How do you change the default directory branch that opens up in Windows Explorer

[Guest]

Whenever I invoke Windows Explorer by right clicking on the "Start" button in the bottom toolbar and clicking on the "Explore" menu item., the directory tree always opens up at the C:\Documents and Settings\username directory branch. How can I change the default so that Windows Explorer will open up to a different directory branch

Note:

I've tried the procedure specified in the below MS support lin

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=30785

but it only works for when you invoke Windows through Start-->All Programs-->Accessories--> Windows Explorer. It doesn't seem to have any effect on opening Windows explorer through 'right click' Start-->Explore which is my preferred method of accessing Windows Explorer

 

[David Candy]

Are you an idiot. You r/c a folder, as start is, and ask to explore it. What should it do. Take you to a folder you haven't asked to explore or take you to the folder you have asked.

 

[Kristofer Gafvert]

Hello,

What it does is actually what you ask Windows to do.

Let's say that Windows Explorer is an application, like any other
application. When you start it from Accessories->Windows Explorer, you start
it the normal way. But when you right click the Start button, and click
"Explore", you start it by saying that you want to explore the Start button
(which is a folder). The same thing happens if you select Explore after
right clicking My Computer, or My Documents.

We can compare this behavior with for example MS Word. When you start it
from the Start menu, you get a blank, new document (compare
Accessories->Windows Explorer). But if you start it by double clicking a
*.doc file, it opens up the document, and not a blank, new document (compare
right click Start button and click Explore).

I hope this helps you understand this behavior.

--
Regards,
Kristofer Gafvert - IIS MVP
Reply to newsgroup only. Remove NEWS if you must reply by email, but please
do not.
www.ilopia.com - FAQ and Tutorials for Windows Server 2003

Whenever I invoke Windows Explorer by right clicking on the "Start" button

in the bottom toolbar and clicking on the "Explore" menu item., the
directory tree always opens up at the C:\Documents and Settings\username
directory branch. How can I change the default so that Windows Explorer
will open up to a different directory branch?

Note:

I've tried the procedure specified in the below MS support link

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307856

but it only works for when you invoke Windows through Start-->All

Programs-->Accessories--> Windows Explorer. It doesn't seem to have any
effect on opening Windows explorer through 'right click' Start-->Explore
which is my preferred method of accessing Windows Explorer.

 

[Phil \(a.k.a. purplehaz\)]

You create shortcuts to open explorer where you want it. Not use the start
button. This is one of the things shortcuts are used for.
Point a new shortcut here - put any path after c:\ that you want. It will
then open in that folder.
C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /e,C:\

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

Basically, all you need do is modify the target field of your
Windows Explorer shortcut to point where you want it. In you case,
"%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e ,c:\" (without the quotes) would do the
trick.

Command-Line Switches for Windows Explorer
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q130510

WinNT Explorer Command-Line Options
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q152/4/57.asp


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:




You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

 

[Alex Nichol]

but it only works for when you invoke Windows through Start-->All Programs-->Accessories--> Windows Explorer. It doesn't seem to have any effect on opening Windows explorer through 'right click' Start-->Explore which is my preferred method of accessing Windows Explorer.

That method is there explicitly for exploring the Start Menu, not for
launching Explorer for general purposes. Use the one in All Programs -
having set the directory in it, set also a Shortcut key to it, say E -
you can then invoke it with CTL-ALT-E (or AltGr-E if your keyboard has
an AltGr key)