(Tweak number 286 at http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm)

The Bitmap Image option TEMPORARILY reappeared (along with about six
other XP default options) for ONE single try, then the next time I
right-clicked the Bitmap option had disappeared again!

I tried running the restorenewcontextmenu.reg file again, but
rebooting before trying the right-click. Again, no Bitmap option!


Next I tried manually editing the registry using REGEDIT:
I tried manually deleting and adding the [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bmp
\ShellNew\NullFile] registryentry. No change.



I also tried an alternate attack (the way the option is enabled for
Word and Excel documents):

I made a blank BMP file and placed it in the C:\WINDOWS\SHELLNEW
folder. I then replaced the NullFile string value under the
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bmp\ShellNew] registry entry with a FileName
string value (and the appropriate data for my blank BMP file). Didn't
work!



My next attempt:

I tried DELETING the Bitmap Image template entry in TweakUI, then
created it again, then tried again rebooting between deleting-
creating.
None of this worked either!



Now I got BRAVE, and tried something based on my observations of the
registry changes I observed when enabling and disabling the other New
menu items:

I tried making my OWN .reg file to import [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bmp
\ShellNew\NullFile] to the registry, along with the following entries:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer
\Discardable\PostSetup\ShellNew]
"Bitmap Image"="hex:00, (long string of the correct binary data here) ,
00"


[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-3719235100-1601859727-1634352719-1007\Software
\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Discard able\PostSetup
\ShellNew]
"Bitmap Image"=hex:00, (long string of the correct binary data here) ,
00

IT WORKED! (but only temporarily)

I got the Bitmap Image option back... BUT it only "stuck" for ONE
right-click cycle! Then Bitmap disappeared again, along with the above
entries that I had imported into the registry.

Then I tried importing my reg file again, but rebooting before trying
the right-click. No joy!



THEN I tried uninstalling, then reinstalling the Paint application
through Add-Remove Programs, then tried again, interposing a reboot.
Nope!


Anyway, as you can see, I am completly stumped (and frustrated). I'm
also obviously operating at the hairy edge of my understanding of the
Windows registry...

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions as to why my system wants to
reject any attempt to enable a Bitmap template option?

I have NEVER had a problem in the past adding or removing templates by
simply using TweakUI!

Thanks for any advice, suggestions, wisdom (or wit)!

Ken

Fixed it!

(A DUH moment)

I opened Folder Options File Types, and checked the advanced properties
under the .BMP file type.
I found that the default action for opening the file had been reset from
"open" to "edit". I changed the default back to "open" and viola! The Bitmap
Image option magically reappeared on the New menu!

Ken

Fixed it!

(A DUH moment)

I opened Folder Options File Types, and checked the advanced
properties under the .BMP file type.
I found that the default action for opening the file had been reset
from "open" to "edit". I changed the default back to "open" and viola!
The Bitmap Image option magically reappeared on the New menu!

Ken

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossposting