Vista Tutorial - Games Explorer Link - Fix

**Brink**

How to Fix the Games Explorer Link in the Vista Start Menu

Information

If when you click on the Games Explorer Link in the Start Menu to open it, and it may quickly open and close or not open at all, then this will show you how to fix it so it will open again.

Tip

Even though the Games Explorer window will not stay open, you may still be able to run a selected game from the Start Menu, All Programs, Games folder.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Games Explorer Window
NOTE: Other than the links below, you can type Shell:Games in the white line (Start Search) area of the Start menu, or in the Run window, and press Enter.

EXAMPLE: Games Explorer Link in Start Menu
NOTE: To add or remove the Games button, see Option One here: How to Customize the Start Menu in Vista and dot/undot Games. There is also a Games Explorer link at Start Menu, All Programs, Games folder, Games Explorer.

Here's How:

1. Open a elevated command prompt.

2. In the elevated command prompt, type regsvr32.exe gameux.dll and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

3. Click on OK in the success message prompt. (See screenshot below)

4. Close the elevated command prompt.
NOTE: You should now be able to click on the Games Explorer link in the Start menu and have it stay open now.

That's it,
Shawn

**sydoz** · 08-12-2008

hey shawn i did this and i still dont have a games explorer folder at all??
no games under microsoft games either
it did tell me the dll thing worked though lol

**Brink** · 08-12-2008

Serena,

I have just a few questions first though:

Does it open the Games Explorer window when you type Shell:Games in the white line (Start Search) area of the Start menu and press Enter?

Do you have the Games button on the dark right side of the Start Menu?

Did you mean that you do not have the Start Menu, All Programs, Games folder?

You might also check to see if you have the games you want checked (dotted) in Windows Features under Games.

Windows Features

**sydoz** · 08-12-2008

Hey Shawn
ok 1. when i type Shell:Games it opens a folder called Games , its empty
2. yes i do have the games button on the right hand side of start menu , it opens the same folder, empty
3. yes all games are ticked in the Turn On Off Windows Features box but it DOES come up with an error!!! tellng my not all changes were able to be saved??
thanks again for all your help i really appreciate, i'd send you a beer if i could lol
sdh

**Brink** · 08-12-2008

Ok. It seems that your Games Explorer window is working fine.

Does the error include a message to restart the computer to apply changes?

If not, then you might run a sfc /scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files that may be preventing the games to be listed.

System Files - SFC Command

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**sydoz** · 08-12-2008

ok i ran the sfc /scannow
and got this:
Windows resource protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.For example
C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log

i cant open the CBS.log file?? notepad keeps "not responding " when i try

**Brink** · 08-12-2008

It sounds like you have some pretty bad file corruption going on.

Other than a clean reinstall, you can try:

1. A System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem.
System Restore - How to

2. A repair (upgrade) install.
Repair Install For Vista

Sorry,

Shawn

**sydoz** · 08-12-2008

i just got it to open i so do not understand it lol can i send an attachment?? here
i have to go in a few minutes but will be back in about an hour
i so appreciate the help , thanks

does that mean like a format??? i dont have a restore point i dont think

**Brink** · 08-12-2008

Yes, you can just attach the log file a TXT attachment in the post.

**sydoz** · 08-12-2008

oh dear, this is getting rather complicated for a newbie like me, i know a bit but not that much!!! i have the OEM version of home premium and i have SP1 installed

08-12-2008
sydoz Member Join Date: Aug 2008 vista home premium OEM 9 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix from sydoz hey shawn i did this and i still dont have a games explorer folder at all?? no games under microsoft games either it did tell me the dll thing worked though lol
My System Specs

08-12-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix Serena, I have just a few questions first though: Does it open the Games Explorer window when you type Shell:Games in the white line (Start Search) area of the Start menu and press Enter? Do you have the Games button on the dark right side of the Start Menu? Did you mean that you do not have the Start Menu, All Programs, Games folder? You might also check to see if you have the games you want checked (dotted) in Windows Features under Games. Windows Features
My System Specs

08-12-2008
sydoz Member Join Date: Aug 2008 vista home premium OEM 9 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix Hey Shawn ok 1. when i type Shell:Games it opens a folder called Games , its empty 2. yes i do have the games button on the right hand side of start menu , it opens the same folder, empty 3. yes all games are ticked in the Turn On Off Windows Features box but it DOES come up with an error!!! tellng my not all changes were able to be saved?? thanks again for all your help i really appreciate, i'd send you a beer if i could lol sdh
My System Specs

08-12-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix Ok. It seems that your Games Explorer window is working fine. Does the error include a message to restart the computer to apply changes? If not, then you might run a sfc /scannow command to see if it can find and fix any bad system files that may be preventing the games to be listed. System Files - SFC Command Hope this helps, Shawn
My System Specs

08-12-2008
sydoz Member Join Date: Aug 2008 vista home premium OEM 9 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix ok i ran the sfc /scannow and got this: Windows resource protection found corrupt files but was unable to fix some of them. Details are included in the CBS.Log windir\Logs\CBS\CBS.log.For example C:\Windows\Logs\CBS\CBS.log i cant open the CBS.log file?? notepad keeps "not responding " when i try
My System Specs

08-12-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix It sounds like you have some pretty bad file corruption going on. Other than a clean reinstall, you can try: 1. A System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem. System Restore - How to 2. A repair (upgrade) install. Repair Install For Vista Sorry, Shawn
My System Specs

08-12-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,806 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix Yes, you can just attach the log file a TXT attachment in the post.
My System Specs

08-12-2008
sydoz Member Join Date: Aug 2008 vista home premium OEM 9 posts	Re: Games Explorer Link - Fix oh dear, this is getting rather complicated for a newbie like me, i know a bit but not that much!!! i have the OEM version of home premium and i have SP1 installed
My System Specs

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