neowin.net

Ok first of all, this is not totally my idea; this is just a rephrase of what marinexx said in this post
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...#entry588620188
Many thanks to him/her!!

I've tried several guides, with registry file hack, etc and none seem to work, but this one does!
The idea is to overwrite an existing working game shortcut in the Games explorer and replace it with a new one of your choice. Then, let Vista recreate the file again, so you can repeat the same trick with other shortcuts.

So here it goes:
======================================
Some paths that I will refer to in the guide:
BoxArtFolder = C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt
GamesExplorer = Start->Games (Vista Games Explorer)
RegistryPath = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE_\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GAMEUX\S-something-something\ (different on each machine)


GUIDE:
- Go to your windows explorer and make sure you tick "Show hidden files and folders"
- in my BoxArtFolder:
there is an image file{0C8E9B05-09E6-4FDA-938F-D22F73AD5CD0}.jpg -> the Half-life source image boxart
(It's supposed to be hidden/grayed)
- Go to RegistryPath, there will be a list of games, including the half-life source, in my case, the ID is:
{F9C9CC58-1D27-44A8-846E-7F1001048DC4} (will be different from yours). Have a browse and try to find which one it is.
- There is a BoxArt value on the right, mine is empty when I open Regedit. So update it, point it to the BoxArt folder, to the file, in my case :
C:\Users\[YOUR USERNAME]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\GamesBoxArt\{0C8E9B05-09E6-4FDA-938F-D22F73AD5CD0}.jpg
Refresh your GamesExplorer, and the Half-life source boxart will be updated.
And "magically", a new image file will appear on your BoxArtFolder, {F9C9CC58-1D27-44A8-846E-7F1001048DC4}.jpg
(I think Vista makes a copy of the original boxart and rename it automatically to the application id)
- Now download a box art for your new game shortcut (let's say Oblivion), and put it in desktop, named boxart.jpg
- Rename it to {F9C9CC58-1D27-44A8-846E-7F1001048DC4}.jpg (which is the Half-life boxart that Vista assigned to earlier) because we are going to replace it with a new game info.
- Cut/move the file in the desktop into your BoxArt folder, it will ask whether you want to replace the file, say yes, move and replace.
- Now open Regedit (Start->Regedit if you don't know), browse to RegistryFolder, modify the info on the {F9C9CC58-1D27-44A8-846E-7F1001048DC4} game.
The basic ones you need to update: AppExePath, ConfigApplicationPath, Title -> update them from Half-life into Oblivion paths.
- Go to GamesExplorer, refresh (the oblivion box art should appear, click on it, customize and update the shortcuts to new path and exe file)

Voila!

Now, to make the half life shortcut back again so you can do this trick to another game,
- Run E:\Steam\SteamApps\[Your STEAM ACCOUNT]\counter-strike source\hl2.exe (My steam directory is in E)
- Refresh the games folder, and a copy of Halflife shortcut will be re-created again, and it will be assigned a new id again on the RegistryPath.
- Repeat this process with other games!!

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If you don't have half life source, errr I'm not sure but according to marinexx on the other posts, you can double click an existing game (that exists on the game explorer) and Vista will recreate it again. I'm not sure about this one.

Hope this helps!!
Let me know if it's unclear, and I'll edit /update the post for you guys!

This post has been edited by :: Lyon ::: Jun 12 2007, 10:52

Lyon, would it be possible for you to add some screenshots to the guide to make it clearer please?

I tried to change Half Life 2 icon to a DVD front cover picture however with no success

i can't speak english well but i'll try to explain it the best way i can to anyone who contacts me on msn

colakergun@hotmail.com

This post has been edited by marinexx: Jun 14 2007, 14:02

I've added you, marinexx

Does anyone know how to edit .lnk files?

When you have the Games Explorer window open and you click on a game (to show the details in Games Explorer), a button appears in the toolbar called, Community and Support. You can't edit the links show in the pop down menu using the Registry Editor. To edit them, you have to find the .lnk files (that contains the links), go to this file directory:

C:\Users\User\appdata\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\{Game ID - you can tell the ID from the box art ID}\SupportTasks

There are one or two folders containing an .lnk file inside. Now back to the original question, how do I edit .lnk files?

I've tried opening the .lnk files in Notepad but it doesn't give me the correct data I'm after as it gives me the HTML code from the website it's linked to

simpy right-click -> Properties. from here you can change the path, icon, comment text and such.

I've tried that however the url/path can't be edited as I can't click on it

how about simply dragging and dropping a shortcut into the window...ever thought of that?

Thanks, that works

However, it comes up with gibberish characters

I suppose he is aware of that. Here we are talking about adding boxshots and information about games that Vista doesn't gather information and boxshots for. For example, NFS MW appears as a simple icon and does not have the boxshot on it in Games Explorer. it's all about organising the games and making the window look professional and clean.

Holy cow, you have a lot of games.

If you right click on a Game icon/shortcut in the Games Explorer, select "Customize", Select the first "Play (Play)", and Edit, then you'll something that is very familiar to you (simply edit a shortcut) ^^

Hello new member here. I was searching for some help pertaining to the Games explorer and couldn't find anyone.
I registered up to this website maybe one you guys could answer my problems. After updating steam my Games Explorer folder is littered with TONS duplicates of Half Life 2, and other steam games is there anyway to remove them also. Some of my games have disappeared from the folder and some games that had "cover art" don't have them any more. I can't even drag a shortcut into it and add it. How do I get my folder back into order again? I like using it instead of cluttering up my start menu. Is there away to erase all the data and make it search and add the games again?

This post has been edited by Wolfenrage: Jun 16 2007, 02:06

well since you can actually drag and drop an icon and it creates a unique hex-id in the Games Explorer, wouldn't it be easier to just edit that and not change an existing shortcut?
i do realise the shortcut can easily be re-created when you run it, but it seems to me like a better place to start as opposed to editing an existing and already functional Games Explorer entry.

It might help to delete all of the entries in the Games Explorer menu and let Vista add them again.

First, enable hidden files and folders, then navigate to "C:\Users\[Your Username]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\GameExplorer\".

Delete all folders in that directory. That should clear out the Games Explorer window.

Now run each of your games manually one by one and they will be re-added to your Games Explorer window.

I have used a variation of this method to add my games to Games Explorer with box art and details.

I think it is a bit simpler, you do not have to view hidden files or open any folders.

I list the steps in my blog entry on Games Explorer if any wish to read it.

I also added the steps to get games from Steam to work.