One of the fine features of Windows 7 is Superbar (new taskbar). It lets you pin programs to the taskbar, similar to pinning programs to Start menu in earlier version of Windows7.
When you pin a favorite program to the taskbar, it can be easily accessed with a single click. If you want to have a clutter-free desktop, you might want to pin Computer and Recycle Bin icons to the Taskbar for the easy access.
But pinning the Computer icon to the taskbar is not possible by default. Generally, Windows 7 displays Pin to taskbar option when you right-click on a program, but you can’t see Pin to taskbar option for Computer.
In order to pin Computer to Windows 7 taskbar, you need to do a small workaround. Here is how to:
1. First, right-click on Windows 7 desktop > New > Shortcut.
2. Enter the below address location of item filed, and click Next button.
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe shell:MyComputerFolder
3. In the following window, type in a name for the shortcut (Ex: My Computer). Click on the Finish button to see a new shortcut icon on the desktop.
4. Obviously, you can now drag and drop your new shortcut icon on to the taskbar to pin it. But if you want to decorate the new shortcut with the default Computer icon, you need to do follow next two steps.
5. Right-click on the shortcut icon (new icon), go to Properties. Click on change icon button and enter the below address in the file location box.
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll
6. Now select the Computer icon and click Apply button. Pin the icon to the taskbar either by right-clicking and selecting “Pint to Taskbar” option, or by dragging icon to the taskbar.
pjcamp says
When you use this method, you spawn spurious explorer.exe processes. What happens is that any time you open explorer somewhere other than Libraries and then close it, it actually crashes rather than closes. Click on it 20 times and you’ll have 20 explorer processes running, consuming memory. There doesn’t appear to be a way to fix this that I can find.
Eoin says
Worked a treat. Thanks! Wonder if there’s a way to change the icon?
DJM says
Thank you. Works great.
How do I change the icon?
Nike says
Great tutorial, works well!
j sanchez says
thanx much!!!!!
lordvj says
Thanks mate , but doing so will create another explorer.exe process which is unnecessary
Here’s a way to link my computer directly and much faster
1] Create a shortcut to My Computer on the desktop . Just drag it from the start menu to the desktop
2] Create a new text document. Change its filename and extension to “My Computer.exe”
3] Pin this My Computer.exe to the taskbar
4] Now Open “C:\Users\%User%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar”
5]Replace the shortcut My Computer [ the one linked to the .exe ] with the one on your desktop.
6] Click on the pinned item on the desktop .opening it will not create an extra explorer.exe process and it opens a tad bit faster too
Parth says
This is very useful tip. Thanks a lot for this effort.
Pinchas says
Great! and simple too. But now the 64,000 $$$ question: Why did Microsoft disable the Pin to taskbar function with “Computer”? Hopefully they’ll ameliorate this irritating bug in SP 1.
axmeen says
Wow great ttick. Thanks alot
Yonathan says
Works perfectly. Thank you.
I wonder why they didn’t enable pinning Computer to the taskbar.
Gidi D says
Wow!! The most helpful tip i never saw!
thanks you so much!
sgt-d says
i actually figured this out using the shell: command and pinning it, i found your page since i’m trying to get the taskbar icon to show off all of my custom “shell” context menu additions. i’ve added the “top 20” windows commands, but i only see them when i right click “computer” in the start menu or on my desktop. once pinned, the pinned icon won’t display the new menu on right click OR shift + right click. grr! :)
franz dibbler says
I’m all for a cleaner desktop but by pinning this to the taskbar you lose the benefits of “manage” and “properties” in contextual menu. It seems to open a bit slower than the My Computer icon on the desktop.