Classic Shell: Forum

So I deleted the Internet Explorer link from my classic shell menu and now the metro version of IE won't work. I've reset it as the default browser and set all the file associations...and I've used the "reset" feature in the advanced settings. Why did this happen and can I fix it without the lengthy refresh?

What do you mean "won't work"? Nothing happens when you launch it?

I mean that when I deleted the Internet Explorer shortcut from the Classic Shell start menu, the app actually disappeared completely from the Start Screen. I was able to find the executable in the Program Files folder and create a shortcut, but that will only open the desktop version whether I use the shortcut on the Start Screen or Desktop. I've tried making IE the default for everything internet related and set file associations back to Internet Explorer. I've also clicked the "Make Internet Explorer the default browser" link when it checks whether it's default or not.

Last night, though, I was able to get to IE Metro by searching in the start screen for Bing and clicking on it. For whatever reason, that finally opened metro, but it doesn't explain why the start screen app is gone or how to get it back. Something in Classic Shell removed the start screen shortcut to the Metro version of the app.

Unlike desktop programs, Metro apps don't have EXEs and shortcuts in the traditional sense. Instead, their shortcuts are specially designed to instruct Metro to activate the right package.
The IE shortcut is doubly-special because when launched from the desktop it does one thing and when launched from the start screen it does another.

You should not ever delete those shortcuts. The start menu makes it difficult to delete the shortcuts in the Apps menu for just that reason. Unfortunately IE is not in the Apps folder but in the regular start menu folder and doesn't have such protection.

You can try few things to restore it:
1) Try the attached shortcut. I copied it from my Windows 8.1 installation
2) Try creating a new account and copy the shortcut from there
3) See if you can pin a URL to the start screen (Bing, Google, whatever works) and use it as your shortcut for launching IE

First download the shortcut attached by Ivo and restore it to the Programs folder. Then if Metro IE isn't restored to the Start screen, search for it on the Start screen or the "Apps" view using Win+S search. Then right click it and select Pin to Start.

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Links to some general topics:

● Compare Start Menus

● Read the Search box usage guide.

I am a Windows enthusiast and helped a little with Classic Shell's testing and usability/UX feedback.

Wow. I wish I had known how easy it could be to get rid of IE Metro! Another great feature of Classic Shell!