Disable Games Explorer or shortcut redirection

[supraspecies]

Good day. Here is the scenario:

I install a game. Its shortcut is added to "Games" folder in start menu. Under Windows XP, game would create its own folder with:

Game shortcut
Readme shortcut
Configuration shortcut
Game manual shortcut
Uniinstall shortcut

But piece-of-shit games explorer somehow prevents the game from creating its own start menu folder and instead adds only one shortcut to game EXE into "Games" folder, robbing me of all other shortcuts.

There has already been a thread about this here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/2...ows-7-putting-game-shortcuts-game-folder.html

But author somehow came to a conclusion that Steam is at fault, which clearly isn't the case: I never even had steam on my computer.

So how can I completely disable Games Explorer (which I never use), or at least force games to create their own start menu shortcuts. And no, I don't want to install each and every game in WinXP compatibility mode (if that would work, I haven't tried).

 

[estXcrew]

Hi there,

When installing games usually it asks "Make a shortcut" and you can check the box, or manually go to
Computer > C:\ > Program Files > Find the game folder > Find the .exe of the game > right click the .exe > Say Create a shortcut and drag the shortcut to the desktop

Or as an alternative route open the start menu and type the name of the game into the search bar and simply drag the correct result onto your desktop


I Don't fully undertand what you are asking for, why would you ever want to disable games explorer or even use it (I've never used the games explorer in my windows 7 time and it hasnt interrupted my normal gaming)

To uninstall go to Control panel, choose the "Category" on the topright, and then on the bottom left under "programs" there is "Uninstalling of programs", click on that.

 

[AddRAM]

And why would you want all the extra garbage ?

 

[Faladu]

What is Games Explorer?

OP, are you just referring to the folder that Games are defaulted to in Windows 7?

Forget what XP stuff did, this is 7. What an installer for a game does is determined by the script done by the developer of the game . end of story! (choices, if any, given then)

I suggest you make one folder for Games and drag all shortcuts to it on the desktop then drag that folder to the start button and drop it, to be pinned to the start button, also.

It's been simplified... otherwise look in START | All Programs for other possible locations, this stuff can be manipulated, you aren't stuck with it there.

 

[Contrabardus]

Actually, I avoid putting games in /program files or /program files x86 [the default location for most game installers] because that makes modding more difficult and even if I don't want to/can't mod a game I like them to all be in the same place. I also install digital game outlet programs like Steam, Origin, and Uplay outside of these folders for the same reasons. It's more convenient, and I don't have to mess around with getting around the restrictions of the PF or PFx86 folders if I ever want to modify my game files.

Unless you just load and play and never ever do anything else, it's more convenient to put them somewhere else.

As was said earlier the easiest way to do this is to just manually enter the new location when prompted on install. Hasn't given me a lick of trouble.

 

[stormy13]

You tried right clicking on the game icon in Games? Most of the games that I have installed when I do that, the context menu has what you are used to seeing in the old XP Start menu/game folder.

 

[supraspecies]

And why would you want all the extra garbage ?

Maybe because I would prefer to have a shortcut to game's configuration executable rather go and search for it in game folder, hm? But of course if all game configurations, manuals, readmes and uninstall shortcuts are "garbage" to you, well...

You tried right clicking on the game icon in Games? Most of the games that I have installed when I do that, the context menu has what you are used to seeing in the old XP Start menu/game folder.

Unfortunately, the feature I use most often, is "Open file location" - which quickly brings me to game folder.... NOT. Instead, it brings me to shitty game explorer now. And no, it doesn't have all the features I need. I wish. But I see where you're coming from.

Forget what XP stuff did, this is 7. What an installer for a game does is determined by the script done by the developer of the game . end of story!

LIES. Many pre-Vista games have their shortcuts put in "Games" instead of creating their normal start menu shortcut structure. Looks like Game Explorer, or whatever shit Windows 7 uses, fetches information from internet and redirects game shortcuts as soon as it detects "a game".

Thanks everyone for your replies, I'll see what I can do with the info you gave me.