I love Windows' right-click functionality and use it constantly. However for someone with limited dexterity, it's too easy to press the right mouse button instead of the left. For some reason Microsoft does not include the ability to disable the right mouse button in its Accessibility settings. Fortunately I was able to find two registry settings that will accomplish almost the same thing.

The system I'm working on is running Windows XP Home and Internet Explorer 7. Both of these changes require editing the registry, and may require creating new keys and values. Since the keys are under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, I had to temporarily make the user an Administrator so I could add the keys.

Disable Windows Explorer Context Menu

1. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
2. Create a DWORD value named NoViewContextMenu and set it to 1.

This disables the context menu for the desktop and Windows Explorer.

Disable Internet Explorer Context Menu

1. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions. I had to create the Internet Explorer and Restrictions keys.
2. Create a DWORD value named NoBrowserContextMenu and set it to 1.

This disables the context menu while using Internet Explorer.

Other Options

I would actually prefer to disable the mouse button but leave the context menu accessible from the keyboard (that odd button just to the left of the right Ctrl key). That way, I could manually open a context menu, e.g. to empty the Recycle Bin.

There is a shareware program called BasicMouse that supposedly does that. I haven't tried it.

This article talks about using the free scripting software AutoHotKey to accomplish the same thing. Sounds promising but also untested.

Bonus Tweaks:  Prevent Shutdowns

Remove Shut Down from Start Menu

While logged on as the user who should not have the Shut Down option on their profile (may require temporarily assigning administrator rights to edit registry):

1. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer.
2. Create a DWORD value named NoClose and set it to
   1.

Remove Shut Down from Welcome Screen

While logged on as an adminstrator (note that the last key is System, not Explorer):

1. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.
2. Find or create a DWORD value named ShutdownWithoutLogon and set it to 0.

Now, to shut down, log on to Windows as some use other than the one selected above and choose shut down from the Start menu. Depending on your Power settings, you may also be able to use the computer's Power button to shut down.