Windows is storing information about file extensions and the actions that can be triggered when right-clicking the files or folders in Windows. A right-click on a spreadsheet file would for example reveal options to open the file in Microsoft Office or Open Office. That might include actions added by applications that are not used by the user at all for that purpose.
A way to manage the context menu entries would be to edit them right in the Windows Registry. A more secure solution is by the use of software like Shell Menu View by NirSoft. The portable software displays a list of all registered shell extensions of a Windows operating system with information like the menu name, the file extensions or the path of the application.
The tables can be sorted in various ways and there is a search to find that one extension that you want to edit right now. A right-click on any row in the software program opens a context menu that provides options to disable or enable an extension, open the Registry key of that extension or print a list of all or selected items.
ShellExView is a portable application that runs on most Windows operating systems but works best in Windows XP and Windows 2000 because they can make use of the disable feature.
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