New window opens in Explorer

[mike w]

Something has changed. Using Windows Explorer, my default view is with
Folders showing in left hand panel, however, when I click on a fold in the
right hand panel it opens a new window. How can I restore it so that it
doesn't open a new window please. I have Windows XP Home.

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Sharon F]

Something has changed. Using Windows Explorer, my default view is with
Folders showing in left hand panel, however, when I click on a fold in the
right hand panel it opens a new window. How can I restore it so that it
doesn't open a new window please. I have Windows XP Home.

Thanks,

Mike

Folder Options> General: Check box to open folders in same window. That
should fix it for you. If not, right click on a folder. Which menu action
is shown in bold font - open or explore?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Mike,

Type in Start/Run:

cmd /k reg delete "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell" /ve /f

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[mike w]

Thanks for a speedy reply. Unfortunately no change to the problem. Fistly
Sharon, the box is checked to "Open each folder in same window" and the only
text in bold is "Collapse"

Thanks too Ramesh. Did that and even rebooted but no change.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Mike

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Mike,

Type in Start/Run:

regsvr32 /i shell32.dll

That should fix it. If not, please export these two registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder
-and-
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory

Post the contents here.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks for a speedy reply. Unfortunately no change to the problem. Fistly
Sharon, the box is checked to "Open each folder in same window" and the only
text in bold is "Collapse"

Thanks too Ramesh. Did that and even rebooted but no change.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Mike

Hi, Mike. When the folder options setting for same window is correct and
there's still a problem, the trouble lies a little deeper.

I should have been more specific about switching to Explorer view and then
right clicking a folder in the right hand pane instead of right clicking on
an expanded folder. If you were right clicking on a folder in the right
pane than that's another point that needs fixing.

With regards to the right click commands: A default setting of Open should
use whatever setting you have selected in Folder Options> General. A
default setting of Explore will open folders in a new Explorer window
ignoring the "same window" setting.

Folder Options> File Type for the Folder object has some controls for
designating the preferred action. Changes made here are linked to the
registry info about the Folder object. Ramesh's approach is to go straight
to the registry - fixing the default action and catching any other problems
regarding folders that might show up. You're in good hands, so I'll leave
the two of you to work on resolving this issue.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Thanks, Sharon. There are two possibilities. Overriding the (default) for
Folder or Directory is often the culprit. David's method (registering the
shell32) fixes one of the values automatically. To the OP, here is the
background info on why this occurs:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/samewindow.htm

In short:

HKCR\Directory\shell\(default) should always be "none"
HKCR\Folder\shell\(default) should always be "value not set"

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks, Sharon. There are two possibilities. Overriding the (default) for
Folder or Directory is often the culprit. David's method (registering the
shell32) fixes one of the values automatically. To the OP, here is the
background info on why this occurs:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/samewindow.htm

In short:

HKCR\Directory\shell\(default) should always be "none"
HKCR\Folder\shell\(default) should always be "value not set"

Hi, Ramesh! I forget about the directory registry settings. I tend to go
for the UI adjustments first. This gets many things fixed but if not, then
I delve deeper.

 

[Guest]

Hi Sharon,
I had the same problem as mike and your fix did it for me, many thanks

 

[Sharon F]

Hi Sharon,
I had the same problem as mike and your fix did it for me, many thanks

You're welcome, kempie! Glad to have helped.

 

[mike w]

Brilliant Ramesh. Thanks very much. Did the changes to HKCR and made the
default Explore in Tools, Folder Options, File Types, Folder. Thanks too
Sharon for your input. Now when I click on a folder in the right hand panel
it opens in the same window.
Thanks again and best wishes,
Mike

 

[Sharon F]

Brilliant Ramesh. Thanks very much. Did the changes to HKCR and made the
default Explore in Tools, Folder Options, File Types, Folder. Thanks too
Sharon for your input. Now when I click on a folder in the right hand panel
it opens in the same window.
Thanks again and best wishes,

You're most welcome, mike!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Mike,

You're welcome.

BTW, I don't think that alteration is needed.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Brilliant Ramesh. Thanks very much. Did the changes to HKCR and made the
default Explore in Tools, Folder Options, File Types, Folder. Thanks too
Sharon for your input. Now when I click on a folder in the right hand
panel it opens in the same window.
Thanks again and best wishes,
Mike