When you right click on media files or folders you may see entries like “Add to VLC media player’s Playlist” and “Play with VLC media player.”

The program is not clever enough to add or remove these options from its Preferences, but you can download a portable and light freeware called ShellMenuView that will disable the VLC contect menus — and enable them again if you want them back.

The other way, not recommended, would be to re-install VLC and refuse Windows Explorer integration.

* Don’t miss VLC Untied, a free program that lets you select one or more files or folders in Windows Explorer and load them to VLC media player instantly using a keyboard shortcut, even removing completely any files that may be already loaded and playing.