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How to change default folder for File Explorer?

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like2edit

Technical User
May 8, 2003
62
US
I have Windows XP. How do I change the default folder location used by Windows File Explorer (Explorer.exe) when it first opens? I seem to recall this was a registry setting, but I'm not sure.
 
Where are you opening it from?

If you are opening it form say a shortcut in the Start Menu, right click the short cut.

In the target box, add the location you wish explorer to start in such as C:\ between quotes. Next time you open it it will start there:

Code:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe [red]"C:\"[/red]


----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
 
great- thanks for the help.

A follow-up question on a related topic- in file Explorer how do I get the folders pane to open every time I open Explorer, without having to click the Folders button in the toolbar? In other words, I want to see the folders in the left pane, and the contents of the folders in the right pane.
 
use the /e switch.

Code:
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe [red]"C:\"[/red][blue],/e[/blue]


----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.
 
that worked.

but I realized I don't want my default folder to be the C root. What entry do I use to get the default to be the My Computer view where I see all my drives?
 
never mind. I just took out the "C:\" (duh)
 
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