Fix Open each folder in the same window "bug"

[safeguy]

I faced this stupid problem minutes ago...I installed ShellLess Lite and when I uninstalled it, I faced a 'bug'...

Whenever I click on a folder in Windows Explorer, it opens up in a new window...and so the 1st thing I did was to go to Tools>Folder Options>General tab. I chose "Select the Open each folder in the same window option" and click OK....

But then, surprisingly that didn't fix it...folders still open up in a new window and I was annoyed...went Googling and finally found a working solution (lucky me)

Solution:

1. Open Notepad
2. Copy and paste the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000022
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000021

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
  65,00,20,00,2f,00,65,00,2c,00,2f,00,69,00,64,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2c,\
  00,25,00,49,00,2c,00,25,00,4c,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]
@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
  65,00,20,00,2f,00,69,00,64,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2c,00,25,00,49,00,2c,\
  00,25,00,4c,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\explore]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell]
@="none"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
@="none"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]
@=-

3. Save the file as FixFolders.reg
4. Run the registry key and merge it to the registry...

And that's it...things should be back to normal...phew

P.S. It would be nice to have this 'fix' added to Re-Enable app by Tangomouse...

[Amature Programmer]

Thanks for the info Safeguy very helpful to some users.

[noaccount]

so system restore didn't solve your problem? that's why a lot of us consider it unreliable...

[bonishah88]

or you could try double clicking on the folder while holding down the ctrl key.

that also works when you want to open a folder in a new window.

[hellnoire]

or you could try double clicking on the folder while holding down the ctrl key.

that also works when you want to open a folder in a new window.

No, he's trying NOT to do it.

Sorry to hear ShellLess Lite wasn't to your liking.

[KaYaN]

Very helpful info safeguy. I should keep this method if I face the problem..

[Swarup]

hi Safeguy your Solution is useful

[bonishah88]

@ hellnoire : ctrl is actually the "opposite" key. I mean if you have set to open the folder in new window(thru folder options) and you hold down ctrl while double-clicking, it will do opposite of your settings and open the folder in same window. and same for setting to open folders in same window.

[safeguy]

@bonishah88

Thanks for reminding me about the 'ctrl' thing...but man, I wouldn't want to keep on clicking 'ctrl' whenever I want to open a folder lol

[hellnoire]

It is? Never knew that... that explains why Control-Space is pre-mapped on Windows? LOL I dunno.