+Warwagon MVC Posted December 24, 2012 MVC Share Posted December 24, 2012 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. Vinny4, mishtu, +Zlip792 and 4 others 7 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyang Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 EDIT: Nevermind. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595413100 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted December 24, 2012 Author MVC Share Posted December 24, 2012 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. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595413104 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detection Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 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 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595413110 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyang Posted December 24, 2012 Share Posted December 24, 2012 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. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595413112 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linkinfamous Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 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. FiB3R, Obi-Wan Kenobi and AsherGZ 3 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595415292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin McGregor Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 all I did was right click my desktop hit personalize. Click change desktop icons and checkmark computer Hum 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595415402 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted December 25, 2012 Author MVC Share Posted December 25, 2012 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/ Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595415404 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin McGregor Posted December 25, 2012 Share Posted December 25, 2012 You could always just set all your desktop folders to be single and not double click lol Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595415424 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted December 26, 2012 Author MVC Share Posted December 26, 2012 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. HoochieMamma 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595415458 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganX Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 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. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595415472 Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Jenks Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 @+warwagon - That's crazy useful. Thanks for the post! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437552 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerFan Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Nice tip. Thanks. (Y) It's crazy how hard they make you work for simple things like this. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437598 Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Himanshu- Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 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 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437626 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MS Bob 11 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 Pinning n00bs should use Taskbar Pinner: http://winaero.com/comment.php?comment.news.108 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437630 Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisj1968 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 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 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437634 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeerFan Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 You can pick from a bunch of oldish icons by browsing to c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll from the Change Icon dialog. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437642 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DKAngel Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 why not just pin it to the explorer folder and then rightclick on it? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437660 Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth_criminal1990 Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 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 :) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437674 Share on other sites More sharing options...
-T- Member Posted January 7, 2013 Member Share Posted January 7, 2013 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? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595437862 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linkinfamous Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 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. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595438440 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dot Matrix Posted January 7, 2013 Share Posted January 7, 2013 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. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595438454 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted January 7, 2013 Author MVC Share Posted January 7, 2013 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. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595438458 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny4 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 If anyone wants to find the exact "Computer" icon, when changing the icon browse to: %SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll Thx for the tip. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595578562 Share on other sites More sharing options...
BajiRav Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 /facepalm Never mind, I misread. (should sleep now!) Vinny4 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1127588-how-to-pin-computer-to-the-windows-8-taskbar/#findComment-595578574 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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