Solved Can't Unpin folder from Windows Explorer TaskBar Jumpli

[theburningor]

So, I've been using Win7 RC for about two weeks now and I love it. The only problem I've had so far is as follows.

I have all my personal data on a separate partition from my OS and so I had a shortcut to the Documents folder on this partition on my desktop. When I first got Win7, I clicked on this shortcut and pinned a folder to my taskbar. Later, I was cleaning up my desktop and deleted this shortcut, which is unnecessary because of the library feature. Now, I am unable to unpin the link from the windows explorer jumplist on the taskbar. I can click on the unpin icon, or right click and choose 'unpin' but it refuses to go away. Oddly, the path for this item is listed as

c:\Users\[my username]\Desktop\Desktop - Shortcut\[folder name]

rather than d:\Documents\[folder name]

either way, I cannot unpin it and was wondering if anyone knows of a configuration file or registry key where I could manually remove this item.

I've already tried creating that same link again and then re-pinning it and unpinning it, but to no avail. Anyone had anything like this turn up?

 

[CreepinJesus]

I have this same problem with a file I opened on a network location. I didn't even pin it in the first place, which is frustrating... but now it won't un-pin!

 

[Brink]

Hello CreepinJesus,

You might see if you can remove it from the hidden systen folder below to remove it from the taskbar.

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[IroncladMerc]

That doesn't work, all that is in that folder is a list of programs pinned to the taskbar. I need to unpin folders from within the windows explorer right-click pin list. It seems to be only network folders that can't be unpinned.

 

[delaroche]

Hi all,

I have the same problem with my NAS. I can not upin it from the Windows exporer using any of the method found in this forum (i.e. delete registry 'Start menu' or change the Taskbar settings)

Did anyone find an answer?

Microsoft should fix this ASAP.... NAS are becoming popular..

 

[GregInChrist]

I was having the same problem, I stubled across a different forum. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itproui/thread/c17f641c-4e0d-41aa-8bed-e8f049c5f414

Sounds like some guys did not have luck but it worked for me. The only thing is that I had to do it 2 times.

1. Right click on the start menu and select "Properties".

2. Under "Privacy" - Uncheck both "Store and display recently opened programs in the Start Menu" as well as "Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar".

3. Select Apply and OK.

4. Right click on "Windows Explorer" icon in your taskbar.

5. Select unpin from this list on the item that is stuck.

6. Repete steps one and two (only make the check boxes checked again).

7. Select Apply and OK again.

NOTE: At this point the item came back for me.

8. Right click on "Windows Explorer" icon in your taskbar again.

9. Select unpin from this list on the item that is stuck again.


I hope this helps someone out. It worked for me. But as I said it sounded like it might not have worked some others on the other forum.

Tags: Unpin Windows Explorer jump list, Can't unpin Windows Explorer jump list, Windows Explorer jump list problem, NAS item Windows Explorer jump list

 

[Dom]

Can you restore the shortcut from the Recycle Bin, if you haven't already emptied the bin.
You made a mistake of deleting the shortcut first, and then it would be stuck on the jumplist. If you have emptied the recycle bin, try a system restore. Once that shortcut has come back up, right click it and choose 'Unpin from taskbar', then you can delete it.

Dom

 

[GregInChrist]

You made a mistake of deleting the shortcut first, and then it would be stuck on the jumplist.
Dom

That was not the case in my situation. There seems also to be a windows bug with NAS devices.

I had not deleted anything; I only added it to the jump list, trying things out in Windows 7, then I could not remove it.

I am only bringing this up for others who stumble on this thread.

I would call both instances a bug rather than his mistake. If you delete the file it should be removed from the jump list or at least changed to a different icon indicating the file is missing; and you should still be able to remove the item from the jump list. And in my case, just because the file is on a NAS device, I should still be able to remove it from the jump list.

 

[Dom]

You made a mistake of deleting the shortcut first, and then it would be stuck on the jumplist.
Dom

That was not the case in my situation. There seems also to be a windows bug with NAS devices.

I had not deleted anything; I only added it to the jump list, trying things out in Windows 7, then I could not remove it.

I am only bringing this up for others who stumble on this thread.

I would call both instances a bug rather than his mistake. If you delete the file it should be removed from the jump list or at least changed to a different icon indicating the file is missing; and you should still be able to remove the item from the jump list. And in my case, just because the file is on a NAS device, I should still be able to remove it from the jump list.

I was speaking to the OP

 

[GregInChrist]

I thought so. I just wanted to make it clear for others who might have the problem I did.

 

[delaroche]

waw, it did actually work! thank you guys! twice in a row and that's it.
i am wondering now if the problem is gone forever or if i have to do it again. let's see...

one thing for sure: it is definitely a windows 7 bug.

cheers

 

[Lestrad]

Thanks, Greg. I had the same problem with my NAS and your solution worked the first time.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

Sorry to "resurrect" this thread (hehe ... sorry), but I only recently came across this same issue on my work laptop and this thread, specifically GregInChrist's (GIC's) fix, did it for me, EXCEPT (so I am adding this for the benefit of others in the future) ...

In my situation:
A. I had the SAME network folder somehow pinned 5 times (but this may apply to anyone with multiple unpins to do)
B. I only needed to uncheck "Store and display recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar" (i.e., didn't have to mess with the 1st option at all)
C. I didn't have the residual issue requiring GIC's steps 8 & 9
D. MY MAIN CAVEAT: Each iteration of the above steps only allowed me to unpin ONE instance at a time. After each unpin, it went back to being stubborn like before.

So, for me, I had to uncheck, apply, unpin, recheck, apply, uncheck, apply, unpin, etc. until I had unpinned all instances and ended with the final recheck of the box.

Also, I am surprised that 1.5 years later, on Win7 Enterprise SP1, we are still seeing this. But maybe I shouldn't be so surprised.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

the low-level solution

I got this problem again (badly), searched Google, and this thread showed at the top (again), but none of the solutions here had reached the non-tedious, low level, and 100% success combo I was looking for (e.g., I had been thoroughly searching the registry to kill these things).

Then I finally found this below. It's exactly what I was looking for, and perhaps you are, too.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/81483-jump-lists-reset-clear-all-items.html

NOTE: You can't cherry-pick the bad pinned items out, but this will clear all of your pinned items from Windows Explorer ONLY, so none of your pins for other apps are at risk (which I was originally afraid might happen with the checkboxes method). And it should work every time.

The summary is:

• all of the pins are stored here (in non-readable files; one for each app on the taskbar):

  %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations\

• at least for me, the file name corresponding to Windows Explorer pins was the same as given on the linked page (maybe same for everyone?):
  

  1B4DD67F29CB1962.AUTOMATICDESTINATIONS-MS

• NOTE: there's a method at the link to be more sure about which file (using "find" command)
• just move this file somewhere else (in case you want to move it back)
• all the pins, including the bad ones, are now gone from Explorer on the taskbar ... A CLEAN SLATE!
• when you know you don't want it anymore, delete the file from wherever you moved it to (if not immediately)

I anticipate this will keep happening so it's good to have this method handy to quickly clear the Explorer pins and it should work 100% of the time.

 

[singalrohit]

Delete the files in the folder:
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent\AutomaticDestinations