Computer Help Forums: Windows Explorer Startup - Computer Help Forums

When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My Document"
folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be expanded and
everything else left unexpanded.

Can this be set as an option if so how?

Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
--
TJRL

windows - E
--
John the West Ham fan

housetrained@hotmail.com
<><


"TJRL" wrote in message
news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
> When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> Document"
> folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be expanded
> and
> everything else left unexpanded.
>
> Can this be set as an option if so how?
>
> Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> --
> TJRL

windows - E
--
John the West Ham fan

housetrained@hotmail.com
<><

"TJRL" wrote in message
news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
> When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> Document"
> folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be
> expanded and
> everything else left unexpanded.
>
> Can this be set as an option if so how?
>
> Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> --
> TJRL

In Explorer drag the 'Computer' folder to the desktop to get a shortcut
or
you can create a desktop shortcut with the target

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\

or any further folder path you require after the C:\.

Tom

Tom,

Thanks for your reply but this does not do it, because it only gets to a
folder in the C:\ drive or the C:\ drive itself, whereas I want "My Computer".

When I created the shortcut you suggested and placed it on the desktop and
then activated it I end up with a view without the "folders" showing, these
can be shown by selecting "View, Explorer Bar, Folders" but this setting is
lost each time you close so I am no better than just opening Windows
explorer, closing "My Documents" and then clicking on "Desktop"!!

Rather than a shortcut what I was after was a way of having Windows Explorer
open with "My Computer" expanded (and everything elso not expanded) rather
than the default of "My Documents" or the C:\ drive (achieved by
"%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e"). It seems such a simple request to change
what the default item that is expanded is but I just cannot find out how to
do it.

Still looking for the solution.
--
TJRL


"Tom Allen" wrote:

>
> "TJRL" wrote in message
> news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
> > When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> > Document"
> > folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be
> > expanded and
> > everything else left unexpanded.
> >
> > Can this be set as an option if so how?
> >
> > Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> > --
> > TJRL
>
> In Explorer drag the 'Computer' folder to the desktop to get a shortcut
> or
> you can create a desktop shortcut with the target
>
> %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\
>
> or any further folder path you require after the C:\.
>
> Tom
>
>
>

TJ,

sorry it didn't help. For me the dragged shortcut does exactly what you
are asking for and the Folder view remains. It is just the same as the
'Computer' from Personalise > Change Desktop Icons and can be moved
to anywhere in Start > Programs if that's how you normally start Windows
Explorer and don't want a desktop shortcut.

Tom

"TJRL" wrote in message
news:68AFD0DA-6CE9-4083-AA09-33A049E5EEE5@microsoft.com...
> Tom,
>
> Thanks for your reply but this does not do it, because it only gets to
> a
> folder in the C:\ drive or the C:\ drive itself, whereas I want "My
> Computer".
>
> When I created the shortcut you suggested and placed it on the desktop
> and
> then activated it I end up with a view without the "folders" showing,
> these
> can be shown by selecting "View, Explorer Bar, Folders" but this
> setting is
> lost each time you close so I am no better than just opening Windows
> explorer, closing "My Documents" and then clicking on "Desktop"!!
>
> Rather than a shortcut what I was after was a way of having Windows
> Explorer
> open with "My Computer" expanded (and everything elso not expanded)
> rather
> than the default of "My Documents" or the C:\ drive (achieved by
> "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e"). It seems such a simple request to
> change
> what the default item that is expanded is but I just cannot find out
> how to
> do it.
>
> Still looking for the solution.
> --
> TJRL
>
>
> "Tom Allen" wrote:
>
>>
>> "TJRL" wrote in message
>> news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
>> > When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
>> > Document"
>> > folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be
>> > expanded and
>> > everything else left unexpanded.
>> >
>> > Can this be set as an option if so how?
>> >
>> > Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
>> > --
>> > TJRL
>>
>> In Explorer drag the 'Computer' folder to the desktop to get a
>> shortcut
>> or
>> you can create a desktop shortcut with the target
>>
>> %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\
>>
>> or any further folder path you require after the C:\.
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>

"TJRL" wrote...
> When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> Document"
> folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be expanded
> and
> everything else left unexpanded.
>
> Can this be set as an option if so how?
>
> Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> --
> TJRL

Try this
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, /select, C:\
Q

"TJRL" wrote in message
news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
> When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> Document"
> folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be expanded
> and
> everything else left unexpanded.
>
> Can this be set as an option if so how?
>
> Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> --
> TJRL

Does this do what you want?

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, C:\
MLD

MLD,

Sorry that also puts me in the root of the C:\ drive with the C:\ drive
expanded.

What I was aiming for was one level up (My Computer), so if I use the /e,
C:\ switch as suggested I then have to collapse the C:\ drive and then click
the "My Computer" in order to get the desired result.

I know this is a small thing but these two extra key clicks each time I use
Windows Explorer has been bugging me for years and I just want to be able to
get it (WE) to start where I want it to rather than where Microsoft think I
should want to start.

Thanks anyway
TJRL

--
TJRL


"MLD" wrote:

>
> "TJRL" wrote in message
> news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
> > When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> > Document"
> > folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be expanded
> > and
> > everything else left unexpanded.
> >
> > Can this be set as an option if so how?
> >
> > Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> > --
> > TJRL
>
> Does this do what you want?
>
> %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, C:\
> MLD
>
>

Q,

I think you cracked it !!

Many many thanks
--
TJRL


"Q" wrote:

>
> "TJRL" wrote...
> > When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the "My
> > Document"
> > folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be expanded
> > and
> > everything else left unexpanded.
> >
> > Can this be set as an option if so how?
> >
> > Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for years!
> > --
> > TJRL
>
> Try this
> %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, /select, C:\
> Q
>
>

Two solutions:

1) No shortcut:
Press Windowskey + "E" simultaneously. This opens Explorer with MyComputer
as target

2) Modify your Explorer shortcut in Start menu (in my case it's SO
frequently used, I created a Quicklaunch button):
Rightclick on shortcut and go into properties.
Then click "shortcut" tab.
Then modify default target.

Now how you modify target I really forgot, I set it up once and forgot, and
it's not important - simply Google for "Windows explorer, open in specific
folder" or something to that effect.
Many people have asked your question and Google is filled with answers all
over the place.

For example try this:
explorer /e,

Copy the above into "target" field in shortcut properties.

Here're exampoles from my own laptop:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, C:\zJOBS\zNEWEST-zReducedContr - Everytime I
run Explorer it opens in "Contracts" folder.

I have another shortcut modified as:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, /root, C:\zJOBS\zNEWEST-zReducedContratcs -
This removes left-side pane in Explorer and is excellent for working in a
specific folder being isolated from the rest, but it's not what I use for
global work involving entire harddisk.

There's a Microsoft Knowledgebase article about explorer options.

There's very FEW switches and it's damn simple. Unfortunately. I wish
there were more switches/options

"TJRL" wrote in message
news:68AFD0DA-6CE9-4083-AA09-33A049E5EEE5@microsoft.com...
> Tom,
>
> Thanks for your reply but this does not do it, because it only
> gets to a
> folder in the C:\ drive or the C:\ drive itself, whereas I want
> "My Computer".
>
> When I created the shortcut you suggested and placed it on the
> desktop and
> then activated it I end up with a view without the "folders"
> showing, these
> can be shown by selecting "View, Explorer Bar, Folders" but this
> setting is
> lost each time you close so I am no better than just opening
> Windows
> explorer, closing "My Documents" and then clicking on "Desktop"!!
>
> Rather than a shortcut what I was after was a way of having
> Windows Explorer
> open with "My Computer" expanded (and everything elso not
> expanded) rather
> than the default of "My Documents" or the C:\ drive (achieved by
> "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e"). It seems such a simple request to
> change
> what the default item that is expanded is but I just cannot find
> out how to
> do it.
>
> Still looking for the solution.
> --
> TJRL
>
>
> "Tom Allen" wrote:
>
>>
>> "TJRL" wrote in message
>> news:ECD46582-5CCD-4E73-AF42-F370BA10413C@microsoft.com...
>> > When I open windows explorer in either XP or Vista it opens the
>> > "My
>> > Document"
>> > folder as the default. However I only want "My Computer" to be
>> > expanded and
>> > everything else left unexpanded.
>> >
>> > Can this be set as an option if so how?
>> >
>> > Many thanks for any help, this has been driving me mad for
>> > years!
>> > --
>> > TJRL
>>
>> In Explorer drag the 'Computer' folder to the desktop to get a
>> shortcut
>> or
>> you can create a desktop shortcut with the target
>>
>> %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\
>>
>> or any further folder path you require after the C:\.

This is as close as I can get to what you want.
Windows Explorer Properties -- Target [%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe
/e,/n,/select,/root,c:]
no brackets.