One of the main functions of a computer is to provide a logical storage structure for easy-to-use and accessible folders and files. The classic "My Computer" icon in earlier versions of Windows is in a convenient location for quick and easy access to files. The same icon can be found and used in Windows 8.
- In Windows 7 and 8 the icon is named "Computer"
- In Windows 8.1+ the icon is named "This PC."
Step
Part 1 of 4: Using Keyboard Shortcuts to Find the Icon
Step 1. Press Win+E
This will automatically open a File Explorer window.
Step 2. Click "This PC" or "Computer" depending on the OS version you are using
The icon is located on the left side of the Explorer window (you may need to scroll down a bit to see it if you have a lot of folders). Click the icon to see a familiar view of your computer's drives and devices.
Part 2 of 4: Using Windows Search to Find the Icon
Step 1. Open the Start screen
Press the Win key.
You can also click the Windows icon in the lower left corner of your desktop (Windows 8.1 users)
Step 2. Type "Computer" or "This PC" in the search field to find the icon
The icon will appear in the search results.
Step 3. Click the icon
File Explorer will open a window suitable for accessing your files via drive C.
Part 3 of 4: Accessing Icons from the Taskbar
Step 1. Look for File Explorer
On the desktop, look for the File Explorer icon at the bottom of the screen on the taskbar. The icon looks like a folder and is usually in the lower-left corner of the screen.
Step 2. Click on the Folder Icon
This will open a File Explorer window. Look on the left side of the window and you will see the various folder locations and directories present on your computer.
Step 3. Locate and click the Computer/This PC icon
It's on the left side of the Explorer window at the bottom half of the list. Click the icon to open your Local Disk (C:) drive which is usually the place to store most of your files and folders. You can double-click the C drive to view its contents and access the other files on it.
You can also open drive C from within the list under Computer/This PC by clicking the small arrow next to its icon
Part 4 of 4: Showing the Icon on the Desktop
Step 1. Right-click anywhere on the desktop
Step 2. Select the Personalize option from the dropdown menu
This option is usually at the bottom of the menu and will bring up a personalization window.
Step 3. Change desktop icons
Click Change Desktop Icons in the upper-left corner of the window.
Step 4. Select Computer/This PC
Check the box for the appropriate icon so that the icon will appear on the desktop. Click OK. Now you will see the icon on the desktop. Double-click the icon to view your hard drive.
