How to have Folders view be default view in Windows Explorer

[Mark Christensen]

Hello,

I've got XP Pro SP2. When I click on the Windows Explorer icon, it opens up
with the left side being the blue bar with File and Folder Tasks, Other
Places and Details showing. I have to manually click on the Folders button
at the top to get the view I want. Is there a way to make this Folders view
be the default view when I open Windows Explorer? Thanks.

Mark

 

[dev]

/Mark Christensen/ said:

I've got XP Pro SP2. When I click on the Windows Explorer icon, it opens up
with the left side being the blue bar with File and Folder Tasks, Other
Places and Details showing. I have to manually click on the Folders button
at the top to get the view I want. Is there a way to make this Folders view
be the default view when I open Windows Explorer? Thanks.

On the menu bar, try TOOLS|FOLDER OPTIONS|VIEWS and click the APPLY TO ALL
FOLDERS button.

 

[Mark Christensen]

That did not work.

/Mark Christensen/ said:


On the menu bar, try TOOLS|FOLDER OPTIONS|VIEWS and click the APPLY TO ALL
FOLDERS button.

--
For most XP answers and tweaks...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
http://dougknox.com http://aumha.org
http://support.microsoft.com

 

[Wesley Vogel]

That is called the Common Tasks pane. You want the Folders pane showing.

This will create a shortcut to C: with the Folders Pane showing.
Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Type or copy and paste this in the box:

%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:

Next | Finish

Or change the Target of your existing shortcut to
%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:
-----

Explorer.exe Command-Line Options for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314853

HOW TO: Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307856

HOW TO: Have Windows Explorer Default to the %SystemRoot% Drive When Started
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=257518

HOW TO: Change Windows Explorer Default View to My Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;221878

-----

You can also assign a shortcut key to that shortcut.

Right click the shortcut | Properties | Shortcut tab |
[[With the cursor in the Shortcut key box, select the keyboard key you
want to use in combination with CTRL+ALT. Shortcut keys automatically start
with CTRL+ALT. The Shortcut key box will display None until you select the
key and then the box will display Ctrl+Alt+the key you selected. You cannot
use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or BACKSPACE keys.

Note
Once you assign a shortcut key combination for a specific program, you will
not be able to use that key combination with other programs.]]

I use Ctrl + Alt + E.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Mark Christensen]

That worked great! Thanks.

That is called the Common Tasks pane. You want the Folders pane showing.

This will create a shortcut to C: with the Folders Pane showing.
Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Type or copy and paste this in the box:

%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:

Next | Finish

Or change the Target of your existing shortcut to
%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:
-----

Explorer.exe Command-Line Options for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314853

HOW TO: Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307856

HOW TO: Have Windows Explorer Default to the %SystemRoot% Drive When
Started
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=257518

HOW TO: Change Windows Explorer Default View to My Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;221878

-----

You can also assign a shortcut key to that shortcut.

Right click the shortcut | Properties | Shortcut tab |
[[With the cursor in the Shortcut key box, select the keyboard key you
want to use in combination with CTRL+ALT. Shortcut keys automatically
start
with CTRL+ALT. The Shortcut key box will display None until you select
the
key and then the box will display Ctrl+Alt+the key you selected. You
cannot
use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or BACKSPACE keys.

Note
Once you assign a shortcut key combination for a specific program, you
will
not be able to use that key combination with other programs.]]

I use Ctrl + Alt + E.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

That did not work.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Super. Keep having fun.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

That worked great! Thanks.

That is called the Common Tasks pane. You want the Folders pane showing.

This will create a shortcut to C: with the Folders Pane showing.
Right click the Desktop | New | Shortcut |
Type or copy and paste this in the box:

%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:

Next | Finish

Or change the Target of your existing shortcut to
%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:
-----

Explorer.exe Command-Line Options for Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314853

HOW TO: Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307856

HOW TO: Have Windows Explorer Default to the %SystemRoot% Drive When
Started
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=257518

HOW TO: Change Windows Explorer Default View to My Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;221878

-----

You can also assign a shortcut key to that shortcut.

Right click the shortcut | Properties | Shortcut tab |
[[With the cursor in the Shortcut key box, select the keyboard key you
want to use in combination with CTRL+ALT. Shortcut keys automatically
start
with CTRL+ALT. The Shortcut key box will display None until you select
the
key and then the box will display Ctrl+Alt+the key you selected. You
cannot
use the ESC, ENTER, TAB, SPACEBAR, PRINT SCREEN, SHIFT, or BACKSPACE
keys.

Note
Once you assign a shortcut key combination for a specific program, you
will
not be able to use that key combination with other programs.]]

I use Ctrl + Alt + E.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

That did not work.


/Mark Christensen/ said:

I've got XP Pro SP2. When I click on the Windows Explorer icon, it
opens up
with the left side being the blue bar with File and Folder Tasks,
Other Places and Details showing. I have to manually click on the
Folders button
at the top to get the view I want. Is there a way to make this
Folders view
be the default view when I open Windows Explorer? Thanks.

On the menu bar, try TOOLS|FOLDER OPTIONS|VIEWS and click the APPLY TO
ALL FOLDERS button.

--
For most XP answers and tweaks...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm
http://dougknox.com http://aumha.org
http://support.microsoft.com