Games Explorer Folder - Add Games To

How to Add Games to Games Explorer Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8 ​

"So you add a game into Games Explorer Folder and realize that the game has no
cover, no rating, no info... Well, this tutorial will show you
how to add all that missing information."​

First things First.

• Adding a shortcut into Game Explorer Folder (GEF):

• Copy the main executable, then right click and select paste shortcut.

• Or Just Drag n Drop a shortcut of the game.

Use a shortcut, never use the main executable.

• Using the Registry Editor (REd):

• Hit the Start Orb and type regedit in the search box, an UAC prompt will ask you to authorize access by clicking Continue.

• The Files you will need:

Download

• Inside is the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file, Just save it for later use.

• Use Winrar or 7zip to extract the file.

The Tutorial:

This tutorial subdivides in Semi-Automatic for games already in the database which the GEF doesn't recognize automatically and manual for the ones not included in the database.​

   Note

Always remember to close GEF every time you need to edit the values in the REd, otherwise the game shortcut will be deleted.

Let's Begin...

• Semi-Automatic

Microsoft has added various old games to be recognized automatically by the GEF using a file called GameUXLegacyGDFs.dll but some of them need a little extra work to show-up.

Step 1: Add a shortcut into the GEF and then close it.

Step 2: Extract and then open the file GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt from the downloadable file.​

• Hit Ctrl+F to bring the search option in Notepad.

• Type just a part of the game's name.

It is very important to search only a part of the name otherwise you will cannot find any game. (e.g. if i want to find Hidden & Dangerous 2, i just type hidden in the search box).

• Hit "Find Next" button 'till you find the game your looking for.

If you cannot find the game please refer to Manual part of this tutorial.
Step 3: Open the REd and navigate to this location.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX

The KEY name might be different from yours.​

Step 4: Once you find the KEY that belongs to your game, edit as follow:

• In AppExePath put the location of your game executable.

(e.g. C:\Program Files\Illusion Softworks\Hidden & Dangerous 2\hd2.exe).

• In ApplicationId put the xxx value you found in *GameDefinitiongameID="xxx", on the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file.

Add just the value between commas.

• In ConfigInstallType replace the value to 3.

• Delete the Title String.

• Add a new String (Right-click>New>String Value) and name it ConfigGDFBinaryPath, then in the value data space put C:\Windows\system32\GameUXLegacyGDFs.dll

It should be look like this.
Step 5: Close the REd and open GEF, wait 'till windows updates the game info.

• Manual

If you can't find the game your looking for in GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt, you still can use another already in the file and edit its values.
Step 1: Go to All Game Guide to search your game.

Save the cover image for later use.
Step 2: Now go to Entertainment Software Rating Board and find a game with similar rating.

Step 3: Now lets find out if its listed on the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file, if not keep searching on the ESRB page.

Step 4: Open the REd and navigate to this location.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX

The KEY name might be different from yours.​

Step 5: Once you find the KEY that belongs to your game, edit as follow:

• In AppExePath put the location of your game executable.

(e.g. C:\Program Files\Illusion Softworks\Hidden & Dangerous 2\hd2.exe).

• In ApplicationId put the xxx value you found in *GameDefinitiongameID="xxx", on the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file.

Add just the value between commas.

• In ConfigInstallType replace the value to 3.

• Delete the Title String.

• Add a new String (Right-click>New>String Value) and name it ConfigGDFBinaryPath, then in the value data space put C:\Windows\system32\GameUXLegacyGDFs.dll

It should be look like this.
Step 6: Open GEF and wait to update the info.

Step 7: Update the REd by hitting the F5 key and replace the info as necessary.

This is just the basic info only, you can fill the blank spaces if you like.
Step 8: Now copy and paste this values and put them like so:

• in TimeToRefreshBasicData: b357951d59359b57 (Hexadecimal)
• in TimeToRefreshBoxArt: 855c358859359b57 (Hexadecimal)

The given values should stop reverting the game to its defaults every once in awhile.
Step 9: Now navigate to this location and paste the image your game will use as a cover.
C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt
The AppData folder is hidden by default you can learn how to unhide it in this tutorial.
Step 10: Change the name of the image with the one we're replacing.

• If you wanna use another type of image you need to edit the last part of the BoxArt String to the kind of file you wanna use.

(e.g. ...//images.../g21004lorom.jpg) JPG/PNG/BMP.

• Or if you want to use an icon instead, just edit:

AppExePath put the location of the icon.
BoxArt leave it blank.



Step 11: Now open the GEF and your game should display with the new info on it.

BTW, if you think is too much work for you, just take a look at this tutorial Games Explorer - Edit all credits to Darkness Warrior '96.




That's all for now...
Rjck.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Delete a Game in Games Explorer Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Games Explorer" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Hide or Unhide Games in Games Explorer Folder in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Restore the Default Games in Games Explorer Folder in Windows 7
• How to Customize the Windows 7 Games Explorer Context Menu
• Games Explorer - Edit with Game Explorer Builder
• How to Add Steam Games to Windows 7 Games Explorer Folder
• Enable or Disable Game Updates in "Games Explorer" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Enable or Disable Last Play Time of Games in "Games Explorer" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Enable or Disable Game Updates in "Games Explorer" in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

 

[Rjck]

Ok I have attached an image of the reg info for one of the games that does not appear. Also, the games explorer page.

One game I had to enter manually that seemed to work was simcity4. I entered both silent hill games manually. The one I highlighted doesn't seem to update properly.

Lets see...

• Never edit BoxArt string value, so if you could put the original path or put this one instead:

"http://images.metaservices.microsoft.com:80/games/prod//AMG_CoverArt/drg300/g386/g38684lzmw0.jpg" (without quotes)

• Navigate to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt\

1. Find a new image for that game and put it there, just make sure the new image is a .jpg type.
2. Rename the image with the same key of the game.

The game key is the one selected.

NOTE: The key values might be different from yours.

Let me known if that helps...

 

[oh hi there]

Works perfectly now. Thanks.

 

[Rjck]

Works perfectly now. Thanks.

NP, always a pleasure.

 

[Archmage]

Hello, friends, and Happy New Year.
First of all, thanks for the great tuto, Rjck. It´s really appreciated.

Now, my problem: I don´t have sucess to classify Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (yes, the first one).
It´s not in the list, so I try the method 2, and achieve a good result in everything, except the ESBR Rating.
Yes, it´s a minor issue, but I want it completely tuned here, so, if someone could give me a help here, it will be very appreciated. ^^

Thanks in advance, and I´m sorry for the bad english - it´s not my native language.

 

[Rjck]

Hello, friends, and Happy New Year.
First of all, thanks for the great tuto, Rjck. It´s really appreciated.

Now, my problem: I don´t have sucess to classify Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (yes, the first one).
It´s not in the list, so I try the method 2, and achieve a good result in everything, except the ESBR Rating.
Yes, it´s a minor issue, but I want it completely tuned here, so, if someone could give me a help here, it will be very appreciated. ^^

Thanks in advance, and I´m sorry for the bad english - it´s not my native language.

Thanx Archmage and welcome to the forums.
For COD4 you can try this:
ApplicationId= {bf535668-4027-44ae-b6a5-2e97cf44207e}.

Here's how it looks.



Let me know if that what u wanted.
Happy holidays for you too.

P.S.: your bad english its better than mine definitively.

 

[VeLiKi]

Mmm that's strange, All seems to be ok.
Lets try this:

...

Hope that solves the issue.

Hey, it works! You're a wizard Rjck! Thanks a lot

 

[VeLiKi]

hey, i know this is now just too much, but is there any way to change the game version information? they're all at 1.0.0.0?

 

[plipz]

Now confused

Nice tutorial but it leaves me more confused than explains how this works.

First of all where do you get these ApplicationID? I tried searching the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt for these ID's and could locate them.

Second I think the text file is outdated since most games are not found here.

Third the games I already have that have box arts, etc, their own appids i cant find in the text file as well. The only game that I found there was Warcraft. Also my other computers have other games as well that are updated w/ box arts, ratings, etc have appid's that dont exist in the downloadable text file.

Can you explain this to me? Sorry for the trouble but I'm so confused now...

Also the games that you have in the tutorial, hidden something isn't even in the text file... :shock:

Have I somehow downloaded the wrong text file?

Thanks!

 

[Rjck]

Hey, it works! You're a wizard Rjck! Thanks a lot

Hehehe thnx VeLiKi, glad to know it works.

hey, i know this is now just too much, but is there any way to change the game version information? they're all at 1.0.0.0?

Unfortunately i haven't found it yet, it seems that only works if the game developers put that info in the new (GDF) schema, e.g. GTA IV, Street fighter IV, Devil May Cry 4, Resident Evil 5, Crysis, mostly new games.

 

[Rjck]

Nice tutorial but it leaves me more confused than explains how this works.

First of all where do you get these ApplicationID? I tried searching the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt for these ID's and could locate them.

Second I think the text file is outdated since most games are not found here.

Third the games I already have that have box arts, etc, their own appids i cant find in the text file as well. The only game that I found there was Warcraft. Also my other computers have other games as well that are updated w/ box arts, ratings, etc have appid's that dont exist in the downloadable text file.

Can you explain this to me? Sorry for the trouble but I'm so confused now...

Also the games that you have in the tutorial, hidden something isn't even in the text file... :shock:

Have I somehow downloaded the wrong text file?

Thanks!

Hi plipz and welcome to the forums.

The ApplicationId's can be found in the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file that is located at the beginning of this tutorial.

You need to search only one part of the game name like if its "Hidden & Dangerous 2" you only need to search the word "hidden" because the full name has no spaces in between, in some cases you will see more than one game with the word that you looking for, in that case just hit the button "Find next" or "F3" (if using Notepad) 'till you finding it.

If the game you looking for is not listed in the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file u need to do the manual part of the tutorial.

Don't worry m8, if u got any mo' questions let me know.

 

[Archmage]

Thanx Archmage and welcome to the forums.
For COD4 you can try this:
ApplicationId= {bf535668-4027-44ae-b6a5-2e97cf44207e}.

Let me know if that what u wanted.
Happy holidays for you too.

P.S.: your bad english its better than mine definitively.

Hi, Rjck.
It work very well, thank you for the help.

 

[Rjck]

Hi, Rjck.
It work very well, thank you for the help.

Always a pleasure...

 

[LaZi3b0y]

You should start a topic for ApplicationID requests or something
Because i can't find a single game in the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file unfortunately, that is useful to me :/

Thanks in advance

 

[Rjck]

You should start a topic for ApplicationID requests or something
Because i can't find a single game in the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file unfortunately, that is useful to me :/

Thanks in advance

Hi LaZi3b0y and welcome to the forums, if you cant find the game in the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file, try to follow the steps on the manual part of the tutorial.
BTW which game you are looking for, maybe i can give you a hand.

 

[LaZi3b0y]

BTW which game you are looking for, maybe i can give you a hand.

Yeah maybe.
It's Demigod and Anno 1404 i'm having trouble with.

Thanks in advance

 

[Rjck]

Yeah maybe.
It's Demigod and Anno 1404 i'm having trouble with.

Thanks in advance

Sorry bud, haven't found any games with the same esrb content, u need to follow the steps on the manual part of the tutorial and remember what i said:

"If you can't find the game in GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt, you can use a similar one and edit the values..."

good luck.

 

[LaZi3b0y]

Hi again I back with a new problem^^

Whenever i try to start some games from Game Explorer folder i get various errors.

For example when i try to start Call of Duty 4 a error window pops up first where it says:

WIN_PROPER_QUIT_BODY
Where i can choose between "Yes", "No" and "Cancel".
When i choose "Cancel" nothing else happens the window closes down and thats it.
If i choose either "Yes" or "No" a console window pops up and then a error window in front of the console thats says:

"Error during initialization:
Couldn't load fileSysCheck.cfg. Make sure Call of Duty is run from the correct folder."

It's not a biggy really but i would like to know why this happens?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Maybe i should mention that I manage to start the games from the Start Menu and from respective game folder.

 

[Rjck]

Hi again I back with a new problem^^

Whenever i try to start some games from Game Explorer folder i get various errors.

For example when i try to start Call of Duty 4 a error window pops up first where it says:

WIN_PROPER_QUIT_BODY
Where i can choose between "Yes", "No" and "Cancel".
When i choose "Cancel" nothing else happens the window closes down and thats it.
If i choose either "Yes" or "No" a console window pops up and then a error window in front of the console thats says:

"Error during initialization:
Couldn't load fileSysCheck.cfg. Make sure Call of Duty is run from the correct folder."

It's not a biggy really but i would like to know why this happens?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Maybe i should mention that I manage to start the games from the Start Menu and from respective game folder.

Np LaZi3b0y, can u please post a screenshot of your game in the registry to take a look.

 

[LaZi3b0y]

Hi again I back with a new problem^^

Whenever i try to start some games from Game Explorer folder i get various errors.

For example when i try to start Call of Duty 4 a error window pops up first where it says:

WIN_PROPER_QUIT_BODY
Where i can choose between "Yes", "No" and "Cancel".
When i choose "Cancel" nothing else happens the window closes down and thats it.
If i choose either "Yes" or "No" a console window pops up and then a error window in front of the console thats says:

"Error during initialization:
Couldn't load fileSysCheck.cfg. Make sure Call of Duty is run from the correct folder."

It's not a biggy really but i would like to know why this happens?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Maybe i should mention that I manage to start the games from the Start Menu and from respective game folder.

Np LaZi3b0y, can u please post a screenshot of your game in the registry to take a look.

Here is a screenshot of Call of Duty 4 in my registry.
I'm guessing that you mean the Game Explorer registry
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/730/87499657.png

 

[Rjck]

Here is a screenshot of Call of Duty 4 in my registry.
I'm guessing that you mean the Game Explorer registry
http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/730/87499657.png

Mmm... All seems to be ok. I post this before, maybe you could try it and let me known if that solves the issue.

Lets try this:

1. Open the registry editor and navigate to the location below and search your game.
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX
   NOTE: The key values might be different from yours.
2. Go to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\ and find the folder with the same name of the game. "the one you take note above".
3. Open that folder until you find the game's shortcut. eg. ...\{3F29E50B-538D-48A0-9F69-A632B5AA5308}\PlayTasks\0\
4. Delete that shortcut, put a new shortcut of the game in here and rename it "Play".

Note: Make sure GEF is closed, cause otherwise when u delete the shortcut in the step 4, the game will dissapear from GEF and u have to make all the tutorial again.