warmbrain

If you open My Computer on the windows desktop, or take the agonizing route of Start .. Programs .. Accessories .. Windows Explorer, then Windows Explorer opens and automatically displays the left-hand folder tree-structure pane. It is very convenient for moving files around and provides a constant overview of your system file structure.

The problem though, is I rarely have my desktop visible to click on 'My Computer', and I proudly admit I have never made use of the three-menu, four-click start menu path to the Windows Explorer shortcut. I typically just use the run menu (Ctrl-ESC, R) and then type c:\<enter>. This of course, well known by all that regularly take this route, does not automatically display the Folders pane. No amount of digging through the Tools .. Options .. View Tab preferences will turn up anything either. I've tried. Read on for the solution.

1. Open a standard Explorer window. (Ctrl-ESC, R, "C:\<enter>")
2. Select Tools Menu .. Options .. File Types Tab
3. Scroll down to the Folder file type. It should be one of the top 10 entries with the extension (NONE).
4. Select the Folder item and click Advanced.
5. Select the explore option and click the Set Default button.
6. Click OK a few times and you are done.

Now give it a try. All of your folder views should open by default with the explorer look and feel, including the much anticipated Folders-pane.