missing icons, startup problems

[GWFHegel]

Hi,

I've been having a recurring problem with several games installed on my system; the program installs fine, but I end up without a desktop shortcut, and the program doesn't appear in the start menu's list of programs. With Bioshock, for example, I need to put the disc in the machine in order to launch the game - and on the occasions when I've installed demos, and have no such disc, there doesn't seem to be any way in which I can get the thing to start. Is this another one of these bizzarre user permission things?

Also - when I look through windows explorer there are two program files folders, when in XP there was only one; one called program files, which seems to contain operating system stuff, and one called 'program files86' which contains everything that I've installed on the machine myself. Would this be anything to do with it?

Thanks
​

 

[Snake3yes]

I have the same issue, all i do is go to where ive installed the game, find the exe file, right click and select "add to quick menu bar" (something like that) I then drag the shortcut to the desktop. It doesn't do it on everything but most seem to have the probem.

 

[Brink]

Hi,​

I've been having a recurring problem with several games installed on my system; the program installs fine, but I end up without a desktop shortcut, and the program doesn't appear in the start menu's list of programs. With Bioshock, for example, I need to put the disc in the machine in order to launch the game - and on the occasions when I've installed demos, and have no such disc, there doesn't seem to be any way in which I can get the thing to start. Is this another one of these bizzarre user permission things?​

Also - when I look through windows explorer there are two program files folders, when in XP there was only one; one called program files, which seems to contain operating system stuff, and one called 'program files86' which contains everything that I've installed on the machine myself. Would this be anything to do with it?​

Thanks​

Hi GWFHegel,

This is all that that means:
C:\Program Filles = 64 bit programs
C:\Program Files (x86) = 32 bit programs

If the program does not create a shortcut for you, then like Snake3yes said, you can go to the Program Files folder it was installed in and right click on the program's EXE file and click Send To -> Desktop (create shortcut) . You can then move the shortcut where you like.

Shawn

 

[roy69]

I have the same problem. I have however found gears of war put itself in the game folder under the start menu. You also have to run it from the start menu. Running from CD causes it to crash.

 

[GWFHegel]

I have the same problem. I have however found gears of war put itself in the game folder under the start menu. You also have to run it from the start menu. Running from CD causes it to crash.

You managed to get gears of war working? It didn't appear as a desk top iterm or as a start menu option, so I was trying to start it from the CD - and it would let me into the menu screens for about ten seconds before telling me that the game had crashed, I've just taken it back to the shop as I was unwilling to wait for a patch, and exchanged it for a new game - but from what you're saying it runs fine as long as you don't do it from the CD?
I've got to admit that I'm a little less than impressed by the greedy bastards who release games and operating system that don't actually work properly; the internet seems to be full of people saying that G of W doesn't work, and as for Vista...

 

[iDash]

Hi GWFHegel,

This is all that that means:
C:\Program Filles = 64 bit programs
C:\Program Files (x86) = 32 bit programs

If the program does not create a shortcut for you, then like Snake3yes said, you can go to the Program Files folder it was installed in and right click on the program's EXE file and click Send To -> Desktop (create shortcut) . You can then move the shortcut where you like.

Shawn

This is what is happening to me, all new programs are going under the x64 programs, no icon on destop,

thanks for posting!

The media center icon is listed next to one game exe

 

[Brink]

Hi iDash,

Welcome to the forum.

Your welcome. When installing the program, look at the installation options carefully. Sometimes there is a option to place a shortcut on the desktop during installation, but it's usually not checked by default like the Start menu option.

Shawn

 

[titere05]

Hi, I'm new to the forums.

Sorry to bring an old post back from the dead, but I have this same issue. Most games do not add themselves to the Start Menu (even when I select at installation that they should), but rather go to the Games folder. I don't mind that at all, but the problem is that some of these games don't even appear in Games after installation. I've also installed many programs, and had this issue with a couple of them.

The case that's bugging me now is Call of Duty 4. I've finished it and want to uninstall it, but it does not appear in either Games or the Start Menu, and it does not show up in Windows uninstaller's list. When I go to its folder in Program Files(x86), there's no uninstaller to click on (not in the subfolders either). I inserted the CD, but there was only the install option available, and when I click on it the program tries to reinstall itself rather than uninstalling.

Can anyone please tell me how to regain these 4+ gb from my hard drive without having to erase it and edit the registry manually? It'd be much appreciated.

PS: BTW, it's not the first thing I installed in Vista that doesn't show up in Windows uninstaller. Quite a pain in the you know what.

 

[Brink]

Hi Titere05,

If the unistall program is not in those locations, you might try running the install program again to see if it may add one. Perhaps it was a bad or incomplete install the first time.

Shawn