How to pin "Computer" to the Windows 8 taskbar.

[+Warwagon MVC]

In Windows 8, they REALLY don't want you to have a "Computer" icon on the taskbar. If you search for it, the only option they give you is to pin it to the start bar. If you tell it to "Show on the desktop", then right click it you only get the option to "Pin to start".

If you are like me and really miss an actual "Computer" button within reach of a single mouse click, here is how you create one.

1) Right click on the desktop and select new / shortcut

2) In the "Type the location of the item" box, enter the following

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

3) Press next.

4) For a name call it "Computer" (or what ever you want)

5) Click finish.

You should now have a homemade shortcut to computer on your desktop. This shortcut actually gives you the option when you right click it to "Pin to the taskbar".

I would recommend you go into the properties of the shortcut and change the icon to something else to your liking before you pin it. Once you get it pinned to the taskbar you can then delete the shortcut from the desktop.

[Kyang]

EDIT: Nevermind.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Don't you have to do this in Windows 7 too?

You could if you want, but on windows 7 you can just click "Start / computer"... So I was never really annoyed.

[Detection]

Nice tip, I tried for ages to swap the libraries shortcut for a 'Computer' one but no matter what I tried I always ended up with libraries again

[Kyang]

You could if you want, but on windows 7 you can just click "Start / computer"... So I was never really annoyed.

Ah. I removed my post above because right after posting that, I had second thoughts about what I said, and ran to a Win7 machine to check. What annoyed me in Win7 was that fact that I couldn't pin specific locations to the taskbar. Still can't in Win8. Everything is put under the File Explorer.

[Linkinfamous]

Alternatively, to just change where that shortcut opens:

Hold down shift and right click on the explorer pinned to your taskbar.

Choose properties

Change Target to "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"

Your way also seemed to create a duplicate instance in the taskbar which was kind of annoying.

[Colin McGregor]

all I did was right click my desktop hit personalize. Click change desktop icons and checkmark computer

[+Warwagon MVC]

all I did was right click my desktop hit personalize. Click change desktop icons and checkmark computer

That works too. But I just like a single click button. One one I have to find on the desktop/

[Colin McGregor]

You could always just set all your desktop folders to be single and not double click lol

[+Warwagon MVC]

You could always just set all your desktop folders to be single and not double click lol

I really hate peoples computers setup like that, because then you always accidentally open **** up.

[MorganX]

Alternatively, to just change where that shortcut opens:

Hold down shift and right click on the explorer pinned to your taskbar.

Choose properties

Change Target to "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"

Your way also seemed to create a duplicate instance in the taskbar which was kind of annoying.

You are right, but with Warwagon's way, you can change your icon. The File Explorer icon is so boring :). I actually do it your way though.

[-Jenks]

@+warwagon - That's crazy useful. Thanks for the post!

[BeerFan]

Nice tip. Thanks. (Y)

It's crazy how hard they make you work for simple things like this.

[-Himanshu-]

Good advice, but here is something from me to make it easier to remember. :)

Instead of that long string as the target you can just use these two

explorer ,0

or

explorer shell:MyComputerFolder

[Fraud OS 11]

Pinning n00bs should use Taskbar Pinner: http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.108

[chrisj1968]

In Windows 8, they REALLY don't want you to have a "Computer" icon on the taskbar. If you search for it, the only option they give you is to pin it to the start bar. If you tell it to "Show on the desktop", then right click it you only get the option to "Pin to start".

If you are like me and really miss an actual "Computer" button within reach of a single mouse click, here is how you create one.

1) Right click on the desktop and select new / shortcut

2) In the "Type the location of the item" box, enter the following

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

3) Press next.

4) For a name call it "Computer" (or what ever you want)

5) Click finish.

You should now have a homemade shortcut to computer on your desktop. This shortcut actually gives you the option when you right click it to "Pin to the taskbar".

I would recommend you go into the properties of the shortcut and change the icon to something else to your liking before you pin it. Once you get it pinned to the taskbar you can then delete the shortcut from the desktop.

I's like to note that the default icon is the same as the explorer icon so I forced myself to use a win95 era icon that was lying around my system for whatever reason.just so I knew it was my computer

[BeerFan]

You can pick from a bunch of oldish icons by browsing to c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll from the Change Icon dialog.

[+DKAngel Subscriber²]

why not just pin it to the explorer folder and then rightclick on it?

[smooth_criminal1990]

I think I've found another solution: Open a new Explorer window and drag "Computer" from the folders bar on the left to the desktop. It even lets you change icon :)

[-T- Member]

Alternatively, to just change where that shortcut opens: Hold down shift and right click on the explorer pinned to your taskbar. Choose properties Change Target to "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" Your way also seemed to create a duplicate instance in the taskbar which was kind of annoying.

This does not work for me at all, when I right click holding shift, I get no properties menu. I assume you mean the icon there by default?

[Linkinfamous]

This does not work for me at all, when I right click holding shift, I get no properties menu. I assume you mean the icon there by default?

You must not have any open explorer windows for the appropriate context menu to pop up.

[Dot Matrix]

In Windows 8, they REALLY don't want you to have a "Computer" icon on the taskbar. If you search for it, the only option they give you is to pin it to the start bar. If you tell it to "Show on the desktop", then right click it you only get the option to "Pin to start".

If you are like me and really miss an actual "Computer" button within reach of a single mouse click, here is how you create one.

1) Right click on the desktop and select new / shortcut

2) In the "Type the location of the item" box, enter the following

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /E,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

3) Press next.

4) For a name call it "Computer" (or what ever you want)

5) Click finish.

You should now have a homemade shortcut to computer on your desktop. This shortcut actually gives you the option when you right click it to "Pin to the taskbar".

I would recommend you go into the properties of the shortcut and change the icon to something else to your liking before you pin it. Once you get it pinned to the taskbar you can then delete the shortcut from the desktop.

It pins to the Explorer icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Not sure why you're making a fuss about it now.

[+Warwagon MVC]

It pins to the Explorer icon in Windows 7 and Windows 8. Not sure why you're making a fuss about it now.

Because I want to go directly to computer. I don't want to do a second click.

[Vinny4]

If anyone wants to find the exact "Computer" icon, when changing the icon browse to: %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll

Thx for the tip.

[BajiRav]

/facepalm

Never mind, I misread. (should sleep now!)