Can't open folders

  • Thread starter Thread starter PaulFXH
  • Start date Start date
P

PaulFXH

Hi,
My computer is a Dell Dimension 4550 with 2.53GHz CPU and 512MB RAM. It
runs on WinXP SP2 and has two HDs (one is usb) with a total of 240GB
space of which 155GB is free.
Most things were operating well up to today when I now find that I
cannot open ANY FOLDER at all. When I double click on the folder I get
a search companion screen (the one with the dog).
The My Computer icon does open up on clicking to show all of the
folders contained therein but when I click on any of these folders, I
just get the search screen.
If I right-click on a folder, I do not get the expected menu (with
Open, Run As, etc) but instead I get the Search drop-down list.
I have tried system restore on three different restore points but I
just get a "cannot restore" message.
Does anybody know how I can get out of this one?
Thanks in advance
Paul
 
Hi again,
I've actually solved this problem now by using a fix posted by Doug
Knox some time ago.
I pasted the link below for anybody else with the same problem.

See www.dougknox.com , Win XP Fixes, Search/Command Prompt Opens When
Double
Clicking a Folder.

Paul
 
Additional info: This problem occurs when you alter the "Drive" / "File
Folders" entries via File Types dialog, to add a "Command Prompt here" or
"Print Directory" feature for folders. (example)

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321379
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321186

Resolution:

Click Start/Run and type this command to fix this problem:
(Tip from David Candy)

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

-or-

Fix "Search" Opens Instead of Explorer:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_folder_open.htm

-or-

To fix this manually via registry:

If this problem is seen for Drives:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell
Set (default) to "none" (without ")

If this problem is seen for folders:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
Set (default) to "none" (without ")

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi again,
I've actually solved this problem now by using a fix posted by Doug
Knox some time ago.
I pasted the link below for anybody else with the same problem.

See www.dougknox.com , Win XP Fixes, Search/Command Prompt Opens When
Double
Clicking a Folder.

Paul
 
Hi Ramesh
Thanks for your comments and explanation of what happened.
You were exactly right in that I did indeed run the printdir.bat file
as is mentioned in the first of your links.
Cheers
Paul
 
You're welcome Paul.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Ramesh
Thanks for your comments and explanation of what happened.
You were exactly right in that I did indeed run the printdir.bat file
as is mentioned in the first of your links.
Cheers
Paul
 
Back
Top