In Windows XP, how do you create a shortcut to the desktop?

Running the command desktop brings up C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\Desktop. This is different from the top of the hierarchy, "Desktop".

I would like to create a shortcut or create a command that brings up the window you get to when you explore above My Computer, to the top "Desktop".

How to do it?

B Seven

Posted 2012-03-10T17:47:10.030

Reputation: 370

Answers

"Desktop" is the top level of the Windows shell virtual folder tree. You can reach this folder through the following 'Run' command:

explorer.exe /select,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

To create a shortcut to this location:

first create a dummy shortcut to any file.

Edit the properties for the shortcut and change the target to

explorer.exe /select,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Jeremy W

Posted 2012-03-10T17:47:10.030

Reputation: 3 529

Works well. Here's what I did: 1) Create the shortcut in My Documents. It's not really that useful there, but at least I will have it if I ever need it. It has to live somewhere for this to work. 2) Dragged it to the Start Menu. This creates a link to the original shortcut, so don't delete it. – B Seven – 2012-03-10T19:02:13.453

Run the Fix it provided by Microsoft at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/190355.

Or if you'd rather fix it yourself, here are the steps they provide:

Click Start, click Run, type notepad in the Open box, and then click OK.

Carefully copy and then paste the following text into the Notepad window:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

On the File menu, click Save As, and then save the file to your desktop as "Show desktop.scf". The Show desktop icon is created on your desktop.
Click and then drag the Show desktop icon to your Quick Launch toolbar.

matthewk

Posted 2012-03-10T17:47:10.030

Reputation: 873