Very specific combining behaviour 'problem' with taskbar.

[Jayblast]

Hi,

Here is a small introduction so you can understand what I am talking about.

I have a fresh new windows 8.1 laptop (I updated to the last version 3 days ago).
Also my desktop computer runs Win7.

I use the taskbar as a launcher for the apps I use frequently.
I want my taskbar to always stay the same (that excludes notifications icons that are located on the bottom right corner).

That means the following options are setup for my taskbar:
Lock the taskbar: CHECK.
Auto-hide: UNCHECKED.
Taskbar buttons: Always combine, hide labels.

Obviously if I launch an app that is not part of the taskbar a new icon will appear at the end of the ones already present. I am fine with that.

When I left click an app icon in the taskbar it becomes kind of highlighted and boxed.
For apps that allow multiple instances, a stack appears after subsequent left clicks on the app icon.



--1st problem--
Certain apps (Skype is one), even when pinned on the taskbar, create a new icon when launched. Check the screenshots for more info. I remember I had the same problem with iTunes, I somehow fixed it, but impossible to remember how.



--2nd problem--
I cannot, for the life of me, setup a taskbar shortcut for Windows Explorer to act like the one I have on my windows 7. Once again check the screenshots for more info.




What I did:
The object that I pinned on my taskbars is the following:
C:\Windows > Right click "explorer.exe" > Create shortcut > Move this shortcut into another folder > Right click the shortcut > Pin to taskbar.


Behaviour:
There is a functionnal difference between my explorer shortcuts on Win7 and on Windows 8.1.

Win7:
When explorer is launched, clicking the 'explorer' icon in the taskbar makes it switch between minimize and maximize. If I want a new explorer window I need to right click the icon then left click 'Explorer' in the context menu.

Win8.1:
When I click the 'explorer' icon in my taskbar, a new explorer windows fires up no matter what.




Please help me. This is driving me crazy. I am almost convinced it's as simple a a check-box somewhere...


Yours,
--Jay

 

[Jayblast]

Here is a link to the only ressource I found on the web that describes the behaviour I am talking about.

Miltiple instance of Windows Explorer

It's about windows xp and I think it's dated 2009 but it is exactly what I am talking about.

One thought: is it possible that it comes from the version home/pro? My win7 is a pro version but I just have a basic home edition for windows 8.1.

Yours,
--Jay

 

[caperjack]

What I did:
The object that I pinned on my taskbars is the following:
C:\Windows > Right click "explorer.exe" > Create shortcut > Move this shortcut into another folder > Right click the shortcut > Pin to taskbar.

hello and welcome to eight forums ,not sure if I will be of much help ,but will try my best

don't have all the answers you are looking for ,but why did you create the shortcut ,move it then pin it ,why not just go to start / all apps and right click file explorer and pin it to taskbar

I have win8 pro and have no issue with opening multiple explorer windows with out it creating another icon next to the original

 

[Jayblast]

Hey,

I created the shortcut to be able to change the icon. You might have noticed that I did a lot of changes and I figured it would be best to alter the icon of a shortcut leaving the main file unchanged.

I did try to slide 'explorer.exe' from windows folder to pin it to taskbar however it behaves the same way as described:
If I click it a new icon appear, and only then several explorers do stack.

.

Yours,
--Jay

 

[caperjack]

weird,I never had that happen on any of win8 Installs ,don't have a suggestion or fix sorry

 

[Jayblast]

I did find a solution that seem to work regardless of the operating system (win7, win8.1) so I will share it in case other people run into the same trouble as it took me more than 72 hours to fix it.

If one of your icon behave the way we described earlier this is what you have to do.

Tutorial in the embedded picture.

Yours,
--Jay

 

[caperjack]

good to see you fixed it ,thanks for sharing the fix