Docklet to simulate Windows Key + E?

from Stardock Forums
When you press Windows Key + E, Windows immediately loads Explorer with My Computer open.

Has anyone been able to get a Docklet to perform this exact same action? The closest I've come is a shortcut to "Explorer.exe" which has three downfalls:
1 - It opens to "My Documents" instead of my computer
2 - It requires a double click instead of a single click for some unknown reason
3 - It always has a little arrow under it indicating it's running, even after you close the explorer window (I'm assuming this is cause it senses explorer.exe process running).

Anyway, if there's a way to get a docklet that does exactly what Windows Key + E does, I'd be very grateful!

Thanks!
-Matt
wincustomize
2,464 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Someone else will jump in here (I expect!) but I'm pretty sure you can write a 1 or 2 line VBScript to emulate virtally any keypress.

It would then be a matter of making a shortcut on the dock pointing to the script.

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Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have a My Computer Shortcut on my ObjectDock bar. It came preinstalled there when I installed it last month. Here are the Dock properties of the shortcut on my dock.

Title: My Computer
Link: My Computer
Argument: Blank
Run: Normal Window

Try creating a new shortcut with those parameters.

I just did it on my and I created another My computer Shortcut.

Good luck

I don't know why you might need it as a docklet, but just make it as shortcut...Right Click on dock and Add>Shortcut. Then right click on the shortcut and edit the dock entry properties with the ones I stated above.
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You can easily create a 'My Computer' icon on ObjectDock:

rightclick->add entry->New Shortcut and select My Computer in the 'Link' dropdown list

However this opens a folder view of My Computer, not Windows Explorer (i.e. with the folder tree etc).

So, MattPF916, after some googling and playing around I found the following which may work for you...

Create the shortcut to explorer.exe as you described originally but add the following in the Arguments properties textbox:

/e,/root,MyComputer

It's still not identical to Win+E, but it's a lot closer...

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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try creating a new shortcut with those parameters.

I just did it on my and I created another My computer Shortcut.


weird, i was trying that while you were posting. it didn't work for me. maybe i typo'd. just tried it again & it worked...even changed the dock icon all by itself.

rightclick->add entry->New Shortcut and select My Computer in the 'Link' dropdown list


i get no drop down list, i got a browse option
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
The problem with just dragging My Computer or making a shortcut to My Computer is that when you click it, it opens a window with only 1 pane. I want the double pane that Windows-E gives you.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I want the double pane that Windows-E gives you.


See my message (#3) it gives you a result with double pane (folder tree etc). I just opens on the C: drive instead of 'My Computer'.

i get no drop down list, i got a browse option


I have OD+ (FWIW) but it definitely has a drop-down list.

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Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Chris,

Thanks! That does work, however I still have to Dbl-Click the docklet instead of single click. And it always has the arrow indicating the process is running, even after I close explorer.

No big deal, I'll take what I can get Thanks for your help.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I still have to Dbl-Click the docklet instead of single click. And it always has the arrow indicating the process is running, even after I close explorer.


I don't have to double click, but the indicator thing behaves like you describe. It doesn't worry me because I launch all my apps from a tabbed dock (it doesn't display the indicators).

I guess I've hit my limit of assistance - sorry!

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Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Try a shortcut to Explorer with these args:

/n, /E,/select, C:\
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The /n is redundant but otherwise that's a pretty good equivalent to Win+E!

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central