does anyone know how to lock the folders in windows to keep the Tree view (the same view as clicking on the "folders" icon at the top of a window.) one of my computers has it and i cant figure out how to set it up on the others. i looked in the folder options and there is nothing in there...

Thanks in advance for any replies!

This should do it, but let us know if not...

In an explorer window:
1. Click the 'folders' icon that you mentioned (plus any other options) to get the desired layout.
2. Click Tools->'Folder Options...'
3. Click the 'View' tab.
4. Click the 'Apply to All Folders' button.

This worked for me for keeping a 'Details' view for all folders.

Good guess... but that didn't work for me

OK, I'll try a guess:


On the system that works the way that you like:

Right-click on the icon that you use to launch Windows Explorer.

Click "properties"

Write down the stuff in the "Target:" box and the "Start in:" box.

Do the same for the other system.

What are they? Are they the same? Does all of the "Properties" stuff look the same on both systems?

Regards,

Dave

1. Right click on the icon you use to launch Windows Explorer or My Documents
2. On the Shortcut tab, set the target to: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe
3. In the "Start in" box enter: %HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

This should do it.

Tramacciotti: It is already set to that.. but it still doesnt work if i like click on a folder from the desktop.

Davekw7x: There the same.

In Windows XP, try the following:

1. Open Windows Explorer
   
2. From the Tools menu, select "Folder Options"
   
3. Click on the "File Types" tab.
   
4. Scroll down until the "[NONE] Folder" item is highlighted.
   
5. Click "Advanced"
   
6. In the "Edit File Type" box, Highlight "explore" in the "Actions" window.
   
7. Click "Set Default"
   
8. Click OK.
   
9. Close "Folder Options"

Regards,

Dave

"One of the great things about Microsoft Windows is the intuitive user interface."
---Guess Who (Hyping the imminent release of Windows 3.0 in the Spring of 1990.)

"Nineteen years ago, and it seems like yesterday. Where does the time go?
--davekw7x

Thanks Dave that did it!
its amazing how well things can be hidden.. and that is the sort of thing that i will never forget now.
Thanks again!

Ok then, this might be a two step thing:

in the explorer window:
1. click view->'Explorer Bar' -- ensure that 'Folders' is checked.
(this is the same option as clicking the Folders button)

2. click view->Toolbars -- ensure that 'Lock the Toolbars' is checked.

EDIT:
I see that Dave had an alternative solution.

My experience is that when you check the Explorer Bar->Folders item, the result is that when open Windows Explorer by clicking its icon on the Start menu or the quicklaunch toolbar, it will make Windows Explorer open with the Folders pane, OK, but it doesn't affect the way that Windows Explorer opens when you just double-click on a folder (or a shortcut to a folder), which is what I perceive the Original Poster is trying to change.

Here's a test, after doing all the other stuff in this thread, try the following:

Right click on a folder (Desktop or anywhere else). Then click "open". Try it again, but click "explore". On my system the "open" thingie does not have the "Folders" pane open, but the "explore" thingie does.

Now, go back and right click on the folder again. Is the top item "open" or "explore"? On my system, the default is the top selection and is in a boldface font. I believe that when I installed Windows, it set the default to "open". Follow the steps in my previous post to set the default to "explore". Since I usually almost always never double-click folders, the effects are irrelevant to me, but to some people it's important.

To me, knowing such things (and figuring out how to change them) is about as intuitive as knowing that you have to click the "Start" button to get to a place where you can gracefully shut down the system.

If none of this helps, well, I'm sorry. That's just about the end of my in-depth interest (not to say knowledge) of Microsoft Windows and its quirks.


Oh, well, we all have our little quirks, right?


Regards,

Dave