After you install Games for Windows on Windows Vista, you cannot find the game

After you install Microsoft Games for Windows, you cannot find the game in Windows Vista. No shortcuts are created on the desktop. The game is not listed in the Programs menu.

When you install Games for Windows on Windows Vista, the shortcuts to the games are located in the Games Explorer folder. The Games Explorer folder is the central location for all the games on the computer. In the Games Explorer folder, you can find and open the games that are installed on the computer, download game information, and keep track of the games that you have played most recently.

To watch a video about how to start the game by using Games Explorer, click Play to view this streaming media demonstration.

To open the Games Explorer folder, click Start , click All Programs, click Games, and then click Games Explorer.



Note New games usually appear automatically in the Games Explorer folder. However, some earlier games might not automatically appear in the Games Explorer folder. If the game does not automatically appear in the Games Explorer folder, drag the game's executable file to the Games Explorer folder. The game's executable file is located in the folder where you installed the game.

Create a game shortcut on your desktop

To create a shortcut, select the game for which you want to create a shortcut in Games Explorer. Drag the game to your desktop. The shortcut will be created on your desktop.

If you have installed the game but the icon for the game is not displayed in Games Explorer, you can manually create a shortcut from the game folder. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, and then click Computer.
2. Double-click Drive C.
3. Open the Program files folder.
4. Open the Microsoft Games folder, and then open the specific game folder.
5. Locate the executable file for the game.
6. Right-click the executable file, and then click Create Shortcut. For example, for Flight Simulator, you would right-click fsx.exe.
7. Click Yes when you are prompted to create a shortcut on your desktop. See the following example:
   
   Collapse this imageExpand this image

   

When you select the game in the Games Explorer folder and then right-click the title, you receive a list of options. These options change based on the game. Some common options are as follows:

• Play
  Start and play the game.
• Saved games
  Access the saved game files. This option is not available for all games.
• Copy
  Copy the game shortcut from the Games Explorer folder to the desktop or to another location for easy access.
• Pin to Start Menu
  Have the game appear on the Start menu.
• Add to Quick Launch
  Add the game to the quick launch menu. The quick launch menu is located in the lower-left corner next to the Start button.
• Customize
  Change the properties of the shortcut. For example, change the compatibility mode.
• Hide this game
  Hide game shortcuts in the Games Explorer folder.

For more information about help and about how to use the Games Explorer folder in Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft Web site:For more information about Games for Windows, visit the following Microsoft Web site:For help with common system maintenance tasks in Windows Vista, visit the following Microsoft Web page: