Solved How to add to the Winkey search db in Windows 8.1?

Win8fait

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[Solved] How to add to the Winkey search db in Win 8.1?

I downloaded this standard checksum utility - MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download.com

Which gives me this file - MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility.exe

I move the file to my c:\apps directory (or wherever.)

I want to use my Winkey and type in “checksum” and have the app come up so I can just hit Enter and launch the app – just like I can hit the Winkey and type “firefox”, hit enter, and the app launches.

How do I do that?

Thanks.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I totally appreciate anyone who takes the time to help, but I'm NOT looking for:
- shortcut key assignments
- how to create a shotcut on the desktop
- how to pin an app to the toolbar
- etc. etc. etc.

These are not “solving the problem”. : )

I want to:
1.) hit the Winkey
2.) type in “checksum” such that an icon comes up just like any other app in Windows 8.1 ("firefox", "chrome", etc.)
3.) hit Enter and have said app (c:\apps\MD5 & SHA Checksum.exe) launch.

I'd appreciate any help to achieve exactly that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I totally appreciate anyone who takes the time to help, but I'm NOT looking for:
- shortcut key assignments
- how to create a shotcut on the desktop
- how to pin an app to the toolbar
- etc. etc. etc.

These are not “solving the problem”. : )

I want to:
1.) hit the Winkey
2.) type in “checksum” such that an icon comes up just like any other app in Windows 8.1 ("firefox", "chrome", etc.)
3.) hit Enter and have said app (c:\apps\MD5 & SHA Checksum.exe) launch.

I'd appreciate any help to achieve exactly that.

Oh, it wasn't in there? I am so sorry that I misled you because I thought for sure I remembered it being in there so please hang in there and someone will be along shortly to give you that step by step that you require. Again, my sincerest apologies and good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Rename it "Checksum Utility.exe" then it works.

Edit: HashTab (Implbits creates popular, useful software) is even easier to use though - you just right click on the file to get the MD5/SHA direct on the properties tab of the file.
 

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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 totally appreciate anyone who takes the time to help, but I'm NOT looking for:
- shortcut key assignments
- how to create a shotcut on the desktop
- how to pin an app to the toolbar
- etc. etc. etc.

These are not “solving the problem”. : )

I want to:
1.) hit the Winkey
2.) type in “checksum” such that an icon comes up just like any other app in Windows 8.1 ("firefox", "chrome", etc.)
3.) hit Enter and have said app (c:\apps\MD5 & SHA Checksum.exe) launch.

I'd appreciate any help to achieve exactly that.

OK, then you can hit the Winkey+R for run and then type in checksum. Would that work for you?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion 500-056
    CPU
    AMD Elite Quad-Core A8-6500
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon HD 8570D
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 23"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M510
    Internet Speed
    Fast
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
What about using Computer to navigate to wherever you have the program.
Rename it to ChecksumUtility.exe.
Right clicking on it and chose Pin to Start Menu.

Then press Winkey and type checksum should highlight the ChecksumUtility.exe so pressing Enter should launch it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    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
adamf
Dooood. You have a screen-shot showing it working!... but how do I get that?

OK. Got it. I had to do the following:

1.) rename my file from [MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility.exe], to [checksum.exe] (actually I just made a copy – the whole point of my C:\Apps directory is to contain all of the apps I've installed onto the machine for reference: Thunderbird, MediaMonkey, PeaZip, VLC, Firefox, Chrome, MBAM, LibreOffice, Eraser, and now MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility!)

2.) I went to: Control Panel | System | Advanced System Settings | Advanced | Environment Variables – and added “;C:\Apps” to the end of the existing Path variable string.

THEN, when I hit Winkey + “checksum”, I get my icon and all is goody in the hoody.

Also, once I've done that the alternative method proposed by Wynona works too: Winkey+R + “checksum”. ( If I were to think of it as a Windows utility – like “cmd” - [which it really should be, native to Windows] then that would be perfect.)

What is very-very odd to me, though, is that I was not able to just create a copy of my checksum.exe and put it into the root of an already existing directory, that is already in the Path variable - [C:\Program Files (x86)].

I'm sure this has to do with Administrative rights, as I was challenged to invoke them when moving the file there. (I don't understand security yet [I come from XP], but I'll create another thread for that.)

But.., problem soundly Solved!

----------------------------------------
Ztruker
I run with zero icons on the desktop or the taskbar. Zen nothingness. Complete. Zero tollerance. (“I'm so far outside the desktop there is no desktop.”)

I honestly do not understand how that is not categorically understood to be the new accepted paradigm by one and all.

Computer” - “checksum”
Computer” - variable X

And Winkey=Computer; until such time that I want to run with voice activation, then I would just say those two lines.

There is no desktop. This paradigm can be on your wall – in your glasses – in your car front window – anywhere.

This is how it should be. This is how it will be. I honestly don't understand how the Windows product manager doesn't understand that yet. As evidenced by the fact that we don't have (that I know of) a direct method to edit the “Winkey database” - that which is available when you hit Winkey and search – and as referenced in the OP. (Too much historical baggage of all the tricks of the Windows trade.)

----------------------------------------
Also – adamf – I have concern about the HashTab. The website link you kindly provided includes a file checksum value, which makes perfect sense all day long. But they require me to give them a valid email to receive the file. (That's not exactly a freeware best practice.) Then in that email they send me a link to download the file, however, the link itself is encrypted with a unique identifier that no one else would find/use, and in that email they provide a new unique checksum value for my version of the “5.1.0.23” file; that is not the same as the one on the main link???

To my mind this implies heavily that their “free app” is used to somehow track me personally. Not cool. What's their story?

The file (same version) is also referenced here – but HOW can these guys get away with ripping off Microsoft with a faux site like this? I'm surprised they have not received a cease and desist... (or are they actually associated with Microsoft?)
HashTab - A windows shell extension - Windows 8 Downloads

In any case, something is rotten in the state of HashTab.... although right-clicking on a file to querry a checksum is ideal.... so I'm still interested.... even if a complete pest!

(Sorry for long response)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I'd never thought about why implbits asked my email. It is a bit odd now you mention it. I've used it for years and never heard from them or received any spam. Perhaps it is a way they think it will enforce their commercial license although I don't see how. Why not make up a new e-mail? Softpedia HashTab Free Download - Checksum Verifiers doesn't ask for e-mail but I prefer to get software from the authors as a rule.
 

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
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