Member Avatar for Strider

Double clicking folders to view the contents always results in a new window opening. This is very frustrating when trying to view a deep pathfile. I've already gone to Folder Options and made sure open each folder in same window is selected. I use to have ACD See installed, and this was around the time the problem started occuring. If anyone can help out or point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated.

  • 10 Contributors
  • 16 Replies
  • 514 Views
  • 4 Years Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by abu taher

Dani AI

Generated

A few diagnostic notes and a safe repair path that build on what’s already been tried by and others in this thread.

The symptom you described (double‑click always opens a new Explorer window even though Folder Options is set to “Open each folder in the same window”) is usually caused by a changed folder association in the registry — for example the default value under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell being changed to opennewwindow, a non‑zero LaunchExplorerFlags under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open, or a missing DelegateExecute value. Those registry entries override the Folder Options UI, which explains why creating a new user didn’t help in ’s case (system‑level change). See a concise explanation and examples. WinHelponline. (winhelponline.com)

Safe, reversible repair (backup first)

  1. Create a System Restore point and export the keys HKCR\Folder\shell and HKCR\Directory\shell from Regedit.
  2. Run an elevated Command Prompt and execute these commands (they reset the default actions back to the normal values):
reg delete "HKCR\Folder\shell" /ve /f
reg add "HKCR\Directory\shell" /ve /d none /f
reg delete "HKCR\Folder\shell\open" /v "LaunchExplorerFlags" /f
reg add "HKCR\Folder\shell\open\command" /v "DelegateExecute" /d "{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}" /f

After running them, log off and back on (or restart Explorer). These exact commands are the common fix documented in Windows troubleshooting guides. (winhelponline.com)

Other useful troubleshooting (from thread context)

  • The File Types > Folder advanced dialog can be used to make Explore or Open the default verb (this was suggested by ) — that sometimes works when the registry tweaks above are not present.
  • Uninstall or fully remove shell‑modifying programs (WindowBlinds/Stardock was mentioned by ) and test in a Clean Boot / Safe Mode; shell extensions from third‑party tools can add opennewwindow behavior.
  • Scan for malware/autorun.inf as suggested — malware can cause odd folder behavior. For the Directory\shell default = none tip see Microsoft community guidance. (learn.microsoft.com)

Cautions: always export the registry keys before changing them and avoid one‑click “registry cleaners” without a known good backup — they can make the problem worse (several posters ended up rebuilding). The commands above are widely used to restore normal behavior when Folder Options no longer takes effect. (winhelponline.com)

Recommended Answers

All 16 Replies

Member Avatar for gefflong

Double clicking folders to view the contents always results in a new window opening. This is very frustrating when trying to view a deep pathfile. I've already gone to Folder Options and made sure open each folder in same window is selected. I use to have ACD See installed, and this was around the time the problem started occuring. If anyone can help out or point me in the right direction, it would be greatly appreciated.

Well, first things first... I'm not trying to insult your intelligence in any way, but I've seen this happen before. After you check "open each folder in the same window" be sure you are clicking on "ok" or "apply". I've seen a few people keep clicking "cancel" after they make changes.

Again, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, I'm just taking the most common and easiest fix first. Then we can move on to other things.

Member Avatar for Strider

Well, first things first... I'm not trying to insult your intelligence in any way, but I've seen this happen before. After you check "open each folder in the same window" be sure you are clicking on "ok" or "apply". I've seen a few people keep clicking "cancel" after they make changes.

Again, I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, I'm just taking the most common and easiest fix first. Then we can move on to other things.

Haha...well honestly I know better than that. I've clicked apply/ok, even tried switching to open in new window setting then back to same window setting. Its gotta be something besides that specific option setting that is causing it. Regardless of which is selected, a new folder window always results. I'm usually pretty good at finding problems on my computer and fixing them, but this simple problem has me at a loss. Thanks for the help though, and I hope others on the board might have an idea. :confused:

Member Avatar for gefflong

Haha...well honestly I know better than that. I've clicked apply/ok, even tried switching to open in new window setting then back to same window setting. Its gotta be something besides that specific option setting that is causing it. Regardless of which is selected, a new folder window always results. I'm usually pretty good at finding problems on my computer and fixing them, but this simple problem has me at a loss. Thanks for the help though, and I hope others on the board might have an idea. :confused:

Try creating a new user on your computer, then making sure the settings are set to open the files in the same window on that account. Does that account do the same thing?

Member Avatar for gefflong

Haha...well honestly I know better than that. I've clicked apply/ok, even tried switching to open in new window setting then back to same window setting. Its gotta be something besides that specific option setting that is causing it. Regardless of which is selected, a new folder window always results. I'm usually pretty good at finding problems on my computer and fixing them, but this simple problem has me at a loss. Thanks for the help though, and I hope others on the board might have an idea. :confused:

oh, and make sure the new user has administrator rights. Also, are you using Windows XP or what?

Member Avatar for Strider

oh, and make sure the new user has administrator rights. Also, are you using Windows XP or what?

Nothing. I created a new user account with administrator access, checked folder options. The open folders in same window was selected, and everything still opened in a new window. I'm running with Windows XP Professional, SP 1 and 2 installed.

Member Avatar for caperjack

just a thought !when in folder options go to view and click on apply to all folders ,i know it for the view part but stranger things have happened !:)

Member Avatar for danielweible

I have the exact same problem. Running Windows XP with SP 1 and 2 installed. For me the problem started around the same time I tried installing the WindowBlinds Suite from Stardock Software. Which seems to me to be buggy as all hell. Can anybody say overkill... lets see if we can make 2000 programs to do the job of one, which will consistently conflict with one another, slow your PC to a crawl and severely piss you off... even after you uninstall it.

I am changing all the Folder options back to default (being extra special careful to click Apply when I do this). I try to reset the browse option to open in same window (also being extra special careful to click on Apply afterwards) but all to no avail. No matter what settings I change my folders always open in a new window. Vey, very annoying.

I have cleared all the Stardock software off my computer and even purchased a registry cleaner to try and get rid of whatever crap it's tried to leave behind after itself. Nothing seems to be working.

Any IT gurus with a bit of advice on this one would be EXTREMELY appreciated. Thanks for coming out.

Member Avatar for regisbe

I have the exact same problem. Running Windows XP with SP 1 and 2 installed. For me the problem started around the same time I tried installing the WindowBlinds Suite from Stardock Software. Which seems to me to be buggy as all hell. Can anybody say overkill... lets see if we can make 2000 programs to do the job of one, which will consistently conflict with one another, slow your PC to a crawl and severely piss you off... even after you uninstall it.

I am changing all the Folder options back to default (being extra special careful to click Apply when I do this). I try to reset the browse option to open in same window (also being extra special careful to click on Apply afterwards) but all to no avail. No matter what settings I change my folders always open in a new window. Vey, very annoying.

I have cleared all the Stardock software off my computer and even purchased a registry cleaner to try and get rid of whatever crap it's tried to leave behind after itself. Nothing seems to be working.

Any IT gurus with a bit of advice on this one would be EXTREMELY appreciated. Thanks for coming out.

Hi guys,

Please, check the script below. It works fine for me!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/settingssamewindow.reg

Regards.
Regis

:cheesy:

Member Avatar for danielweible

Hi guys,

Please, check the script below. It works fine for me!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/settingssamewindow.reg

Regards.
Regis

You're awesome. You're disco. And I wish you'd been about a week sooner. I really appreciate the response but I ended up doing a full reinstall. It wasn't only the windowing issue. I had other contributing factors. But I will definitly hold onto the reg file just in case something similar ever happens down the road.

Thanks Regis!:p

Member Avatar for jbennet

tools, folder options

Member Avatar for danielweible

tools, folder options

Did you read the entire thread? Or did you just assume I didn't try that? Either way is fine and I do appreicate the response/advice, but the issue was a btt more complicated than that. I had installed programs rewriting certain lines of the registry so that no matter what I did through folder options... even resetting to defult settings... nothing worked. I could check the box "open folders in same window" and click apply until I turned blue in the face and the folders would still open in seperate windows. Very annoying.

Member Avatar for Dalek

Hi,

I had exactly the same problem, but it turned out that the solution for me was to change the default action for file type Folder from open to explore. Now when I double click a folder it opens (or should I say it explores) in the same window. By right clicking and selecting open I can still open the folder in a new window if I want to.

Regards.

Member Avatar for alktab_23

i try it but !!!!!! no answer

Member Avatar for sakyant

i am sure that the regkey works for many good post Regisbie!
shame it doesn't work for me. obviously need to investigate my registry more in my case. I know how i screwed it up though... advanced tab of file types on the folder and file folder options. I added "open with leech ftp" and added explorer.exe to a command i called "open" and this overruled the automatic open command. must have a double entry in my registry somewhere, as the regkey from kelly's corner didnt work.

Member Avatar for sakyant

i try it but !!!!!! no answer

Or maybe we have to restart before it works??? shouldn't have to really no?

Member Avatar for abu taher

a virus occurred it. If you have latest anti virus then plz scan your pc with it. I think then solve your problem. cause I faced it before.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.