I have no idea about your problem. But it seems that you have a LOT of this menu problems. I have a user that works with graphics programs and she always have strange problems, like loosing the file associations and so.
It might be that the graphics programs can break havoc????
Just a thought.
I always thought that user was too stupid to own a PC , but Lynch is already a power user, so that is not the case with him.
Just lose thoughts