Windows 7 and Windows Vista already include the useful Copy as Path option in the context menu, which helps you quickly copy the complete path of the selected file or folder to the Clipboard.
Earlier, we added the Add to Quick Launch and Open file location options to the context menu in Windows XP, as in Windows 7/Vista. This post explains how to add the Copy as Path functionality in Windows XP via the context menu.
There are two methods discussed, both of them require the Clip.exe file from Microsoft. Clip.exe redirects command-line output to the Windows Clipboard. For example, typing the command dir | clip in a Command Prompt window places a copy of the current directory listing into the Windows clipboard.
Note: When using the Copy as Path command after following the steps in Method 1, you’ll see a Command Prompt window opening and closing briefly. Method 2 uses a VBScript which launches the Command Prompt window in invisible mode.
Download Clip.exe from the Microsoft FTP site here and save the file to your Windows directory.
(To open the Windows directory in your system, click Start – Run, type %systemroot% and press ENTER.)
Then, follow one of the methods below.
METHOD 1
Download copypath.reg and save it to the Desktop. Right-click on the file and choose Merge. Click Yes when asked for confirmation.
METHOD 2
Download copypath.vbs and save it to your Windows directory.
Double-click copypath.vbs to run it.
Press ENTER when you see the following prompt:
To remove the Copy as Path context menu option, double-click the copypath.vbs file, type UNINSTALL and press ENTER. Then delete the file copypath.vbs manually from your Windows directory.
After following one of the methods above, Copy as Path option will be added to the context menu. To copy a file or folder path to Clipboard, press and hold the SHIFT key, right-click on the file or folder and click Copy as Path.
Additional Tip: If you want to make the Copy as Path command always available (without needing to use the SHIFT key), simply delete the value named Extended in the registry location below, using the Registry Editor:
If you think of any other script ideas, feel free to post them in the Comments section below 
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Hi! I have a problem with copying files, the solution here:
http://runakay.blogspot.com/2011/12/problem-copying-large-path-files.html
To remove the Copy as Path context menu option, double-click the copypath.vbs file, type UNINSTALL and press ENTER. Then delete the file copypath.vbs manually from your Windows directory.
How do i uninstall Clip.exe, I don’t like the cmd window popping up.
thanks
Works, but messes up non-ascii characters (e.g. the scandinavian ä and ö).
Rather than use the clip.exe, I use the ancient but perfectly functional SendtoX power toy from windows 95 days. It works perfectly with every copy of XP I’ve tried it on. There’s a mirror of them here: http://www.ise.ufl.edu/kisko/files/freeware/Powertoy%20-%20Win95%20tools%20from%20Microsoft/
Awe_some!
I just discovered your site, Ramesh, and I wish I’d discovered it five years ago! I’m finding so many little tips I wish I’d had — Download Places (got rid of the default My Documents, that I never use) — this one, which saves a LOT of hand-typing as well as clicking … I’m sure I’ll find many more! Can’t wait to browse the rest of the site.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I had to remove the quotes from the copied text to work with the web app I’m pasting a path into. Goto HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects\shell\CopyPath\command and alter the default key to %comspec% /c echo %1|clip.exe , really just removing the quotes from around the percent1 pipe clip.exe
Nevermind, figured it out myself.
After a little digging, I found this page: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/add-copy-as-path-option-to-the-context-menu-in-windows-xp/
So, if using your Method 2, replace line 20 and 21, which were:
WshShell.run “%comspec% /c ” & “echo ” & chr(34) & _
WScript.Arguments.Item(0) & chr(34) & “| clip.exe”,0
with:
WshShell.run “%comspec% /c ” & “<nul (set/p anyvariable=” & chr(34) & _
WScript.Arguments.Item(0) & chr(34) & “)| clip.exe”,0
This gives you the bonus of no quote marks as well.
Or, if using Method 1, use regedit to replace the value in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFileSystemObjects\shell\CopyPath\command
Originally, this is: %comspec% /c echo “%1″|clip.exe
Change it to: %comspec% /c <nul (set/p anyvariable=”%1″)|clip.exe