How to Create a "Games Explorer" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
Information
This tutorial will show you how to create or download a
Games Explorer shortcut instead of one to the
hidden C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Games folder in
Vista,
Windows 7, and
Windows 8.
Note
The Games folder is a central repository for games on your computer that also offers game updates, statistics, news feeds,
WEI requirements, and more.
For more information about the Games Explorer folder, see:
Explore the features: Games Explorer
Tip
- Typing shell:games in the Start Menu search box and pressing enter will also open the Games Explorer folder.
- You can also add or remove the Games Explorer folder from the Start Menu (Vista/Windows 7) dark right side in the Start Menu Customize settings.
EXAMPLE: Games Explorer
OPTION ONE
To Download a "Games Explorer" Shortcut
1. Click\tap on the Download button below to download the file below.
Games_Explorer.zip
2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.
3. Open the .zip file and extract the Games Explorer shortcut to the desktop
.
4. Unblock the
Games Explorer shortcut. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If you do not have a Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.
5. In
Vista and
Windows 7, you can now
Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or
Pin to Start Menu, add to
Quick Launch,
assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
6. In
Windows 8, you can
Pin to Taskbar on desktop,
Pin to Start screen, add to
Quick Launch,
assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
7. When done, you can delete the downloaded .zip file on the desktop if you like, or save it to use again.
OPTION TWO
To Manually Create a "Games Explorer" Shortcut
1. Right click on a empty area on desktop, and click\tap on
New and
Shortcut. (See screenshot below)
2. Type the location below into the location area, and click\tap on the
Next button. (See screenshot below)
Code:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{ED228FDF-9EA8-4870-83b1-96b02CFE0D52}
3. Type
Games Explorer for the name, and click\tap on the
Finish button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though. 4. Right click on the new
Games Explorer shortcut on the Desktop and click on
Properties.
5. Click on the
Shortcut tab, then click on the
Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", type in the location below, and press
Enter. (see screenshot below)
%windir%\System32\imageres.dll
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click\tap on
OK. (see screenshot above)
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.
8. Click\tap on
OK. (see screenshot below)
9. In
Vista and
Windows 7, you can now
Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or
Pin to Start Menu, add to
Quick Launch,
assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
10. In
Windows 8, you can
Pin to Taskbar on desktop,
Pin to Start screen, add to
Quick Launch,
assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.
That's it,
Shawn
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