Solved How to pin an "open folders" icon to Win8's taskbar?

skyzoomer

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I'm setting up a new Windows 8 PC. In my Win7 PC, I have an icon on the taskbar that holds all open folders. I'll call it the "Open Folders" icon. I don't remember how that icon got on Win7's taskbar. How can I create a similar icon on Win8's taskbar.

EXPLANATION:
In Win7, say I open the C: drive and click on "Program Files". Then I minimize that window. The "C:\Program Files" folder minimizes to the "Open Folders" icon on Win7's taskbar.

Then say I open drive D: and click on a folder named "Photos". Then I minimize that window. The "D:\Photos" folder minimizes to the same "Open Folders" icon on Win7's taskbar.

Now if I hover over the "Open Folders" icon on the taskbar, links to the Program Files folder and the Photos folder pop up. I can click the desired folder to open it.

How can I create a similar "Open Folders" icon on Win8's taskbar?

Thanks,
Skyzoomer
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio 1537
    CPU
    core 2 duo
    Memory
    4GB
Hi Skyzoomer,

it's very easy to do what you want. Here are the instructions.

Go to START and click on the arrow in the lower left part of the screen. Now you can see all the different installed programs etc. Scroll to the right and under the header "System" you can find an icon that says "Windows Explorer".
Rightclick on this icon and choose "Pin to taskbar".

Et voila! If you go to the desktopmodus you can see the pinned icon for Windows Explorer. Any explorer windows you open will be grouped 'in' this icon.

Hope this was helpfull.

Greetz,

Rover
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Media Center Edition
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Made
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD 7750
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama ProLite B2481HS-B1
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1x 120 GB SSD Samsung 830;
    1x 1.5 TB HDD Seagate;
    1x 2 TB HDD Western Digital;
    1x 3 TB HDD Seagate
    1x 80 GB SSD Vertex 2
    PSU
    Corsair CX 600
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R with Side Window
    Cooling
    Intel RTS2011 LC
    Keyboard
    DasKeyboard (blue switches)
    Mouse
    Wacom Baboo Tablet Pen & Touch
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbit FullDuplex Fiberglass
    Browser
    IE11
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    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    I also own the following Microsoft devices:
    * Surface Pro 2 128 GB
    * Windows Phone HTC 8X
to open multiple explorer window you need to right click on the pinned icon and choose a recent viewed or click File explorer ,that's the way mine has to be done ,win8.1 enterprise ,there maybe another way to set it to open multiple views im not aware of .
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
Hi Skyzoomer,

it's very easy to do what you want. Here are the instructions.

Go to START and click on the arrow in the lower left part of the screen. Now you can see all the different installed programs etc. Scroll to the right and under the header "System" you can find an icon that says "Windows Explorer".
Rightclick on this icon and choose "Pin to taskbar".

Et voila! If you go to the desktopmodus you can see the pinned icon for Windows Explorer. Any explorer windows you open will be grouped 'in' this icon.

I can't find "System". Maybe because I have the "Classic Shell" installed to get the Win7 user interface. I did enable active corners in the Classic Shell.

When in desktop mode, when I mouse to the bottom left corner, the START icon to go to the Metro UI pops up. I don't see an arrow in the lower left part of the screen.

If I go to the Metro UI and mouse to the bottom left corner, the icon to go to the desktop pops up. No arrow. If I scroll the Metro display to the left I see the programs installed but there is no icon for "System".

BTW, I only use the desktop UI with the Classic Shell. That's where I want to pin the "open folders" icon to the desktop's taskbar. I don't use Win8's Metro UI.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Skyzoomer
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio 1537
    CPU
    core 2 duo
    Memory
    4GB
Open a file explorer window (with the :winkey: key + E ) - you will see its icon on taskbar. (This is another way of doing what Der Snoober said).

Right click and select "Pin this program to the taskbar"
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
I can't find "System".

It's called Windows System, if that is what he was referring to.

I don't see an arrow in the lower left part of the screen.

Hello. I only post this because you said "you couldn't find (or see an arrow)" ...
... and you don't use metro UI, ok, anyway, just so.
I think he meant bottom right (in apps screen) ?? or
Ctrl Minus (when in the apps screen) bottom right is where the zoom pointer is -

bottom right apps screen

brcapps.jpg

apws.jpg

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4869-zoom-view-start-apps-screen-windows-8-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Open a file explorer window (with the :winkey: key + E ) - you will see its icon on taskbar. (This is another way of doing what Der Snoober said).

Right click (the icon on the taskbar) and select "Pin this program to the taskbar"

That works perfectly! Thanks so much since not being able to do it on the new Win8 PC has been bugging me for a week ... :think:.

Skyzoomer
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio 1537
    CPU
    core 2 duo
    Memory
    4GB
I can't find "System".

It's called Windows System, if that is what he was referring to.

I don't see an arrow in the lower left part of the screen.

Hello. I only post this because you said "you couldn't find (or see an arrow)" ...
... and you don't use metro UI, ok, anyway, just so.
I think he meant bottom right (in apps screen) ?? or
Ctrl Minus (when in the apps screen) bottom right is where the zoom pointer is -

bottom right apps screen

View attachment 36173

View attachment 36174

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4869-zoom-view-start-apps-screen-windows-8-a.html

Thanks for taking the time to post. AdamF's solution worked for me.
Skyzoomer
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Studio 1537
    CPU
    core 2 duo
    Memory
    4GB
Open a file explorer window (with the :winkey: key + E ) - you will see its icon on taskbar. (This is another way of doing what Der Snoober said).

Right click and select "Pin this program to the taskbar"

That's the other way to do it. Thanks for adding this info.


Greetz,

Rover
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64 Media Center Edition
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Made
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 750
    Memory
    6 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD HD 7750
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Iiyama ProLite B2481HS-B1
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1x 120 GB SSD Samsung 830;
    1x 1.5 TB HDD Seagate;
    1x 2 TB HDD Western Digital;
    1x 3 TB HDD Seagate
    1x 80 GB SSD Vertex 2
    PSU
    Corsair CX 600
    Case
    Corsair Carbide 300R with Side Window
    Cooling
    Intel RTS2011 LC
    Keyboard
    DasKeyboard (blue switches)
    Mouse
    Wacom Baboo Tablet Pen & Touch
    Internet Speed
    50 Mbit FullDuplex Fiberglass
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    I also own the following Microsoft devices:
    * Surface Pro 2 128 GB
    * Windows Phone HTC 8X
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