Nope. Doesn't do that here. Edit: See my follow-up post several slots down. I'm running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, and I tried renaming an executable to vr.exe in folders both in and out of my PATH. No Vietnam anything showed up. Not on refresh nor on re-open of Games Explorer. I'd run a check for malware if I were you. -Noel

Hi! I ran some software of mine which i named "vr.exe". Then i found out that a game was added into Games Explorer when running it. Renaming a file into vr.exe and then running it causes a game called Vietnam Med-Evac to add itself into Games Explorer no mather which executable you rename. I never installed this game. Then i deleted the registry entries in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\GameUX and tried to rename other files and always the same result. I could reproduce this event on many Windows 7 machines. Haven't tried it on Windows Vista. It happened even on a fresh install of Windows 7 Ultimate. Could somebody explain this? Try it out yourself. Thank you!

Nope. Doesn't do that here. I'm running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate, and I tried renaming an executable to vr.exe in folders both in and out of my PATH. No Vietnam anything showed up. Not on refresh nor on re-open of Games Explorer. I'd run a check for malware if I were you. -Noel

Thank you Noel for your answer. The only thing you didn't tell me if you ran the renamed exe file after that. It happens when you execute it. No matter which file I try. I even tried it with notepad.exe. Notepad opens up, but at the same time the registry entries were written as previously described. I also did a fresh installation on a virtual machine, no network, no SP1, no activation. And it happened again. Very strange indeed. Oh, and I did run a malware check, multiple times. Also running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate. Thanks again. - Marko

Hi Marko, No, I never tried running it as somehow I missed the "and running it" part of your prior message. Sorry about that. I've just done so. Yes, I can confirm that Search & Rescue: Vietnam MED+EVAC has indeed been added to my Games Explorer. I can only guess Microsoft is watching for particular executable filenames to try to derive what games you like to play. That is LAME to say the least! -Noel

Just unlucky Gortad that you chose an executable name that had been used\published in 2002: http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/searchrescuevietnammedevac/tech_info.html

I understand your point of view, Nano Warp, given that we can't directly influence what Microsoft does in Windows... But... It's simply ridiculous that Windows would be watching for specific executable names alone in the hopes of recognizing certain video games and doing automatic things to facilitate who knows what... How many CPU instructions and other resources are being wasted on doing this, which isn't anything I want done on my computers anyway? I don't want a gaming system, I just want a good, solid operating system. Can we assume any number of different, magic things will happen if we happen to run applications with certain names? Is there a list somewhere of names to avoid? -Noel

Hi! I ran some software of mine which i named "vr.exe". Then i found out that a game was added into Games Explorer when running it. Renaming a file into vr.exe and then running it causes a game called Vietnam Med-Evac to add itself into Games Explorer no mather which executable you rename. Could somebody explain this? Try it out yourself. Nope. Doesn't do that here. Thank you Noel for your answer. The only thing you didn't tell me if you ran the renamed exe file after that. It happens when you execute it. No matter which file I try. I even tried it with notepad.exe. No, I never tried running it as somehow I missed the "and running it" part of your prior message. I've just done so. Yes, I can confirm that Search & Rescue: Vietnam MED+EVAC has indeed been added to my Games Explorer. Hi Gortad. You'll have to excuse Noel. He's been having some fuzzy font problems lately. Maybe that's why he uses such dramatic large bold fonts sometimes, too. That's an interesting discovery you've made. Here's a thread in the MS Answers forum where your information would also be valuable. You'll probably get some interesting replies if you post it there. Game - Search & Rescue:Vietnam MED+EVAC Uninstall

Being curious I tried to replicate this on my PC to no avail. I ran a copy of notepad.exe renamed to vr.exe and also and also a third party program renamed as such. No sign of a rogue game in my games explorer though... Also no signs of it in the registry key you mentioned. I'm running Windows 7 HPx64 SP1 fully up to date.

In my case it was an installer for another app that I renamed. Perhaps it's the App Compatibility subsystem that notices the name. -Noel

I'd run a check for malware if I were you. Yes, I can confirm that Search & Rescue: Vietnam MED+EVAC has indeed been added to my Games Explorer. Being curious I tried to replicate this on my PC to no avail. I ran a copy of notepad.exe renamed to vr.exe and also and also a third party program renamed as such. No sign of a rogue game in my games explorer though... Also no signs of it in the registry key you mentioned. I'm running Windows 7 HPx64 SP1 fully up to date. I tried it with both Vista and Windows7. In neither case could I replicate it. I wonder what modifications Gortad and Noel have made that we have not, BrowniMFC. I'm pretty careful to make effort to keep malware out of my computers. I use UAC for example. Not that I'm saying that's the cause of it. But it sure seems odd. And uncommon. Of course, I only use my computers for other things. Never games. Maybe they enabled some Windows gaming features that we have not, BrowniMFC. Still, it does seem kind of unlikely that Windows would contain and install a 3rd party vendor's game, doesn't it? Wherever it came from, consider yourselves lucky. You guys just saved $32.98

Hi! I ran some software of mine which i named "vr.exe". Then i found out that a game was added into Games Explorer when running it. Renaming a file into vr.exe and then running it causes a game called Vietnam Med-Evac to add itself into Games Explorer no mather which executable you rename. Could somebody explain this? Try it out yourself. Nope. Doesn't do that here. I'd run a check for malware if I were you. Thank you Noel for your answer. The only thing you didn't tell me if you ran the renamed exe file after that. It happens when you execute it. No matter which file I try. I even tried it with notepad.exe. No, I never tried running it as somehow I missed the "and running it" part of your prior message. I've just done so. Yes, I can confirm that Search & Rescue: Vietnam MED+EVAC has indeed been added to my Games Explorer. Hi Gortad. You'll have to excuse Noel. He's been having some fuzzy font problems lately. Maybe that's why he uses such dramatic large bold fonts sometimes, too. That's an interesting discovery you've made. Here's a thread in the MS Answers forum where your information would also be valuable. You'll probably get some interesting replies if you post it there. Game - Search & Rescue:Vietnam MED+EVAC Uninstall

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I have no malware here. I have a good, solid handle on each and every bit of software that's starting and running, and my top quality antivirus/antimalware software doesn't see a problem either. UAC can help protect you if you routinely and indiscriminately run questionable software. Some of us avoid doing that via other means, and prefer for the operating system not to try to protect the computer from us, but rather facilitate useful operation. It's likely that those unable to reproduce the problem haven't hit on whatever triggers Games Explorer to add this entry. -Noel P.S., What it runs, when you select it, is the vr.exe that you ran before. All the system is doing is noting where it was and INCORRECTLY adding an entry into the Games Explorer window. P.P.S., A right-click and "Hide This Game" gets rid of it. It also needs to be deleted from the Games subfolder of the Start menu.