Change Windows Explorer’s (in taskbar) Starting Location (VBScript)

Introduction

The script shows how to change Windows Explorer’s (in taskbar) Starting Location in Windows 8.

Scenarios

When you start 'Windows Explorer (in taskbar)', it will navigate to 'Library' by default. However, sometimes people want it to navigate to a folder or 'Computer’. This script can achieve that. And i think it will be more convenient if we set 'Windows Explorer' to start with folder that we access most frequently.

Script

You can use this script in the following ways:

Method 1:  Drag a folder to the script.

Method 2: Use the script in command line. And the exact commands are shown below.

Here are some code snippets for your reference.

VB Script
Edit|Remove
vbs
Function ChangeLocation(Path,Arguments)
'This function is to change the starting location
    On Error Resume Next 
    Dim objshell,Appdata,LinkPath ,FSO,ShortCut
    Set objshell = CreateObject("wscript.shell")
    'Get the appdata path
    Appdata = objshell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%APPDATA%")
    'Get the file explore path
    LinkPath = Appdata & "\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\File Explorer.lnk"
    Set FSO = CreateObject("scripting.filesystemobject")
    If FSO.FileExists(LinkPath) Then 
         Set ShortCut = objshell.CreateShortcut(LinkPath)
         Shortcut.Targetpath = Path
         Shortcut.Arguments  = Arguments
         Shortcut.save
         WScript.Echo "Set 'File Explore' starting location successfully."
    Else 
        WScript.Echo "Not find 'File Explore' in taskbar,please pin it manully."
    End If
    If Err.Number <> 0 Then 
        WScript.Echo "Failed to set the starting location."
    End If 
End Function 

Function ChangeLocation(Path,Arguments) 
'This function is to change the starting location 
    On Error Resume Next  
    Dim objshell,Appdata,LinkPath ,FSO,ShortCut 
    Set objshell = CreateObject("wscript.shell") 
    'Get the appdata path 
    Appdata = objshell.ExpandEnvironmentStrings("%APPDATA%") 
    'Get the file explore path 
    LinkPath = Appdata & "\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar\File Explorer.lnk" 
    Set FSO = CreateObject("scripting.filesystemobject") 
    If FSO.FileExists(LinkPath) Then  
         Set ShortCut = objshell.CreateShortcut(LinkPath) 
         Shortcut.Targetpath = Path 
         Shortcut.Arguments  = Arguments 
         Shortcut.save 
         WScript.Echo "Set 'File Explore' starting location successfully." 
    Else  
        WScript.Echo "Not find 'File Explore' in taskbar,please pin it manully." 
    End If 
    If Err.Number <> 0 Then  
        WScript.Echo "Failed to set the starting location." 
    End If  
End Function 



 

Examples

       Example 1: Set an any folder as File Explorer’s (Taskbar) starting location.
       Command: Drag a folder to the script.
       Screenshot:

 

Example 2: Set 'My Computer' as File Explorer’s (Taskbar) starting location.
Command: C:\script\FileExploreStartingLocation.vbs /tar:Mycomputer
Screenshot:

 

Example 3: Set "My document" as File Explorer’s (Taskbar) starting location by using CLSID.
Command: C:\script\FileExploreStartingLocation.vbs /tar:"%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe" /arg:"/n,::{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}"
Screenshot:

 

Note  You can set "library" as starting location by using similar command in Example 2.

Prerequisite

Windows 8