Windows 10: Can't unpin dead link to D:\ from File Explorer - Taskbar & Start Menu

When I right-click on the File Explorer icon either in the Taskbar or at the left edge of the Start menu, the context menu shows that "DATA (D" (without the quotation marks), one of my hard drives, is pinned. That's perfectly fine; I want that. But when I click on it, this message pops up:

The item you selected is unavailable. It might have been moved, renamed, or removed. Do you want to remove it from the list?
DATA (D
[DELETE] [CANCEL]

The D:\ drive definitely has not been moved, renamed or removed, and if I open File Explorer and click on D:\ in the navigation pane, it works just fine.

I figured I'd solve the problem by unpinning D:\ from File Explorer, then repinning it, but it won't unpin (regardless of whether I click on unpin, or click on DELETE in the dialog box). So I just have this dead and unusable pinned link.

Weirder still: If I pin a second link to D:\ to File Explorer, both links show up in the pin list, and both links work! I can then unpin either one, which leaves one remaining, but that remaining one again (as above) doesn't work and can't be unpinned.

What I want, of course, is one, pinned, working link to D:\ (or, if that's simply not possible for some reason, I want to get rid of the dead pinned link).

Hoping maybe there's a Registry key that will unlock this problem.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or assistance. I wasn't able to find a previous thread on this. I did see threads re problems with pinning to the Taskbar, but that's not my issue.

:)

 

File Explorer in Taskbar woun't launch

Hi Adrien,



I would suggest you to unpin the File Explorer from Taskbar and then again try to pin it and check if it helps.



To unpin the File Explorer, right click on it and select Unpin this program from Taskbar.



To pin the File Explorer, search for File Explorer using from Start menu and right click on it and
select Pin to Taskbar.



Let us know the results.

 

File explorer icon from taskbar dissappears while working on it

Hi,

To assist you with your concern, we suggest you pin the File Explorer from the Start Menu by following these steps:

• Click the Start Menu.
• Right-click File Explorer.
• Choose Pin to taskbar.

If you need further assistance, feel free to reply to this post.

 

File Explorer jump list not working

Hi!

I have not been able to recreate the issue local. But I do remember unpinning the Taskbar file explore earlier then repining it.

So in the start menu the "file explore" link has a jump also. Does it reflect pined and do they work?? If so unpin task bar file explore, then pin the start menu file explore to taskbar. also does internet explore taskbar icon jump links work??

If this does not resolve you I will look at the jump list as it is kind of a context menu. Also I have show recently open items in Jump List or the Taskbar off in settings. I'm also on W10 pro no I have to check W10 Home.