explorer tips

8/6/2019 Explorer Tips

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Explorer Tips

Changing the Default Sound in Explorer- Added 11/17/01

Running the Explorer in Separate Process (NT/XP Only) - Added 11/17/01

Changing Drive Icons in Explorer- Added 9/14/01

Changing Drive Labels in Explorer (Windows2000 and XP) - Added 9/14/01

Resetting Graphics PreView in Explorer- Added 3/13/01

Keeping Filenames in the Case You Want - Submitted 12/20/00

Changing the Explorer's Web View Background - Added 12/21/99

Moving Up and Down Directory Levels- Submitted 3/28/99

Hiding the File Menu in the Explorer- Added 10/16/98

Explorer Session from the Start Menu- Updated 3/29/98

Automatically Adjusting Right-Panel Column Widths - Added 1/24/98

Inserting the Name of a File into a Document - Submitted 8/23/97

Added Non-Expanded Explorer when Right Clicking on a Folder- Submitted 8/9/97

Finding Files from Explorer- Added 7/8/97

Printing a Directory from Explorer- Submitted 7/4/97Opening a DOS Prompt in the Directory You Want - Added 4/25/97

Starting Explorer with No Drives Expanded - Added 2/19/97

Opening Explorer and System Properties from My Computer- Submitted 1/3/97

Opening Explorer from My Computer- Submitted 12/18/96

Undo Last Command in Explorer- Added 11/29/96

File Copying in Explorer Without Opening Two Sessions- Added 7/27/96

Easier File Copying with Explorer- Added 5/15/96

Quickly Expand all folders in Explorer- Added 3/30/96

Starting Explorer when you open a Folder- Added 2/6/96

Explorer Shortcut Keys- 9/26/95

Starting Explorer from the Current DOS Directory - 9/20/95Changing the Sort order inExplorer - 8/29/95Using theExplorer's Send To Feature

Changing the Default Sound in Explorer

Added 11/17/01

You can change the default sound heard when navigating to folders in the Explorer.

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ AppEvents \ Schemes \ Apps\ Explorer \ Navigating\

.current

3. Change the default value to the wav file you want to use.

4. Leaving it blank will turn off the sound.

5. This also changes the default sound when opening a page in the Internet Explorer.

Running the Explorer in Separate Process (NT/XP Only)

Added 11/17/01
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By default, the Windows Desktop, Taskbar, and Explorer run in a single process using multiple

threads. You can modify the registry so that the Taskbar and Desktop will run in one process with

each instance of Explorer in a separate process.

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \

Explorer

3. Create a DWORD value calledDesktopProcess4. Give it a value of 1

Changing Drive Icons in Explorer

Added 9/14/01

To change the icon used for specific drives in Explorer

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion /

Explorer3. Create a key calledDriveIcons

4. Within DriveIcons, create another key with the drive letter you want to change

(..\DriveIcons\K)

5. Create another key within the drive letter key calledDefaultIcon

6. Set the default value equal to the icon you want to use.

7. If you have a file that has more than one icon in it, such as a DLL file, use the standard

C:\full_path\icon_file.dll,xwhere x is the number of the icon within the file icon_file.dll.

Changing Drive Labels in Explorer (Windows2000 and XP)

Added 9/14/01

Normally the Explorer shows drive labels as "Compact Disk", "Removable Disk" ect.

To change the name of this label for specific drives:

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SOFTWARE / Microsoft / Windows / CurrentVersion /

Explorer3. Create a key calledDriveIcons4. Within DriveIcons, create another key with the drive letter you want to change

(..\DriveIcons\K)

5. Create another within the drive letter key calledDefaultLabel6. Give the Default Value for this key the label you want to appear for that drive letter. (Jazz

Drive etc.)

7. Restart the computer

Resetting Graphics PreView in Explorer

Added 3/13/01


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For Windows98, ME or Windows 2000, if you have View as Web Page enabled but do not see a

picture preview in Explorer:

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to Registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ file type \ ShellEx \ {BB2E617C-0920-

11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}

3. Make sure the Default Value "{7376D660-C583-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC}"

Keeping Filenames in the Case You Want

Submitted 12/20/00

To stop Windows from changing the case of your filenames to upper or lower case:

1. Start Regedit

2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \

Explorer \ Advanced

3. Double-click DontPrettyPath (or create this key with a type of REG_DWORD if it doesn't

exist)4. Set the value to 1 to keep the case as you type it or 0 to adjust the case as Explorer requires

5. Click OK

6. Close Regedit

Submitted byPaul Brown

Changing the Explorer's Web View Background

Added 12/21/99

If you use Web View for your Internet Explorer, you can change the background that appears.

Edit or recreate the file >C:\Windows\Web\Wvleft.bmp

Make sure you keep the file dimensions the same 182x237 pixels

Moving Up and Down Directory Levels

Submitted 3/28/99

To go one directory deeper, key RIGHT ARROW

To back out one directory level, key LEFT ARROW

Submitted byRon Baron

Hiding the File Menu in the Explorer

Added 10/16/98

To hide the File Menu in Explorer:
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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1. Start Regedit

2. Go to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

3. Create a new Binary Value

4. Name it NoFileMenu

5. Give it a value of 01 00 00 00

6. Reboot the computer

Explorer Session from the Start Menu

Added 3/29/98

To open the Explorer with a session on the Start Menu,

you can just right click on the STARTbutton and chooseEXPLORE

Submitted byOBS

Added 1/26/97

Most avid windowers know that "Start | Settings | Taskbar | Start Menu Programs | Advanced..."

will start an Explorer session focused on the Start Menu directory.

This allows you to easily and quickly add/modify your Start menu.

To immediately access this Explorer session from the Start menu itself,

1. Open Explorer and open the Windows directory.

2. Right-drag EXPLORER.EXE to the desktop, then select "Create shortcut here."

3. Open the properties to this shortcut, select the Shortcut tab and add the following switches to

the command line in Target: "/e,/root,c:\windows\Start Menu".

4. Double-click on the title of the shortcut and change it to "Configure Start Menu."5. Open "Start | Settings | Taskbar | Start Menu Programs | Advanced..." and drag the shortcut

just created into the window on the right.

6. This will place a configuration item in the first level of the Start Menu.

These command-line options will allow a similar Explorer session to be started with any folder as the

root.

Submitted byBruce Carothers

Automatically Adjusting Right-Panel Column Widths

Added 1/24/98

The column widths in the right hand panel of the Explorer might not be the correct sizes to display

all the file information.

To automatically adjust all the columns at once to show all the information,

1. Click somewhere on the right-hand panel

2. Simply press the Ctrl-+ key.

3. The Name, Size, Type and Modified columns will automatically adjust themselves to displayall their information.


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Note: The + is the one on the numeric keyboard

Inserting the Name of a File into a Document

Submitted 8/23/97

When you need to insert the exact name of a file into a document:

1. Open the Explorer

2. Right click on the file you want to reference

3. Select Rename. You can either right click and select Rename or press the F2 key.

4. Instead of renaming it, right click on it again, and select Copy.

5. Then you can paste the exact file name into your document

Submitted byDavid Jastram

Added Non-Expanded Explorer when Right Clicking on a Folder

Submitted 8/9/97

Adding a second Explorer to the menu that pops up when right clicking on any folder or the Start

Button.

This is handy to be able to open Explorer non-expanded and also for being able to open a second

Explorer (non-expanded) while already in Explorer.

1. Open My Computer

2. Choose View-Options-File Types

3. Select theFile Folderfile type

4. Click Edit5. For ACTION, typeEXPLORER2

6. For APPLICATION USED, type C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,/select,C:\

7. Click OK and close all windows

8. Run REGEDIT

9. Expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

10. Locate and expand DIRECTORY

11. Locate and expand SHELL

12. Locate and expand EXPLORER2

13. Select COMMAND

14. On the right window RIGHT CLICK on DEFAULT15. Select MODIFY

16. Remove the space and %1 at the end of the line

17. Click OK and close REGEDIT

EXPLORER2 will show up and launch a non-expanded view of Explorer whenever you right-click

on the START BUTTON or any folder, even if you are already in Explorer.

The whole procedure can be done in REGEDIT, but this may be safer for users not experienced with

REGEDIT

Submitted byMichael Lohry


6/10

Finding Files from Explorer

Added 7/8;97

To find files from a particular directory:

1. Start the Explorer

2. Go to the directory you want to search

3. Press the F3 key

4. The Find File dialog box will come up with the initial directory being the one you highlighted

Printing a Directory from Explorer

Submitted 7/4/97

To make aPrint Directory option from a right-click in Explorer:

1. In Explorer, choose View / Options / File Types

2. HighlightFolder(notFile Folder)3. Click on theEditbutton4. Click on theNew button

5. In the Action box, type &Print Dir

6. In theApplication use to perform action box type C:\WINDOWS\COMMAND.COM /C DIR

%1 /S /A /O:N > PRN

You can use other switches for COMMAND.COM (COMMAND.COM /?) or DIR (DIR /? | MORE)

to customize to your preference.

Submitted byRay Whitaker

Opening a DOS Prompt in the Directory You Want

Submitted 4/25/97

You can use the Explorer to easily open up a DOS window to a specific directory.

1. From Explorer Option Menu selectFile Types

2. Highlight the object forFolder- NOTFile Folder

3. Click the Edit button4. From the 'Edit File Type' panel click the 'New' button

5. Action is '&Goto DOS Prompt'

6. Application used is C:\windows\command.com /k cd %1

7. Select OK, then Close and Close.

8. Now from Explorer secondary (right) click the folder you want to go to in DOS

9. From the menu select 'GotDOS Prompt' (or hit G) and you are in that directory with a DOS

windows

10. For Win NT 4.0 same tip, but substitute cmd.exe for command.com)

Submitted byEric Sandoz


7/10

Starting Explorer with No Drives Expanded

Normally when you start the Explorer, it expands the folders on the root of the C: Drive.

For those computers with multiple hard drives plus CD ROM Drives, this might not always be what

you want.

If you want it to start without expanding any drives, use the following switches:

EXPLORER /n, /e, /select, c:\

This will work with NT 4.0 as well

Opening Explorer and System Properties from My Computer

Submitted 1/3/97

By holding Shiftkey and double-clicking My Computeryou get anExplorerview of My Computer.

By holding downAltand key and double-clicking My Computeryou get the System Properties of

Control Panel.

Submitted byPaul Alderson

[email protected]

Opening Explorer from My Computer

Submitted 12/18/96

To open an explorer view of "My Computer", in "My Computer" or an Explorer window,

1. Select the View menu, Options.

2. Click the File Types Tab

3. Highlight the Folders entry

4. Click the Edit button

5. Highlight the action you wish (Open, Explore, Explore From Here)

6. Click the Set Default button.

This is much easier than editing the registry and easily changeable.

Submitted by Ted [email protected]

Undo Last Command in Explorer

Added 11/29/96

When you use the Explorer to Copy, Move, Rename or Delete Files or Folders,

you can Undo your last action by pressing Ctrl-Z

File Copying in Explorer Without Opening Two Sessions
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Added 7/27/96

There was a previous tip regarding opening two Explorer sessions, tiling them, and drag and

dropping files from one to the other.

An another way to copy files without needing to open a second Explorer session is to:

1. Highlight the file(s) you want to copy

2. Right click on the mouse

3. Select Copy4. In Explorer, move to the target directory

5. Right click on the mouse

6. SelectPaste7. The files will now be copied

Easier File Copying with Explorer

Added 5/15/96

One difference betweenExplorerandFile Manageris that with File Manageryou could open up two windows to more easily copy files between drives.

To do the same thing with Explorer:

1. Close all running applications

2. Start two copies of Explorer

3. Press Ctrl-Esc to bring up the task bar4. Right click on an open space

5. Select Tile Horizontally orVertically depending on your preference

Your two Explorer sessions will now split the screen and you can copy between them by

dragging files like before.

Expanding All Subfolders in Explorer

Added 3/30/96

To quickly have Explorer expand all subfolders for a selected drive or folder,

simply press the asterisk (*) key on the numeric keypad.

Starting Explorer when opening a Folder

Added 2/6/96

To have an Explorer window be the default when you open up a Folder:

1. Open up any folder.

2. Select View / Options3. Select File Types

4. Go down toFolder

5. Click on Edit6. HighlightExplore


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7. Click on Set Default

8. Click on Close9. Click on Close again

Now when you open a folder, you will get an Explorer window with the programs or shortcuts in the

right panel

and the regular explorer window in the left panel.

Explorer Shortcut Keys

Added 9/26/95

F4 - Displays the Combo Box

F5 - Refresh the display

Ctrl+G - Go to a specific directory

Ctrl+Z - Undo last action

Backspace - Go up one directory

Starting the Explorer from the Current DOS Directory

Submitted 9/20/95

To start Explorer from whatever subdirectory you are in when shelled out in DOS:

1. Type "Start .\"

2. The Explorer will start in that very same directory

3. "Start ..\" will start the Explorer one directory above the current one.

4. "Start \" will start the Explorer at the root of the drive.

Submitted by Christopher J. [email protected]

Changing the Sort order in Explorer

Submitted 8/29/95

To change the sort order of the right window of MS Explorer

simply double click on the Name button underneath the toolbarto change the sort order from ascending to descending, a single

click after that will toggle. The same works for Size, Type and Date Modified.

Submitted by Timothy [email protected]

Using the Explorer's SEND TO Feature

When you right click on a file, SEND TO is one of the options.

To add other directories or programs, simply drag them to the SEND TO folder that is

directly under the directory where you installed Win95.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


10/10

This will allow you to quickly move files to commonly used areas.

For example, you can SEND TO applications like WinZip.

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