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]

i will update the tutorial so no more peps get confused thx.

 

[DevourDarkness]

After doing this, you may find yourself unable to launch the game you added or right click it. Happened with most of my games.

 

[Rjck]

After doing this, you may find yourself unable to launch the game you added or right click it. Happened with most of my games.

Hey DevourDarkness, maybe u didnt add the game as a shortcut, some guys got the same issue, 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 delete from GEF too and you'll have to make all the tutorial again.

Let me know if that fixes that problem.

 

[DevourDarkness]

It didn't work sorry. Also, how are you supposed to find application ids for newer games? I googled to find mine but it's very hard...

 

[Rjck]

It didn't work sorry. Also, how are you supposed to find application ids for newer games? I googled to find mine but it's very hard...

Must be something else...

I didn't say u will find any ids for new games, I just said u can use an id similar to the game your tryin to add. for example, COD4 isn't in the GameUXLegacyGDFs.tx so i use the id of FEAR which is included in the file.

Q: How do i know FEAR has the same rating and content?
A: EZ, just follow the steps of the Manual part of the tutorial.

In many cases will not find any ids with the same content and rating, so use another with the same rating...

and yes is kinda hard i know, but hey u can use that "VGEE" app instead...

anyway, just let me know which game are u tryin to add, maybe i can give u a hand.

 

[DevourDarkness]

I managed to fix most of my games by making a GDF and pointing each game to one. One problem though is that I can't get the ratings working on some of my games. I tried putting the id of another game in the .txt with a similar rating and yet it's still blank. Pretty clueless...

 

[Daniel78]

I Just need the shortcut, the icon (boxart) and the correct name of every game in Game Explorer.
There is some way to avoid do the ID ratings part?

Thanks again for this tutorial!

 

[Rjck]

I managed to fix most of my games by making a GDF and pointing each game to one. One problem though is that I can't get the ratings working on some of my games. I tried putting the id of another game in the .txt with a similar rating and yet it's still blank. Pretty clueless...

Thats weird, cause it works for me and some fellas who had already tried this tutorial...

 

[Rjck]

I Just need the shortcut, the icon (boxart) and the correct name of every game in Game Explorer.
There is some way to avoid do the ID ratings part?

Thanks again for this tutorial!

Maybe we could try this Dani, its less complicated but still we need to do some work...

1. Put a shortcut of your game into the GEF, then close it.

2. Open Registry editor. (type regedit in search bar and hit enter)

3. Find your game under: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX

4. Change this values:
ConfigInstallType: 3
ApplicationId: {6cebf5c8-43be-4444-8adc-f8cba9222cbe}

5. Open GEF and let the game update its info, then close when it finish.

6. Go to registry and edit:
BoxArt: *.jpg
TimeToRefreshBasicData: b357951d59359b57 (Hexadecimal)
TimeToRefreshBoxArt: 855c358859359b57 (Hexadecimal)

7. Change the values you want lke: name, description... and so on.

8. Go to: C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt put a picture (JPG) of your game in there and rename it with the same name it has in the registry, Done.

You can use the same method for any game u want, but just remember to add them one by one.

Good Luck.

 

[Daniel78]

Thanks Rjck! Using a default ID for every game is just what i wanted

2 things more:
GameID of very very old games in the txt seems not to work at the GEF update. At least only shows the name and not the boxart. Solved using one not to old.

*In my case i have PCSX2 emulator. If i try to make a shortcut of a .exe with a line command at the end its doesnt work (.... pcsx2.exe data). Rare.

Thanks a lot again!

 

[Rjck]

Thanks Rjck! Using a default ID for every game is just what i wanted

2 things more:
GameID of very very old games in the txt seems not to work at the GEF update. At least only shows the name and not the boxart. Solved using one not to old.

*In my case i have PCSX2 emulator. If i try to make a shortcut of a .exe with a line command at the end its doesnt work (.... pcsx2.exe data). Rare.

Thanks a lot again!

Np bro, always a pleasure.

Yep, i notice that too. It seems that some games doesn't have a cover, maybe is 'cause allgame.com data base isn't up-to-date.

For your PCSX2 emulator:

1. Just put a simple shortcut (not any command lines) into GEF.
2. Now go to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\ and find your game in one of those folders with numbers and letters.

Each of your games should be within GameExplorer folder, just find the one you are looking in the sub-folder ...\PlayTasks\0

3. once u there right-click on the Play shortcut and add the command line in the target location, now it should work.

All the best...

 

[Daniel78]

Thanks RJCK!
Your answers are fast and concise!
Now I like more this way summarized/resumed to do it.
I clarify that the ID used was the one of "XIII Reunion" , since the other did not load the cover-art to me.
It work perfect, just as the edition of the Play.exe with the command line as i wished

 

[Rjck]

Thanks RJCK!
Your answers are fast and concise!
Now I like more this way summarized/resumed to do it.
I clarify that the ID used was the one of "XIII Reunion" , since the other did not load the cover-art to me.
It work perfect, just as the edition of the Play.exe with the command line as i wished

Thanx m8, good to hear all went ok, just let me know if you have more questions...

btw i found this id:
E (everyone) not content + cover

{cda27184-12ca-49a0-9f75-218e61498c3e}
from $100,000Pyramid

Have Fun.

 

[AlexRD]

Hello,
Very nice tutorial helped me a lot! Now i can finally have a beautiful and well organized games folder. Oh, and hey, just to help out a little, if you use this link C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt it will be easier since the reader wont have to change the user name

 

[Rjck]

Hello,
Very nice tutorial helped me a lot! Now i can finally have a beautiful and well organized games folder. Oh, and hey, just to help out a little, if you use this link C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt it will be easier since the reader wont have to change the user name

Thanx a bunch AlexRD, its very kind of u...

 

[v0id]

Hey guys i have problem!

I added steam game shortcut and now i cant remove them! I can't right click to select delete on that shortcut!

Any solutions?

 

[domiNick]

Thanks for the explanation .. It really helped me to edit the details of my old games; Mafia and Whiteout. But there' s someting wrong with the details of Whiteout game which is located on the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file. Some of the games has the other one' s Game ID which actually gave wrong game' s details from the internet. For example, I got " Where In the World is in Sandiago " game details when I trying to find details for Whiteout. I think they are mixed up! In wrong place. Anyway I found it out by trying : ) Thanks again for your very helpful tutorial, good days to all of you ...

 

[Rjck]

Hey guys i have problem!

I added steam game shortcut and now i cant remove them! I can't right click to select delete on that shortcut!

Any solutions?

Sure try this:
1. open registry editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX

2. now find your game.

3. once u found it delete the key of that game.


e.g. if i want to remove Hidden and dangerous 2, i just need to delete the key "{E3F29E50B...5308}"

Good Luck.

 

[Rjck]

Thanks for the explanation .. It really helped me to edit the details of my old games; Mafia and Whiteout. But there' s someting wrong with the details of Whiteout game which is located on the GameUXLegacyGDFs.txt file. Some of the games has the other one' s Game ID which actually gave wrong game' s details from the internet. For example, I got " Where In the World is in Sandiago " game details when I trying to find details for Whiteout. I think they are mixed up! In wrong place. Anyway I found it out by trying : ) Thanks again for your very helpful tutorial, good days to all of you ...

... nice to hear u got it all sorted out Dom

Welcome to the forums.

 

[v0id]

Hey guys i have problem!

I added steam game shortcut and now i cant remove them! I can't right click to select delete on that shortcut!

Any solutions?

Sure try this:
1. open registry editor and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX

2. now find your game.

3. once u found it delete the key of that game.

View attachment 82147
e.g. if i want to remove Hidden and dangerous 2, i just need to delete the key "{E3F29E50B...5308}"

Good Luck.

Thanks man! I deleted this stupid shortcuts! Now they gone!