Windows 7 - Games Explorer Folder - Restore Default Games

**Brink**

How to Restore the Default Games in Windows 7 Games Explorer Folder

Information

This will show you how to restore the default Windows 7 More Games, Chess Titans, FreeCell, Hearts, Internet Backgammon, Internet Checkers, Internet Spades, Mahjong Titans, Minesweep, Purple Place, Solitaire, and Spider Solitaire games in the Games folder.

The Chess Titans, Internet Backgammon, Internet Checkers, Internet Spades, Mahjong Titans games are not available in the Windows 7 Starter and Home Basic editions.

Note

The Games folder is central repository for games on your computer that also offers game updates, statistics, news feeds, WEI requirements, and more. For more information about the Games Explorer folder, see: Explore the features: Games Explorer

Tip

You will need to have the game unhidden, or default game checked in Windows Features, before it will be displayed in the Games folder. By default, Games is checked and turned on in all editions except the Professional and Enterprise editions.. You can also uncheck one of the default games to remove it from the Games explorer folder. This does not apply to installed 3rd party games.

Games Explorer Folder - Restore Default Games-windows_features.jpg

EXAMPLE: Games explorer folder
NOTE: You can open the Games folder by clicking on the Games button on the dark right side of the Start Menu, typing shell:games in the Start Menu search box and pressing enter, or navigating to the hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games folder.

Here's How:

1. To Restore All Default Games in the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Restore_All_Default_Games.zip

B) Click on Save, and save the ZIP file to your desktop, then extract the .reg file from the ZIP file.

C) Go to step 15.

2. To Restore "More Games" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
More_Games.reg

B) Go to step 14.

3. To Restore "Chess Titans" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Chess_Titans.reg

B) Go to step 14.

4. To Restore "FreeCell" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
FreeCell.reg

B) Go to step 14.

5. To Restore "Hearts" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Hearts.reg

B) Go to step 14.

6. To Restore "Internet Backgammon" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Internet_Backgammon.reg

B) Go to step 14.

7. To Restore "Internet Checkers" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Internet_Checkers.reg

B) Go to step 14.

8. To Restore "Internet Spades" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Internet_Spades.reg

B) Go to step 14.

9. To Restore "Mahjong Titans" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Mahjong_Titans.reg

B) Go to step 14.

10. To Restore "Minesweeper" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Minesweeper.reg

B) Go to step 14.

11. To Restore "Purple Place" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Purple_Place.reg

B) Go to step 14.

12. To Restore "Solitaire" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Solitaire.reg

B) Go to step 14.

13. To Restore "Spider Solitaire" to the Games Explorer Folder
A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Spider_Solitaire.reg

14. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the desktop.

15. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.

16. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.

17. Close and reopen the Games explorer folder to apply and see the default game restored.

18. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

**nate42nd** · 11-28-2009

I think some people who get Windows 7 Professional will be "confused"

Games are not enabled by default in Pro. You have to go to "Programs and Features" then "Turn Windows features on or off" and enable games from there in Professional.

For anyone's information who may be searching for information about why their computer has no games listed.

**Brink** · 11-28-2009

Thank you Nate. I added this in the TIP section.

**astrajingga** · 12-09-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by nate42nd

I think some people who get Windows 7 Professional will be "confused"

Games are not enabled by default in Pro. You have to go to "Programs and Features" then "Turn Windows features on or off" and enable games from there in Professional.

For anyone's information who may be searching for information about why their computer has no games listed.

nate42nd is correct, that is best solution to enable all default games

**KraftyKaren** · 01-13-2010

I reset the Games Active on the Control Panel per the posting and the games still sre not coming back. I do not know what to do next. Can someone help?

**Brink** · 01-13-2010

Hello Karen, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Did you already make sure that the games were turned on in Windows Features from the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial first? If they were, then try toggling them off and on to see if that may help.

**KraftyKaren** · 01-13-2010

Yes, I followed those instructions and the only games that show up are Chess Titams and Mahjong Titans, even though all are checked! Very frustrating!

**Brink** · 01-13-2010

Karen,

If this happened not to long ago, then you may be able to do a system restore using a restore point dated when they were there to see if it can restore them for you.

**mikeyt** · 11-27-2010

ok, so i've run your download to restore the games etc, have toggled the features switch & restarted the system then rechecked all of the games in features and it still wont work. I've gone in an re-set the permissions so that i have full control and show as the Owner but.....the only game that loads up is Chess Titans. Any further ideas?

**Brink** · 11-27-2010

Hellp Mike, and welcome to Seven Forums.

As above, if this just happened not to long ago, then you may be able to do a system restore using a restore point dated when they were there to see if it can restore them for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Windows 7 - Games Explorer Folder - Restore Default Games

Games Explorer Folder - Restore Default Games

Games Explorer Folder - Restore Default Games problems?