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How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Oldjim
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

As I have got totally cheeesed off with Libraries in Windows 7 I am looking for ways to get explorer to open in a specific folder.
This command line does it
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, D:\Downloads\KIS
but this one doesn't as it doesn't seem to like spaces in the folder path
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, D:\My Documents\Dorset Area Ramblers
8 REPLIES 8
HairyMcbiker
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Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Try the old trick of putting spaces round the folder name i.e, "This is my extreemly long folder name here, yes here and now" or in the shortcut/link use "%1" instead of %1.
dvorak
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Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Or use the first 6 letters then use  ~1.
[me=adiewoo]goes off to hunt tilde and a mac keyboard.[/me]
edit: found it...
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Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
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Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Sorry - neither of those work
HairyMcbiker
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Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Very surprised that the "" trick doesn't work. I have used it for years on M$ and *nix systems.
M$ re-invents the wheel again, and patents it  Wink
Oldjim
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Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Fixed - I used an old Explorer trick and right clicked on the folder while holding down the shift key then selected Copy as Path and it gave this result
"D:\Documents\Dorset Area Ramblers" and putting that in the command %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, "D:\Documents\Dorset Area Ramblers" worked.
Now to go away and edit the registry to get rid of libraries, homegroup etc.  Grin
Just realised - I don't need the quotation marks - Windows 7 uses the path D:\Documents to point to D:\My Documents  but under the drive section as opposed to the user section. Odd thing is that there is no folder D:\Documents  Crazy
Not applicable

Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

That copy path is there on individual files but not on the whole documents folder. All I want is my documents folder on the task bar instead of the Explorer one.
Am getting used to it though because it is akin to the Ubuntu home folder which I use on the Awn dock.
Oldjim
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Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Very easy.
Just do what I did and create a quick launch bar then you can do exactly what you want.
Also you can get a path using the system I described for any folder except for the the ones in the library which aren't true folders.
Of course the other way is to right click on the folder and drag it to the deak top then select create a shortcut and drag the shortcut onto the quick launch bar
This picture shows the quick launch bar on the left, the Windows 7 Taskbar on the right and the folder opened by clicking on the shortcut on the right of the quick launch bar - circled in red
Not applicable

Re: How to direct explorer to open in a specific folder in Windows 7

Got my Quick Launch toolbar back - hurrah!
Now have documents folder on it just like on Vista.
it's there, just disabled. Followed the guides on these:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-7/add-the-quick-launch-bar-to-the-taskbar-in-windows-7/
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/888-quick-launch-enable-disable.html