Shell Problems Shell Menus ShellExView Utility NirSoft Utilities
ConvertToPDFShellExtension_x64.dll - Right clicking on any file caused screen to flash, but brought up no context menu.

By the process of elimination, I was able to determine that this extension was my culprit. I had nine third-party context menu extensions, and tried disabling/enabling various combinations before I arrived at my conclusion.

A search for my issue with this particular extension led me tothe Foxit dot com website, where there was easiy understood directions for replacing the registry entry with files downloaded from that site. The write-up said to "save the new file" to the (named in the write-up) folder on my harddrive. Caution told me to copy/paste the original .dll file to my desktop, in the event that things went further south. It was a completely smooth operation, requiring me to use a command prompt to register the new file. Once unfamiliar users get over the black and white key stroke input interface, it is a simple task. It's actually a easy, albeit shallow, glimpse into what coders do with software for a living. After updating the new .dll file in the registry, I enabled the shell extension using shellexview, and the checked it for proper functionality. Every file type that I tried opened up a context menu upon a right click. Problem diagnosed, located, and mitigated, in less time than it took to hunt-and-peck the story about it.

The new .dll file can be found at the url listed, if this site's moderators see fit to allow it to be posted.

The guys/gals at shellexview have a great product. When I get a few dollars in an online payment system again, they're getting a cup of coffee.

The details of the shell extension that might cause the problem:

Shell Extension Name: ConvertToPDF Class
Filename: ConvertToPDFShellExtension_x64.dll
Description: ConvertToPDFShellExtension
Company: Foxit Software Inc.
Product Name: ConvertToPDFShellExtension
File Version: 7.2.0.424
CLSID: {C5269811-4A29-4818-A4BB-111F9FC63A5F}

If you think that you have similar problem in your system, you can try to fix the problem by disabling the specified shell extension. In order to do that, simply follow the instructions below:

  1. Download and run the ShellExView utility from this Web page.
  2. Find the right shell extension according the details specified above.
  3. Select this shell extension and press F7 to disable this extension. After disabling the shell extension, check if the problem still occurs. If the problem still occurs, you should enable back the shell extension by pressing F8, and then try to search for another shell extension that might cause your problem.

This shell extension problem was reported by No Code Monkey