update 2

[RohitDSonawane]

Alright — I’ll make you a final, polished “master script” that merges:

• Your mshta-based admin elevation
• My add/remove menu
• Your advanced detection & cleanup logic
• My earlier user-friendly prompts & 64-bit registry safety

And I’ll list exactly what’s upgraded from both previous scripts so you can raise a clean GitHub issue with a professional explanation.

---

📜 Final Merged Script — vscode_context_menu.cmd

@echo off
setlocal EnableDelayedExpansion

:: ========================================================
:: VS Code Context Menu Installer / Remover
:: Supports: Win7, Win10, Win11 (32/64-bit)
:: Features:
::  - Adds/Removes "Open with Code" for files, folders, backgrounds
::  - Auto-admin elevation (mshta) without PowerShell
::  - Detects VS Code from multiple install paths & registry
::  - Cleans old & duplicate context menu entries
::  - Direct registry writes (no temp files)
::  - Refreshes shell instantly (no explorer.exe kill)
:: ========================================================

:: --- Admin Elevation ---
net session >nul 2>&1 || (
    echo Requesting administrator privileges...
    mshta "javascript:var sh=new ActiveXObject('Shell.Application'); sh.ShellExecute('%~nx0','','','runas',1);close();"
    exit /b
)

:: --- Menu ---
echo.
echo ==========================
echo  VS Code Context Menu Tool
echo ==========================
echo [1] Install "Open with Code"
echo [2] Remove "Open with Code"
echo [3] Exit
echo.
set /p choice="Enter choice: "

if "%choice%"=="3" exit /b

:: --- Detect VS Code Path ---
set "vscode_path="
for %%p in (
    "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe"
    "%LocalAppData%\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe"
    "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft VS Code\Code.exe"
) do if exist "%%~p" set "vscode_path=%%~p" & goto :found

:: Registry fallback detection
for /f "tokens=2*" %%a in ('reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\{EA457B21-F73E-494C-ACAB-524FDE069978}_is1" /v InstallLocation 2^>nul') do (
    if exist "%%b\Code.exe" set "vscode_path=%%b\Code.exe" & goto :found
)

:found
if not defined vscode_path (
    if "%choice%"=="1" (
        echo Error: VS Code not found in standard locations.
        pause
        exit /b 1
    )
)

:: --- Function: Remove Entries ---
:remove_entries
echo Removing existing VS Code context menu entries...
for %%k in (
    "HKCR\Directory\shell\OpenWithCode"
    "HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWithCode"
    "HKCR\*\shell\OpenWithCode"
    "HKCR\Directory\shell\VSCode"
    "HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\VSCode"
    "HKCR\*\shell\VSCode"
) do reg delete %%k /f >nul 2>&1
goto :eof

:: --- Removal ---
if "%choice%"=="2" (
    call :remove_entries
    call :refresh_shell
    echo.
    echo "Open with Code" removed successfully.
    pause
    exit /b
)

:: --- Installation ---
if "%choice%"=="1" (
    call :remove_entries
    echo Installing "Open with Code" using: !vscode_path!

    :: Folder menu
    reg add "HKCR\Directory\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 /ve /d "Open with Code" /f
    reg add "HKCR\Directory\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 /v Icon /d "\"!vscode_path!\",0" /f
    reg add "HKCR\Directory\shell\OpenWithCode\command" /reg:64 /ve /d "\"!vscode_path!\" \"%%1\"" /f

    :: Background menu
    reg add "HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 /ve /d "Open with Code" /f
    reg add "HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 /v Icon /d "\"!vscode_path!\",0" /f
    reg add "HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\OpenWithCode\command" /reg:64 /ve /d "\"!vscode_path!\" \"%%V\"" /f

    :: File menu
    reg add "HKCR\*\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 /ve /d "Open with Code" /f
    reg add "HKCR\*\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 /v Icon /d "\"!vscode_path!\",0" /f
    reg add "HKCR\*\shell\OpenWithCode\command" /reg:64 /ve /d "\"!vscode_path!\" \"%%1\"" /f

    call :refresh_shell

    :: Verify
    reg query "HKCR\*\shell\OpenWithCode" /reg:64 >nul 2>&1 && (
        echo.
        echo Success! "Open with Code" is now in your context menu.
    ) || (
        echo.
        echo Warning: Could not verify installation.
    )

    pause
    exit /b
)

:: --- Shell Refresh ---
:refresh_shell
echo Refreshing shell...
powershell -NoProfile -Command ^
    "& {Add-Type -TypeDefinition 'using System; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; public class Shell { [DllImport(\"shell32.dll\")] public static extern void SHChangeNotify(uint wEventId, uint uFlags, IntPtr dwItem1, IntPtr dwItem2); }'; [Shell]::SHChangeNotify(0x08000000, 0x1000, [IntPtr]::Zero, [IntPtr]::Zero)}" >nul 2>&1
goto :eof

💡 Key Upgrades from Before

Summary of Changes:

1. Unified Add/Remove Tool

   • Combines installation and removal in a single menu-based script.
   • No need for separate .bat files.

2. Cross-Version Admin Elevation

   • Uses mshta for elevation, works on Windows 7–11 without PowerShell dependency.

3. Robust VS Code Path Detection

   • Checks %ProgramFiles%, %LocalAppData%, %ProgramFiles(x86)%.
   • Falls back to VS Code’s registry uninstall entry.

4. Duplicate Entry Cleanup

   • Removes both OpenWithCode and default VSCode registry keys from older installs before adding new ones.

5. Direct 64-bit Registry Writes

   • Uses /reg:64 to ensure Explorer (64-bit) can read the keys, avoiding WOW6432 redirection issues.

6. No Temporary Files

   • Direct reg add/reg delete calls — cleaner and faster.

7. Non-Disruptive Shell Refresh

   • Calls SHChangeNotify via PowerShell and .NET to refresh menus instantly without killing explorer.exe.

8. Verification Step

   • Confirms installation success by checking registry keys.

9. Self-Contained & No Cleanup Needed

   • No temp files, no leftover processes.

[ChaliceChore]

I tried this script. I'm not smart enough to locate the exact problem but as far as I could debug it's failing for me due to :remove_entries. So, both Options 1 and 2 don't work for me.
Please look into it.

[RohitDSonawane]

This problem is registery run this batch file it will solve it or try to update vscode > I tried this script. I'm not smart enough to locate the exact problem but as far as I could debug it's failing for me due to :remove_entries. So, both Options 1 and 2 don't work for me.

Please look into it.

[ChaliceChore]

This problem is registery run this batch file it will solve it or try to update vscode

I didn't understand you.