Changing Windows Explorer's Default Folder
Here are two Windows Explorer questions that apply to Windows NT
4/2000/XP. The first question is from reader Robert C.:
"How do I set the default folder that opens when I run Windows Explorer
or My Computer?"
Very closely related to this question is the following question from
reader Kevin McK.:
"I seem to remember that Explorer used to open with Drive C: expanded
in some long-obsolete version, but can't figure out how to do it in
Windows 2000. When I open Windows Explorer, it always expands and
displays the contents of My Documents. I'm sure there's a Registry
setting to achieve the behavior I'm after, but I can't find it.
Can you help?"
Let's suppose that you want Windows Explorer to open in the root folder
of Drive C:. Right-click the Windows Explorer shortcut that you use to
run the program and choose Properties. When the Windows Explorer
Properties dialog box opens, click the Shortcut tab. Click in the
Target entry box, and then press End. Add to the end of the existing
line /e, c:\. The complete line in the Target entry box should now be
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, c:\
The /e switch tells Windows Explorer to open in the two pane explorer
mode and the c:\ tells it to open in folder C:\. If you wish to have
Explorer open at My Documents, you would use
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, c:\My Documents
If you omit the /e switch, Windows Explorer opens in a single pane view.
Read more about how-to in ITworld's How-to section
» posted by ITworld staff
ITworld
Sign up for ITworld's Daily newsletter
Follow ITworld on Twitter @IT_world
Brian Proffitt
Microsoft/Novell: Breaking Down the Coupon Numbers
Esther Schindler
Drupal's Dries Buytaert on Building the Next Drupal
Tom Henderson
Top Ten General Operating Systems Rants
pasmith
PS3 motion controller delayed; goes up against Project Natal
sjvn
Neolithic Windows security hole alive and well in Windows 7
claird
Perl source code comparison makes for good reading
mikelgan
Cell phones don't create stress or interrupt much
Sandra Henry-Stocker
How to: The Unix Interview
Where Google Chrome security fails: the password
I heard mention that the Chrome OS will have some sort of encryption available a la bitlocker. If it's possible to encrypt personal data using another password or key, then it may have potential for very secure data.... And Ubuntu has an 'encrypt home directory' option, perhaps google should follow suit.
- Dann
Join the conversation here
Quick, practical advice for IT pros. Made fresh daily.
- Ubuntu advances: Why Ubuntu server installations will surge in 2010
- Social media marketing: How to make friends with benefits
- More...
Want to cash in on your IT savvy? Send your tip to tips@itworld.com. If we post it, we'll send you a $25 Amazon e-gift card.






