How pin the same executable twice to the Start menu?

I use two shortcuts to start Chrome with different profiles, so I have:

Code:

C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe --user-data-dir="C:\Users\Me\Chrome_Profile_1"

and

Code:

C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe --user-data-dir="C:\Users\Me\Chrome_Profile_2"

The problem is I can't pin both shortcuts to the start menu. They are treated as if they are the same (I guess it's because the executable is the same, and the extra arguments are ignored).

What can I do?

Thanks,
Dave

Manay Pepin said:

Make a copy of the Chrome executable and assign a different name, for example, Chrome2. When you launch it, it will group itself with the initial Chrome icon the taskbar, but you can have two or more copies of the same app in the Start Menu this way.

Hi Manay and thanks for your reply. Copying the executable itself seems kind of lame, isn't it?
Perhaps I can write two one-liner batch files that will execute Chrome and create shortcuts to them instead the original executable itself? It's just that I have never wrote a batch file for windows. Should I only write the command ()as in the shortcut target)?

Thanks,
Dave

The example you give, looks like the same profile??
Anyway, if they are, you can pin Chrome to the taskbar. If you have chrome open and need another chrome up, press the middle mouse key.,

logicearth said:

Writing a batch file is a little over kill. I have a better way that won't require any additional hard drive space. Simply create a hardlink to the original executable file.

Thanks, this seems like a nice solution. I didn't know Windows has hard links. However, it seems hard links do require hard drive space (Mklink in Windows).

davehc said:

The example you give, looks like the same profile??

No, these are different profile folders:

Code:

--user-data-dir="C:\Users\Me\Chrome_Profile_1"

and

Code:

--user-data-dir="C:\Users\Me\Chrome_Profile_2"

.

just happened upon this article: Use Chrome and Chromium Side-By-Side for Easy Profile Management

probably a bit late now, but anyway...

Thank you all.