Tutorial: How to Create Command-Line Shortcuts for frequently Accessed folders/files

[sridatta]

Hello guyz,

This is a beautiful trick for those who want to prevent their brother/friend from accessing a folder which they often use.Hiding the folder and removing the folder options from the explorer can do this. But, it is annoying to unhide everytime whenever you want to access the folder. Alternate way is to type the full path in windows explorer address bar. This is irksome. So, we can create a shortcut and use command prompt to access the folder. Follow these steps.

Right Click on the Desktop and select New--> ShortCut

In the window, Type the path of the folder in the textbox. suppose say C:\WINDOWS

name the shortcut as something you desired. Suppose i name it as win.

Now, the shortcut is Created for your desired folder. Now, we should access this shortcut through command line. Hence, Copy the shortcut file in c:\windows\system32 directory.

Now, you are done.

Start->Run

Type the name of the shortcut that you saved before and press enter. Now,You will be able to view the contents of the folder.

How to Create Command Line Shortcuts for Control Panel, My Computer and more using the GUIDs :

Create a new shortcut and enter the following in the textbox

explorer ::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}



name it as cpanel.

Now, copy this to system32 folder. Now, you can just open control panel by typing cpanel from run window.

list of GUIDs:

Control Panel
{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Internet Explorer
{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
My Documents
{ECF03A32-103D-11d2-854D-006008059367}
Fonts
{BD84B380-8CA2-1069-AB1D-08000948F534}
My Computer
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
My Network Places
{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Network Connections
{7007ACC7-3202-11D1-AAD2-00805FC1270E}
Printers and Faxes
{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Recycle Bin
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Scheduled Tasks
{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}

For more GUIDs, refer to this thread
Some CLSIDs. (Of special Folders).


Optional Steps for Hiding the folders:

1. First hide the folder by rightclick --> Properties and select hidden attribute.

2. Remove Folder Options either by Registry or Group Policy

Registry Key:

Navigate to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Pol icies\Explorer\
Create a DWORD named NoFolderOptions with value 1.

Group Policy:

Navigate to User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Explorer
Disable the folder options by enabling the following setting.
Remove the folder options menu from the tools options.

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PS: Please post the comments if any

[Tech Geek]

nice tut

[Chetan1991]

Really good!!
especially the codes are helping!

repute me if u like my rep

[koolbluez]

Good one.. although old.

One point to correct. These shortcuts can be directly placed into the Windows directory instead of Windows/System32 directory.

Been doin it for all my major programs. I even have my restart, logoff & shutdown buttons in the windows folder.
Restart shortcut: %windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -r -t 00
Logoff shortcut: %windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -l -t 00
Shutdown shortcut: %windir%\system32\shutdown.exe -s -t 00

One more addition though, some of the more famous software already start from the run prompt itself... all Microsoft programs like calc... , Photoshop, firefox, winrar.

There is also a registry hack for the same.

[sridatta]

Thanks for the compliments...

@koolbluez.. Thanks for adding this additional info into this thread..

[Ron]

Gr8 Post.....

Launch Any Program Directly from Start>RUN

Navigate To
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths

Now create a new key of program you want to launch, for example ResHack.exe

Now in its Default String Value paste the path

C:\Program Files\reshack\reshack.exe

View This Thread To Secure Your Data
Secure Your Folder!!