Can I change what shows when Windows Explorer opens?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bonnie
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Bonnie

I recently bought a new computer and I'm trying to duplicate a year's worth
of tinkering and customizing. Whew! I didn't realize I changed so many
things!!!

I have Windows XP Home Edition, which is probably the only thing relevant to
this post.

One thing is really bothering me now. When I open up Windows Explorer it
has My Documents open and everything else completely collapsed. On my old
computer Windows Explorer opened up with the C: drive open and everything
else visible. The ideal startup scenario for me would be to see: Desktop,
My Documents (closed), My Computer (expanded to see all the drives), and
Recycle Bin. Is there a way to make this happen???

Thanks in advance.
Bonnie
 
Bonnie said:
I recently bought a new computer and I'm trying to duplicate a year's
worth of tinkering and customizing. Whew! I didn't realize I
changed so many things!!!

I have Windows XP Home Edition, which is probably the only thing
relevant to this post.

One thing is really bothering me now. When I open up Windows
Explorer it has My Documents open and everything else completely
collapsed. On my old computer Windows Explorer opened up with the C:
drive open and everything else visible. The ideal startup scenario
for me would be to see: Desktop, My Documents (closed), My Computer
(expanded to see all the drives), and Recycle Bin. Is there a way to
make this happen???

Thanks in advance.
Bonnie
Click to expand...

Try this:
1) Right-click on the shortcut you use to open Explorer and choose
"Properties" from the popup menu.
2) Click on the "Shortcut" tab.
3) At the end of the line next to the label "Target:", append
" /e, /n, C:\" (without the quotes).

After the changes, the string should read
"%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, /n, C:\" (without the quotes). Note the
space character between "explorer.exe" and the "/e" switch. Also note there
is a space character between each switch, a comma immediately after the
first two switches, and no "forward slash" before the "C:\"

Do this for each shortcut you use to open Explorer.
This is not quite what you requested, but close enough.
--
Donald L McDaniel
Post all replies to the Newsgroup,
so that all may be informed.
Remove the obvious to reply by email.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
That's the long way of doing it.

Just go to Explorer properties & in Target, paste in the string -
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /e, c:\
 
johnf said:
That's the long way of doing it.

Just go to Explorer properties & in Target, paste in the string -
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /e, c:\
Click to expand...

Why should I do all the work for her? I gave her clear directions for doing
it herself. When she finishes, she will feel good about herself when it
works.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Post all replies to the Newsgroup,
so that all may be informed.
Remove the obvious to reply by email.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
johnf said:
Why should I do all the work for her? I gave her clear directions for
doing it herself. When she finishes, she will feel good about herself
when it works.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Post all replies to the Newsgroup,
so that all may be informed.
Remove the obvious to reply by email.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Click to expand...

Why do things the hard way when there's a simpler method.
My post was purely for that purpose, not to get you all huffy & come up with
feeble logic to justify what you posted.
As you said in your footnote - "so that all may be informed".
 
johnf said:
Why do things the hard way when there's a simpler method.
My post was purely for that purpose, not to get you all huffy & come
up with feeble logic to justify what you posted.
As you said in your footnote - "so that all may be informed".
Click to expand...

Dude, you are an idiot. You need to play elsewhere, preferably in the
street.

--
Donald L McDaniel
Post all replies to the Newsgroup,
so that all may be informed.
Remove the obvious to reply by email.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
All "playing" aside, both ways work. Thank you.

The scary thing is that I understand part of the string (I haven't forgotten
all the old DOS commands I used to know after all). Is there a way to have
the C: drive closed, too? Can I leave the "C:\" off the end of the string
or does the "\" need to be there to finish off the command?

Thanks again for your help.
Bonnie
 
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