Microsoft KB Archive/307856

= How To Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP =

Article ID: 307856

Article Last Modified on 7/14/2004

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition

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This article was previously published under Q307856



IN THIS TASK
SUMMARY More Information Run Windows Explorer from a Command Prompt
 * Examples

Change the Windows Explorer Default Startup Folder



SUMMARY
This step-by-step article describes how to use the Windows Explorer command-line switches in Windows XP.

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More Information
You can use the command-line switches either to customize the default view that Windows Explorer uses when it starts, or to specify the view when you start Windows Explorer from a command prompt.

You can use the following switches with the Explorer.exe command.

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Run Windows Explorer from a Command Prompt
To run Windows Explorer from a command prompt:
 * 1) Click Start, and then click Run.
 * 2) In the Open box, type Explorer, and then click OK.

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Examples
The following examples describe the use of Windows Explorer switches.
 * Explorer /n

This command opens an Explorer window using the default setting. This is usually the root of the drive on which Windows is installed.
 * Explorer /e

This command starts Windows Explorer using the default view.
 * Explorer /e,C:\Windows

This command starts Windows Explorer using the default view, with the focus on C:\Windows.
 * Explorer /root, C:\Windows\Cursors

This command starts Windows Explorer at the C:\Windows\Cursors folder. This example uses C:\Windows\Cursors as the &quot;root&quot; directory for Windows Explorer.

NOTE: Note the comma after the &quot;/root&quot; switch in the command.
 * Explorer /select, C:\Windows\Cursors\banana.ani

This command starts Windows Explorer with the &quot;C:\Windows\Cursors\banana.ani&quot; file selected.

NOTE: Note the comma after the &quot;/select&quot; switch in the command.

The Windows Explorer switches can be combined in a single command. The following example shows the combination of the Windows Explorer command-line switches.
 * Explorer /root, \\server\share, select, Program.exe

This command starts Windows Explorer using the remote share as its &quot;root&quot; folder, along with the Program.exe file selected.

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Change the Windows Explorer Default Startup Folder
To change the default startup folder for Windows Explorer:  Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then right-click Windows Explorer. On the menu that appears, click Properties. In the Target box, append the &quot;/root&quot; command-line switch to the &quot;%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe&quot; command, using the startup location that you want. For example, if you want Windows Explorer to start at the root of drive C, edit the command to the following:

%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /root, C:\

 Click OK.

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Additional query words: explorer view default change

Keywords: kbhowtomaster kbenv KB307856

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