Windows 7 - Computer - Pin to Taskbar

Hey Shawn.
I like to be able to see how many windows I have open and what they are at a glance, so the always combine thing buggs me a little, but thatnks for the tip.

Kookster, I saw your post after i submitted mine, but havnt had a chance to try it yet, but ill definatly give it a shot. thanks

Thanks mate , but doing so will create another explorer.exe process which is unnecessary

Here’s a way to link my computer directly and much faster

Windows Explorer Taskbar Icon - Change Open To Target

OR

1] Create a shortcut to My Computer on the desktop . Just drag it from the start menu to the desktop
2] Create a new text document. Change its filename and extension to “My Computer.exe”
3] Pin this My Computer.exe to the taskbar
4] Now Open “C:\Users\%User%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar”
5]Replace the shortcut My Computer [ the one linked to the .exe ] with the one on your desktop.
6] Click on the pinned item on the desktop .opening it will not create an extra explorer.exe process and it opens a tad bit faster too

Thanks Shawn I can't believe I missed this one. I prefer using the My Computer shortcut over the Windows Explorer shortcut because I do not use Libraries and had previously removed Libraries Folder from navigation pane but the Icons were still showing up to the right of the navigation pane even after un-ticking & unindexing folders.

The Windows Explorer Taskbar Icon - Change Open To Target tutorial was also usful for changing the target of the windows explorer icon under All Programs/Accessories/Windows Explorer

You're most welcome IownAmoneyPit.

thanks for this advice and the warning re issues with other pinned "explorer" type shortcuts.

i've tried to follow the instructions exactly (ie "default pinned Windows Explorer taskbar icon is dragged to the right of this pinned Computer icon on the taskbar, and that any other pinned "explorer" type icon is dragged to the right of this Computer icon" - - - i have put "computer" at the left, then "my documents", then "explorer") but am still finding that when i pin both "computer" and "documents" to the taskbar, the leftmost (computer) icon changes to preview documents when they are opened.

"computer" is set to to %windir%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder
"my documents" is %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /N,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
"explorer" is %windir%\explorer.exe

in my case "my documents" is actually "H:\My Documents" (synchronised with a company network) but that can only be pinned to "computer"

i am not sure if any of these factors are the cause of the problem

is there a way to avoid this behaviour?

thanks

Hello Cbeer, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This would be normal. All explorer type shortcuts that open Windows Explorer or use the explorer.exe command, will have their window open with the explorer type shortcut that is the furthest left on the taskbar.

While all these tutorials are great, the warning about addition explorer.exe process is not exactly complete. In my case, the additional instances of explorer.exe DO NOT terminate after using the shortcuts. (and yes, setting in Folder Options is to only launch one instance).

Any suggestions?

Hello Tanger, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This is normal with both the Windows Explorer and Computer pinned to the taskbar together. I have added a note box at the top of the tutorial to help explain this better.

This is so that you can easily open as many Computer windows as you like by just clicking on the Computer taskbar icon for how many you want opened.