File Explorer - advice please

kwil

New Member
Messages
5
Hello...

Please forgive my ignorance but I've never used Windows 8 or 8.1 and am presently on a learning curve.

I've just bought a new Lenovo G710 laptop which runs Windows 8.1 and operates superbly in all other respects

Now: I realise the 'old' Windows Explorer is now named 'File Explorer' and I have an icon for it in my Taskbar. It opens perfectly.

However, I'd also like to have a shortcut for it on my Desktop but can't seem to find out how.

So, I need advice on 2 points:

1. When I open Charms > Search > and type in File Explorer...it doesn't show up at all
If it did, I could presumably right-click > Send to Desktop (create shortcut)
So how can I get it to show?

2. When I go to the File Explorer icon in the Taskbar > Properties > the Target location is greyed out...
Where the hell is File Explorer's location?
If I knew this then again I could right-click > Send To Desktop etc

I'm probably missing something simple but would appreciate it if anyone could offer 'easy' suggestions to solve the above.

Many thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Hello Kwil,

You can create a new shortcut on your desktop using explorer.exe as the target for a File Explorer shortcut. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
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    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Internet Explorer 11
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
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    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi Brink...thanks for taking time to reply.
You say 'use explorer.exe' to create shortcut etc...But where or how do I find 'explorer.exe'??
And besides, as I said, the target box is greyed out anyway and you don't mention why 'File Explorer' doesn't show in Charms > Search..is it a hidden file by any chance?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
You can right click on your desktop, and click on New and Shortcut.

In the location field, type explorer.exe, and click on Next.

Type in a name (ex: File Explorer) that you want for the shortcut, and click on Finish.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
You can also do it this way:

Press the Windows key.
Type explorer.exe.
Right click on explorer.exe and select Open file location.
In Windows Explorer, right click on explorer.exe and select Send to then Desktop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
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    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
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    Lenovo
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    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
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    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
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    Realtek HD Audio
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    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
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    PSU
    500W
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    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
You can also do it this way:

Press the Windows key.
Type explorer.exe.
Right click on explorer.exe and select Open file location.
In Windows Explorer, right click on explorer.exe and select Send to then Desktop.

I think you have to type File Explorer and not Explorer.exe.

Update: After "consultation" I learned that in Windows 8 both ways are OK. I only had checked it in Windows 10. Sorry.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
You can also do it this way:

Press the Windows key.
Type explorer.exe.
Right click on explorer.exe and select Open file location.
In Windows Explorer, right click on explorer.exe and select Send to then Desktop.

I think you have to type File Explorer and not Explorer.exe.

You can type either one to have it found by search. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hmm, I guess you are right Shawn. I was in the Windows10 system. With all those forums I am getting all confused. LOL, I will correct it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Here is the Windows 10 version that I was looking at.

2015-04-17_2319.png 2015-04-17_2327.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Many thanks again to you all for the input.
Pressing the Windows key only brings up the standard tile screen so can't type anything!
By chance, though, I found the answer re: target location of File Explorer
Here's what to do:
Charms > Search > type: explorer (note: NOT File Explorer as I was previously doing!) > right-click 'explorer' > Open file location > this shows path as Windows 8 OS (ie C: drive) to Windows
Now scroll down to 'explorer' in right pane > right-click > Send to desktop to create shortcut
If Microsoft saw fit to change the old Windows Explorer to File Explorer, why not keep the name consistency when searching for it?

Many thanks again...hope this helps those of us who are newbies to Windows 8!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Pressing the Windows key only brings up the standard tile screen so can't type anything!

For info, when on this screen just start typing (even though there is no input box initially shown), it automatically opens the search for what you are typing
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 3521
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon
    Browser
    IE
You can also find it here---

screenshot_258.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
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    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
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    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
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