Solved RUN instead of EXPLORER in Task Bar

[TheDeerDude]

Strange, very strange situation I'm having right here. Whenever I open any explorer window, the icon on the taskbar appears as "Run" command instead of the usual Windows Explorer icon. It's rather annoying to say the least, quite confusing too. Any idea why this is happening and how I can fix it? It acts as if it was a "Run" window, too (when you press Windows+R) but it has a different icon. Please see attached screenshots, it's really strange.

 

[Ranger4]

Apparently at some point you have ticked the Run check box in Customise Task Bar. If you do not want it, Right Click on the Task Bar & select Properties, then select the Start Menu tab, then select Customise & scroll down to the Run check box & untick it. Click OK, then be sure to click the Apply button before clicking the the OK button to close it.

The run icon will probably still be on the Task Bar, if so just right click on it & select Close Windows or click on the little X on the RH upper corner & it will disappear from the Task Bar.

 

[TheDeerDude]

Hi Ranger4, and thank you for your reply.

I am not using the default Windows start menu, but ClassicShell. The "Run" is not in the default start menu, and I don't believe it has anything to do with this. This is a fresh install, it was never checked either way.

To clarify, in case if my first post is not clear enough. My issue is the following:
- When I open any Windows Explorer (file browser) window, through anywhere (Win+E, Start>Computer, etc) its icon on the taskbar isn't the usual "Windows Explorer" Libraries icon, but something that looks somewhat like a "Run" prompt icon. When I Shift+Click it (which would normally open another instance of Windows Explorer) a "Run" prompt comes up, with a similar icon.

This is not normal behaviour, and I am trying to figure out what is causing it, and how to fix it.

 

[RolandJS]

If it's only a matter of the icon being wrong but the operations are aok, must find an icon fixer. I think there is a clickbox for re-pairing icons with their respective EXEs and whatever elses within Tweaking.com's Windows Repair (All in One). Download, install, boot Windows into Safe Mode with Networking, click only the repair icons box, and if you want, add items #26 & #27. Restart twice to allow Windows and desktop to settle into place.

 

[BrightBlessings]

Have you tried running system file checker? http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html Maybe uninstalling classic shell and see if problem still happens.

 

[RolandJS]

BrightBlessings, you know, I failed to note thread starter was using ClassicShell, thanks for the heads-up. Awhile back, I also used and did like ClassicShell within Windows 8 and Windows 7 [I have 3 computers]. Now, even all three are running Windows 7 Pro, I uninstalled ClassicShell awhile back -- because it was causing a few annoying problems. Pass the pot o' virtual coffee, willya? I need some...

 

[TheDeerDude]

I have figured out what the problem is. Thank you both for hinting at ClassicShell and running SFC.

"classic shell" "start menu" "taskbar" "system files"

Those words made me wonder whether it could be related to something I did recently, which was to delete all contents of "Start>All Programs" and create custom folders with categories for programs.

I've put the default folders back to their directory - "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs" and surely, after restarting Explorer, the icon is back and works as it should.

Turns out that Windows Explorer NEEDS the "Accessories/Windows Explorer.lnk" shortcut in start menu. If it is removed, it'll cause this strange behaviour.

Another solution to this, if you really want to get rid of the "Accessories" folder is to pin Windows Explorer to taskbar.

Thank you all for help!

I've been using Classic Shell and QTTabBar for quite a while now, and I would never go back to the default start menu and explorer (because of the additional functionality and customization)

 

[BrightBlessings]

Good that you got it sorted and thanks for letting us know what was needed to do so. Cheers.