Explorer Bug

ambiorix · 29 Apr 2010

Hey everyone,

I'm having a small problem which can't really be considered as a major crash or anything so I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this thread, but I'll do it anyway. You can redirect me to the correct place if I'm wrong.

I use Windows 7 since the beginning and I like the fact that you can tweak it as you see fit. One thing I missed in Windows 7, that I've always used in previous versions, is the "My Computer" icon in the taskbar. By default, there is an explorer icon in the taskbar that points to the libraries.

What I've done:

- I've disabled the libraries via a registry hack I've found on the internet
- I've created a shortcut to this path: "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder", which is My Computer. (without quotes)
- I've changed the target path of Windows Explorer (start => accessories => Windows Explorer) to "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" (which is My Computer)

In Windows 7 all similar windows open in the same icon. To accomplish this, I had to add a line to this shortcut.
- I've put this in the "target" area of the shortcut: "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"
- I've dragged this shortcut to my taskbar

This used to work just fine until today when suddenly, the same shortcut opens My Documents. I've deleted the shortcut, recreated it. After a little bit of reading I found that here is malware that can cause this so I've done a virusscan with AVG FREE, windows defender, spybot S&D, malware bytes, I've cleaned up my computer with ccleaner and cleaned the registry. All came up negative. There is simply no (detectable) malware on my computer, though this shortcut still points to My Documents.

So I thought that maybe there was something wrong with my shortcut, although this worked for months and months.

When I type "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder" (without quotes) in any explorer window, I get redirected to My Documents but when I type %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} My Computer opens up just fine.

This is a big explanation for what seems to be a small problem but I wanted to make sure you readers had all the necessary information.

Kind regards,

Ambiorix

whs · 29 Apr 2010

Where is the Explorer bug? I fail to see the problem.

ambiorix · 30 Apr 2010

Maybe the title wasn't for 100% correct but my explanation was pretty clear. I made a shortcut to open My Computer to pin to my taskbar. Instead of opening My Computer, it opens My Documents. Out of the blue.

Well, apparently not out of the blue. I've noticed that this is related to one of the latest Windows updates because now I have the same "problem" on my laptop. So to end with a popular quote "It's not a bug, it's a feature".

Edit:

It would appear that since the last Windows 7 update, my Windows no longer supports shortcut made with explorer shell:MyComputerFolder. They all point to My documents. I had a shortcut made this way to pin my recycle bin to my taskbar and got the same issue. The solution is to make a shortcut using only CLSID in the form of: "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"

SOLVED