NOTE: This tutorial has been featured by Microsoft. AskVG.com was the first website posting this unique trick.
Recently someone asked us how to add "Recycle Bin" shortcut in My Computer? Actually its very easy and can be done using a very simple registry trick which we are going to reveal in this tutorial.
Today we'll learn how to add various useful shortcuts in My Computer window for quick and easier use as shown in following screenshot:
So without wasting any time, here we start the tutorial:
1. Type regedit in RUN or startmenu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MyComputer\NameSpace
3. Now we'll need to create a new key under "NameSpace" key. Right-click on "NameSpace" key and select "New -> Key". Now you'll need to set its name to any of the following value mentioned in BOLD:
Recycle Bin - {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Control Panel - {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Run - {2559A1F3-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}
Search - {2559A1F0-21D7-11D4-BDAF-00C04F60B9F0}
Flip 3D - {3080F90E-D7AD-11D9-BD98-0000947B0257}
Internet Explorer - {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
Administrative Tools - {D20EA4E1-3957-11D2-A40B-0C5020524153}
Network Connections - {7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
Printers - {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
As shown in following screenshot:
4. That's it. As soon as you set the value in registry, it'll immediately start showing the item in My Computer.
NOTE: To delete the item from My Computer window, simply delete the associated key from registry.
PS: If you want ready-made registry scripts to add these shortcuts automatically, then download following ZIP file, extract it and run the desired .REG file. It'll automatically add the item in My Computer window. An uninstall script is also included in the pack to remove these items.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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VG
^^ Please post a screenshot to better understand the problem.
Seiferoth
Great tutorial, although it might be better to use the code {26EE0668-A00A-44D7-9371-BEB064C98683} for Control Panel. This will make it show up as 'Control Panel' instead of 'All Control Panel Items'.
Greg
A few more...
Computer: {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Network: {F02C1A0D-BE21-4350-88B0-7367FC96EF3C}
User Folder: {59031A47-3F72-44A7-89C5-5595FE6B30EE}
And I found the same CLSID for Control Panel as Seiferoth did - the other didn't even show up in my explorer window.
BTW, I added a string value to each key and set it to a description, like "Computer" or "Recycle Bin" to make it easier to keep track of them. They all still works fine!
Windows 7
brutus1
I was attracted to this pagr because I thought someone had thought up a way to add folders/apps to the right of the Start page. My bad, but can this be done? I have long wanted to put a shortcut to the folder "Downloads" right under "Documents". Thanks
VG
^^ Check following tutorial:
http://www.askvg.com/get-windows-xp-styled-classic-all-programs-list-in-windows-vista/
Someone
Great job the article feature... On what page was it featured?
Kwame
why would i want recycle bin in 'my computer'?
VG
^^ For quick access. Also many times users hide Desktop icons, in that case they can access it using My Computer.
Stefan
Do you know any key to add the personal folder or my documents folder to my computer? Like in good old windows xp my computer :)
VG
^^ Try following:
{031E4825-7B94-4DC3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}