Change location that "File Explorer" opens to in Windows Technical Preview


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I don't really care for the new "Home" location in File Explorer.  It is fairly useless for me.  I much prefer the old default to "This PC" which has most every folder/drive I need to access quickly.

 

I've tried the old methods of creating a shortcut to explorer.exe /e and the extra text that stands for this location, but when I pin that to the Taskbar, it will launch to "This PC", but creates another button on the Taskbar rather than using the same one as the shortcut.

 

There doesn't seem to be a way to fix this part that I have found.  I'm hoping someone else has?

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there doesn't seem to be a way right now

 

submit some feedback about it. things are in flux right now so they may change it

 

i personally don't like the new "home" thing either. will be submitting feedback about it tonight when i get a chance to play around with the TP some more

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I don't really care for the new "Home" location in File Explorer.  It is fairly useless for me.  I much prefer the old default to "This PC" which has most every folder/drive I need to access quickly.

 

I've tried the old methods of creating a shortcut to explorer.exe /e and the extra text that stands for this location, but when I pin that to the Taskbar, it will launch to "This PC", but creates another button on the Taskbar rather than using the same one as the shortcut.

 

There doesn't seem to be a way to fix this part that I have found.  I'm hoping someone else has?

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-make-windows-8-file-explorer-launch-in-computer-view/

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/140437/change-the-default-file-explorer-startup-folder-in-windows-8/

 

Tried those links with Win8 and same process works with Win10.

 

Or you can do this....

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Force-Windows-Explorer-to-Start-in-the-Folder-You-Want

 

Basically just created a shortcut to c:\ or whatever path you want.  Will auto launch a explorer window without pointing to the explorer.exe.

 

 

 

 

EDIT:  Missed the part where you pin to the taskbar it removes the custom path.  odd.  Anyway, probably just a bug that will be addressed.

 

Edit AGAIN:  If you create a new toolbar on the task bar, you can drag/drop a custom shortcut pointing to the correct location on the new toolbar and that does work.

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http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/quick-tip-make-windows-8-file-explorer-launch-in-computer-view/

 

http://www.howtogeek.com/140437/change-the-default-file-explorer-startup-folder-in-windows-8/

 

Tried those links with Win8 and same process works with Win10.

 

Or you can do this....

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Force-Windows-Explorer-to-Start-in-the-Folder-You-Want

 

Basically just created a shortcut to c:\ or whatever path you want.  Will auto launch a explorer window without pointing to the explorer.exe.

Well, as I said in my first post, that works to create a link, but the actual folder opens to a separate button on the Taskbar...

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Well, as I said in my first post, that works to create a link, but the actual folder opens to a separate button on the Taskbar...

 

I edited my post with more info.  Not exactly what you want, but it does work.

 

Here is a screen.  Icon on the right (4 blue window squares) on the taskbar is the shortcut on a different toolbar.  You can rearrange things so they are not so far apart.

post-91978-0-70615900-1412268228.png

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I feel like I'm the only one who remembers and uses this program. True Launch Bar can be used to easily access drives and folders, placing links on the Taskbar. Can make a link to "This Pc" as well if need be (just tested it, works). 

 

24n2y46.jpg

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Ok, I think the point I was making is being missed.

 

You can successfully put a link to "This PC" even on the regular Taskbar.

But when it opens, it creates a new second button on the Taskbar defeating the purpose of combined buttons being used as a shortcut and when the app is open.

 

Thanks for participating though!

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I feel like I'm the only one who remembers and uses this program. True Launch Bar can be used to easily access drives and folders, placing links on the Taskbar. Can make a link to "This Pc" as well if need be (just tested it, works). 

 

24n2y46.jpg

True Launch Bar is fantastic and really never understood why it is not a lot more popular.

 

It also has great tech support and is updated often.

 

It's one of the first thing sI always install :)

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Ok, I think the point I was making is being missed.

 

You can successfully put a link to "This PC" even on the regular Taskbar.

But when it opens, it creates a new second button on the Taskbar defeating the purpose of combined buttons being used as a shortcut and when the app is open.

 

Thanks for participating though!

 

The Target box is greyed out, as you have observed. This was the case (for me, at least) in Windows 8.1 also.

I have no idea why Microsoft disabled this, but despite hunting all over Google, I have not been able to find a solution.

 

The workarounds suggested in this thread are not what I want.

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Has anyone else figured out how to achieve this? I remember I changed a setting in Windows 8 so that when I pressed Win-E it launched into the This PC view rather than Libraries but I haven't found out how to do this for Windows 10. It annoys me that I'm taken to the new Home view when it makes more sense to launch straight to This PC. I also don't like the way that drives appear individually in the sidebar rather than tiered like before.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Allows you to Pin This PC to Taskbar without having duplicate Taskbar Icons open.

 

To switch the File Explorer with This PC do the following:

 

1: Unpin File Explorer from the Taskbar.
2: Pin the This PC shortcut to Taskbar.

 

Voila, you now have This PC pinned to the Taskbar instead of File Explorer!

 

To switch back to File Explorer:

 

You have 2 options:

1: Unpin This PC from Taskbar and Pin File Explorer using supplied shorcut to Taskbar.
2:Unpin This PC and Pin the supplied File Explorer shortcut to Taskbar

 

2najznd.jpg

 

Download This PC shortcut from my OneDrive: This PC Download

 

This PC shortcut is originally the shortcut to File Explorer that I changed myself using an app I wrote.
Instead of making users use the app I decided to just supply the shortcut but, if anyone would like an
Automatic way of doing it I would be more than happy to post the App for it.

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Allows you to Pin This PC to Taskbar without having duplicate Taskbar Icons open.

 

To switch the File Explorer with This PC do the following:

 

1: Unpin File Explorer from the Taskbar.

2: Pin the This PC shortcut to Taskbar.

 

Voila, you now have This PC pinned to the Taskbar instead of File Explorer!

 

To switch back to File Explorer:

 

You have 2 options:

1: Unpin This PC from Taskbar and Pin File Explorer using supplied shorcut to Taskbar.

2:Unpin This PC and Pin the supplied File Explorer shortcut to Taskbar

 

2najznd.jpg

 

Download This PC shortcut from my OneDrive: This PC Download

 

This PC shortcut is originally the shortcut to File Explorer that I changed myself using an app I wrote.

Instead of making users use the app I decided to just supply the shortcut but, if anyone would like an

Automatic way of doing it I would be more than happy to post the App for it.

 

 

 

I wasn't paying attention and had the wrong icon for This PC when I took the screenshot. The shortcut has the correct icon.

 

and wth, can't edit a post.

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