Exploring PC - Advice Please

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dermot
  • Start date Start date
D

Dermot

Using XP Pro
When I right click on "Start" and select explore.....

Question
Is there a way to set the folders to default to unexpanded?
 
Using XP Pro
When I right click on "Start" and select explore.....

Question
Is there a way to set the folders to default to unexpanded?
Click to expand...

When you right click on "Start" and select Explore, you tell Windows you
want to explore the "Start menu".

Right click on "My computer" and select "Explore";

Is it more how you want it?

If "My computer" is not on the desktop, left click on "Start" and right
click on "My computer", there is a menu item to "Explore" and another to
put "My computer" on the desktop.

HTH
Doum
 
Thanks for the reply Kelly
Can you explain a little further how I access the "Options"

What do you mean by "Target Box"
 
Thanks for the reply Doum

Can the Start menu "Explore" be configured like the "My Computer" explore?
If so...how would I configure it?
 
It's a bit vague, don't you think? - "be configured" ???

What exactly does "be configured" mean?

The 'Windows Explorer' that opens when you right-click on the 'Start
Menu' and choose 'Open' or 'Explore' is the same 'Windows Explorer' that
opens when you choose 'Windows Explorer' from the shortcut to it on the
'Start Menu' and the same one as when you double-click on 'My Computer'
!

If you configure the buttons you want on the toolbar in Explorer, then
the same buttons will show up in any 'instance' of Explorer - no matter
how or where you start it from.

The only difference is if you have the 'Folders' view open or not.

I am sorry if this wasn't the answer you wanted but, perhaps, if you
were more explicit, I could be more helpful in my answer.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Quote
I am sorry if this wasn't the answer you wanted .

I accept your apology...Tim

Thanks
 
Thanks for the reply Doum

Can the Start menu "Explore" be configured like the "My Computer"
explore? If so...how would I configure it?
Click to expand...
I don't know since when I need Win Explorer, I right click "My computer"
and choose "Explore", if there is another program open full screen and I
don't see "My computer", I right click "My computer" inside the "Start"
menu and choose "Explore".

Doum
 
Thanks again for the curtious reply Doum.

I have found an explanation that explains why I can't do what I want:

Can I change the folder used by Explore in Start Menu's context menu?

Intended For
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2003
Windows 2000
Windows Me
Windows 98
Windows 95

No. By right-clicking on the Start Menu, you are telling Windows that you
want to explore there - in the Start Menu folder. This yields the same result
as right-clicking on any folder, and clicking Explore. Any other behavior
would be inconsistent.
A more effective way of starting Explorer is to place it in the top level of
the Start Menu. You can also configure My Computer to open Explorer by
customizing My Computer.

The nearest solution to achieve what I wanted is described at the link below:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-014

Thanks again
 
Was that a question?

"Can I change the folder used by Explore in Start Menu's context menu?"

....if it was, do you mean by that - can you change what folder is your
'Start Menu' folder?

If the answer to that was 'yes' then, yes you can.

In Regedit.exe, go to the key :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders

....and find the value 'Start Menu' and change it to what you want the
folder to be.

(At the same time you must also change the value for 'Programs' as this
determines where new programs place their Start Menu shortcut groups.)

Then close Regedit.exe and reboot your PC.

Bear in mind that if you have no shortcuts in your new location there
will be none on the 'Start Menu' after you reboot!


*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a
backup and / or create a 'System Restore' point first.


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Thanks for the rely and thorough explanationTim

Your explanation regarding how to change the default "Startup" folder is
interesting but not what I originally asked.

To rephrase my original question:
Can I right click on the start button ......and have the folder tree open
unexpanded....when I click on "Explore".

I later found the explanation below.

Intended For
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Windows 2003
Windows 2000
Windows Me
Windows 98
Windows 95

By right-clicking on the Start Menu, you are telling Windows that you
want to explore there - in the Start Menu folder. This yields the same result
as right-clicking on any folder, and clicking Explore. Any other
behavior would be inconsistent.
A more effective way of starting Explorer is to place it in the top
level of the Start Menu. You can also configure My Computer to open Explorer
by
customizing My Computer.

I did not realise that the start button explore was a Shortcut the "Startup"
folder.
I wrongly thought the Start button Explore could be customised to have the
folder tree open unexpanded. I now realise if I place a "My Computer"
shortcut in my "Quick Launch Bar".... right click and select explore......I
get the folder tree with only "My Computer" folder expanded.

Thanks for your time
 
Dermot,
I think I was stumped by your term "open unexpanded" - I
can't think what you mean by it.

For most of us it would mean that the 'folders' pane' is visible with
the current folder highlighted but the sub-folders *not* visible in the
folder tree (i.e. the little 'plus' [+] sign remains by the current
folder).

However, I get the impression that maybe you meant by 'unexpanded' is
that you want the folder to open with the 'folder's pane' not visible
(i.e as in double-click on 'My Computer').

Maybe I have this totally wrong, because I found your explanation a bit
confusing (although I understood the article, I also found it confusing
how you applied it to your original query).

I think it boils down to a slight difference in terminology here.

Sorry I didn't guess what it was you were asking for, but I'm glad you
have found a suitable solution all the same.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-)
 
Back
Top