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Ever since Microsoft removed the default desktop icons which we all have been accustomed to, out of the box – its always a nuisance to have to enable them after a fresh install. This behavior was first observed (and loathed) in Windows 7. I generally use the icon to open up system properties, this is simply where I am accustomed to locating it….and is my preference. This simple batch script can be called via a local GPO or domain based GPO. It makes some minor changes to the windows registry and login. For local use deploy it with gpedit.msc and reboot – now your my computer icon will appear with the logged in username and machine name as the title.
I like to revise things as I become aware of them….the original method I posted has become deprecated – however, it may still work on earlier versions / builds of windows 10,8,7 etc.
Revised, Currently Functional Method using VBS:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 | Set wshNetwork = WScript.CreateObject( "WScript.Network" ) strComputerName = wshNetwork.ComputerName strusername = wshNetwork.username Const MY_COMPUTER = &H11& Set objNetwork = CreateObject("Wscript.Network") strComputer = objNetwork.ComputerName Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application") Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(MY_COMPUTER) Set objFolderItem = objFolder.Self Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application") Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(MY_COMPUTER) Set objFolderItem = objFolder.Self objFolderItem.Name = strusername & " @ " &strComputerName |
Deprecated method, using Batch:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 | @ECHO OFF GOTO MAIN :MAIN CALL :MFXN1 "HKCU" CALL :MFXN2 "HKCU" "NewStartPanel" CALL :MFXN2 "HKCU" "ClassicStartMenu" GOTO END :MFXN1 REG ADD "%~1\Software\Classes\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}" /v LocalizedString /t REG_EXPAND_SZ /d "%%USERNAME%% @ %%COMPUTERNAME%%" /f GOTO :EOF :MFXN2 REG ADD "%~1\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\%~2" /v {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f GOTO :EOF :END ECHO. ECHO [Process complete] |
After rebooting or refreshing your current login you will see the My Computer icon on any user profile logged into the system, with the following informative information: %username% and %computername%. This is especially handy when working in a terminal services / rdp environment.
