Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Default Programs Editor VS Link Shell Extension

Compare Default Programs Editor VS Link Shell Extension and see what are their differences

Default Programs Editor logo Default Programs Editor

Default Programs Editor is a powerful but simple file association utility for Windows 7, Vista and...

Link Shell Extension logo Link Shell Extension

Link Shell Extension (LSE) provides for the creation of Hardlinks , Junctions , Volume Mountpoints...
  • Default Programs Editor Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-04-16
  • Link Shell Extension Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18

Default Programs Editor features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Default Programs Editor offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both novice and advanced users to modify file associations and autoplay settings.
  • Comprehensive Functionality
    The software provides robust features to modify file type associations, context menu entries, and autoplay handlers, allowing users to customize their Windows experience extensively.
  • No Installation Required
    Being a portable application, Default Programs Editor does not require installation, which makes it ideal for users looking to make quick changes without modifying their system extensively.
  • Free to Use
    The application is available for free, providing a cost-effective solution for users needing to manage and edit default programs and file type associations.

Possible disadvantages of Default Programs Editor

  • Limited to Windows
    Default Programs Editor is only compatible with Windows operating systems, making it unsuitable for users on macOS or Linux platforms.
  • Potential System Instability
    Altering default programs and file associations can sometimes lead to system instability or unexpected behavior, especially if users are not cautious with the changes they make.
  • No Recent Updates
    The software hasn't seen significant updates in recent years, which might lead some users to seek alternative solutions with more active development and support.
  • Basic Feature Set
    While it covers essential functions, Default Programs Editor may not offer as many advanced features or integration options compared to other similar software tools on the market.

Link Shell Extension features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Link Shell Extension provides an easy-to-use graphical interface for creating hard links, junctions, and symbolic links, making it accessible for users who are not comfortable using command-line tools.
  • Integration with Windows Explorer
    The tool integrates seamlessly with Windows Explorer, allowing users to create and manage links through right-click context menus, enhancing usability and efficiency.
  • Comprehensive Link Types
    It supports a wide range of link types, including hard links, junctions, and symbolic links, offering flexibility for various use cases and needs.
  • Free to Use
    Link Shell Extension is a freeware, providing an accessible option for users who need to manage links without any cost.

Possible disadvantages of Link Shell Extension

  • Windows Only
    The tool is designed specifically for Windows, limiting its availability and utility to users who work across different operating systems.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    While it covers basic functionalities, some advanced features found in other professional tools are missing, which might be a limitation for power users.
  • Dependency on File System
    Link Shell Extension's functionality depends on NTFS file systems, meaning users operating under different environments might encounter compatibility issues.
  • Confusing for Beginners
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the concept of links (especially hard and symbolic links) might still be confusing for beginners who are unfamiliar with file systems and links.

Default Programs Editor videos

DEMO - Default Programs Editor

More videos:

  • Review - Cambiar el Icono de cualquier Archivo | Default Programs Editor
  • Review - Tutorial - Como usar o Default Programs Editor

Link Shell Extension videos

Link Shell Extension

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Default Programs Editor and Link Shell Extension)
Cloud Storage
45 45%
55% 55
Monitoring Tools
56 56%
44% 44
CRM
67 67%
33% 33
File Sharing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Link Shell Extension should be more popular than Default Programs Editor. It has been mentiond 8 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Default Programs Editor mentions (3)

  • This is how File Compression looks like in Windows 11. I mean seriously, why?
    Not sure if it works in 11’s more options menu .. Though I’m assuming it’s the legacy one, but if you need to edit again, forget the registry and try this! Source: over 3 years ago
  • Windows 10 settings app will not allow associating app to the specific program I need
    What I thought I needed to do was open the windows setting and go to "choose default app by file type" and change the Default app to open it but when I click "choose a default" I don't get an option to browse for an executable or get a list to choose from rather it just pops up saying there is no installed app for this file type and shows a button that says "look for an app in the store" which just searches the... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • How Do I Remove 'Preview' From The Context Menu?
    You could remove all sorts of entries for all types of files using 3rd party tools like Default Programs Editor. Its functionality used to be built into Windows Explorer. Source: almost 4 years ago

Link Shell Extension mentions (8)

  • Is there a way to prevent files from being easily deleted?
    If you have games without installers you can create hardlink copies elsewhere on the same drive. It won't take any extra HD space and keeps the files safe regardless of what happens to the torrent directory Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_link Https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Can’t launch Battlefield 4
    Linux folks are used to using symbolic links but if you're on Windows (been a while for me) you can use this to make a symbolic link to your game folder, that's what I've done in the past. Just delete the folder is assumes is your game folder, right-click and create a link there after you've copied your game folder. Source: about 2 years ago
  • One-way backup with OneDrive
    Get Link Shell Extension from here: https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html . It adds context menu to right-click, where you can create various types of symbolic link/junctions. It also integrates easy handling of removing those links. Alternatively, you will need to manually use a "mklink" Windows command, mklink /J "C:\LinkToFolder" "C:\Users\Name\OriginalFolder" and later you will... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Got the Steam Deck Dock!
    Windows NTFS does support symbolic links. Link Shell Extension will add them to the Explorer right-click context menu for easier usage. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Why you should make a second account for Master Duel - An In-depth Explanation
    Also if you don't want to have another copy of a 5GB folder you could just make a symbolic link to the original 0000 folder. (Use https://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinkshellext/hardlinkshellext.html it's super easy. Right click original 0000 folder pick as source, drop 0000 folder as a symbolic link on the other folder). Source: over 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Default Programs Editor and Link Shell Extension, you can also consider the following products

FileMenu Tools - FileMenu Tools lets you customize the context (right-click) menu of Windows Explorer.

Winaero Context Menu Tuner - Context Menu Tuner

Symlink Creator - Symbolic Link Creator. GUI for mklink (Microsoft Windows symlink utility).

Shell context menu manager - Powerful and lightweight context menu manager for Windows File Explorer.

Symlinker - Symbolic Link Creator. GUI for mklink, Microsoft Windows symlink utility

Easy Context Menu - Easy Context menu is a Freeware portable utility that includes useful tweaks for the context menus.