Directory trees in Windows Explorer

campingshadow · 04-18-2008, 07:49 PM

Currently when I open Windows Explorer.....my directory tree defaults to
Desktop
Shadow (PC name)
Documents
Public
Computer

With all directories expanded between Desktop and Public.

Since I save all my data on my D drive - I want the directory to collapse all above COMPUTER.......so all I would see on opening the tree would be

Desktop
Shadow
Public
Computer
Network
Control Panel
Recycle Bin with all directories collapsed

Can anyone tell me the switch to use and how I can set it in Vista Home Premium? It is most annoying to have to navigate the tree every time I open Explorer just to get to a file on the D drive. Thanks

**jcgriff2** · 04-19-2008, 03:16 AM

Hi campingshadow -

Welcome to the Tech Support Forum - Vista Support!

I'm not exactly sure what it is that you want to do. Could you explain a little more, please.

Here is a screen shot of the laptop that I am on right now - what is it that you see - or not - based on my screen shot:

.

Does your "Computer" selection look anything like mine?

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

campingshadow · 04-19-2008, 12:45 PM

I am sorry......I do not know how to do a screenshot to show you what I mean. If I go to START - COMPUTER.....my directory tree will look exactly as yours does.

However I use Windows Explorer and the directory tree there opens up differently. I want it to open as:

Desktop
Shadow
Public
Computer
Network
Control Panel
Recycle Bin

Then I can click on computer and select my D Drive. Instead it opens with
Desktop
Shadow

and then it expands to 23 more sub-directories such as Download Manager, App Data, Application Data, Bluetooth Software, Contacts - etc- one of which is Documents and THAT one is expanded to 11 more sub directories. (Add-in Express, Bluetooth Exchange Folder, My Diagrams, My Music - etc)

THEN it goes to the Public directory. I want all directories on the Shadow level to be collapsed so I do not see all the sub-directories.

Hopefully, I explained that well enough for you to get the idea. I sure appreciate the help. Years ago when I was working with 98, a co-worker showed me a simple switch that would allow the directory tree to open with all sub-directories under SHADOW to be collapsed.

I tried to type out the directory tree...but this software will not show the indentations to show the sub-directories. Frustrating.

**jcgriff2** · 04-19-2008, 01:03 PM

Hi. . .

Don't worry about the screen shot for now... I do have other methods to obtain the information that I would like to see. While I am getting that together, please reply to these questions:

Your hard drive is partitioned - drive c: and a drive d:?

Is the Vista Operating System (OS) on drive c: or drive d:?

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

**jcgriff2** · 04-19-2008, 05:59 PM

Hi again. . .

I'd like to get a look at the folders and sub-folders on your system. Hopefully this will help me.

There are a few "DOS" type commands that I need you to run. There are two ways that you can do this. The output from #1 and #2 below is identical. It is your choice.

1. Bring up an ELEVATED command prompt (START | type cmd.exe | right-click on cmd.exe up top | select Run as Administrator | answer the UAC prompt - Continue/enter Admin password)

Now... copy and paste the following into the "DOS" command prompt box - EXACTLY as it appears - (the first is for drive c: - the second for drive d:) -

dir c:\*. /a /o:g /s>d:\folders-c-041908.txt> d:\folders-c-041908.txt & start notepad d:\folders-c-041908.txt

dir d:\*. /a /o:g /s>d:\folders-d-041908.txt> d:\folders-d-041908.txt & start notepad d:\folders-d-041908.txt

If you have problems with the paste using ctrl-v, then right-click on the top of the "DOS" command prompt box then select "Edit" then select paste.

After each "dir" command (2 of them) a Notepad with the folder dump information will appear. Save each as a text file (txt).

2. Download the attached text file to your desktop and rename it from dumpfiles-bat.txt to dumpfiles.bat - then double-click on it and the Notepads (2 of them) with the folder dumps will appear in a few minutes. Save each as a text file (txt). (This method simply automates the task by using a batch (bat) file - sort of like an executable (exe) file would run).

Whichever method that you choose, the output files will be located in the root of drive d: - d:\folders-c-041908.txt and d:\folders-d-041908.txt . Please get them and send to me via email. I will send a PM to you. *** IMPORTANT - please place your screen name in the subject area and a link to this thread in the body of the email.

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

campingshadow · 04-22-2008, 09:11 PM

I sent you an email with my results. Please let me know if you did not get it or need more information.

Thanks.

campingshadow · 04-23-2008, 03:47 PM

Ok...I think I have the screen shots needed... please tell me if you can explain how to get my Windows Explorer directory to open with all directories collapsed (as in first image) instead of with some sub directories expanded (as in second image). Many many thanks, Shadow

**jcgriff2** · 04-23-2008, 09:11 PM

Hi again. . .

Thanks to the mail you sent and the great screen shot, I do understand what it is that you want to do. I didn't "get it" before because I have never used Windows Explorer (WE) - via the start search box, that is. I have always known - or thought I knew and assumed wrongly - that going into Computer was WE - and it is - but as you point out with the collapsing of the left side "tree".

What I have learned since getting your email and the dump data is that it seems to boil down to shortcuts - both that execute (invoke) the program c:\windows\explorer.exe - without any parameters in the command line itself. I have not (yet) found the reason that they open up differently except that WE opens to a users documents and Computer opens to the the "All Users" Desktop.

All of this leads me to believe that there is either a registry entry (if so it can probably be changed) or the information is contained in the shortcut itself which can't be modified (but possibly replaced).

I will keep looking.

jcgriff2

04-18-2008, 07:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
campingshadow Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waskom, TX Posts: 29 OS: XP	Directory trees in Windows Explorer Currently when I open Windows Explorer.....my directory tree defaults to Desktop Shadow (PC name) Documents Public Computer With all directories expanded between Desktop and Public. Since I save all my data on my D drive - I want the directory to collapse all above COMPUTER.......so all I would see on opening the tree would be Desktop Shadow Public Computer Network Control Panel Recycle Bin with all directories collapsed Can anyone tell me the switch to use and how I can set it in Vista Home Premium? It is most annoying to have to navigate the tree every time I open Explorer just to get to a file on the D drive. Thanks __________________ Shadow

04-19-2008, 03:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
jcgriff2 Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 5,375 OS: Vista SP1 x64, x86 / XP SP3 Pro, Media, Home / IBM TSO/ISPF My System	Re: Directory trees in Windows Explorer Hi campingshadow - Welcome to the Tech Support Forum - Vista Support! I'm not exactly sure what it is that you want to do. Could you explain a little more, please. Here is a screen shot of the laptop that I am on right now - what is it that you see - or not - based on my screen shot: . Does your "Computer" selection look anything like mine? Regards. . . jcgriff2 __________________ SysInternals Suite • BSOD Bugchecks • Media Fire • Belarc Advisor • MS TechNet • MS NTDE/CPR MSDN Err Cds • Everest Home v2.20 • CCleaner • Memtest86+ • MS Help & Support Live SysInternals AutoRuns • Auslogics Defrag • McAfee RT • Norton RT • Kaspersky RT • MS One Care RT• AVG8 If you were expecting a reply from me and I have not yet done so, please send me a PM with a link to your thread.

04-19-2008, 12:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
campingshadow Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waskom, TX Posts: 29 OS: XP	Re: Directory trees in Windows Explorer I am sorry......I do not know how to do a screenshot to show you what I mean. If I go to START - COMPUTER.....my directory tree will look exactly as yours does. However I use Windows Explorer and the directory tree there opens up differently. I want it to open as: Desktop Shadow Public Computer Network Control Panel Recycle Bin Then I can click on computer and select my D Drive. Instead it opens with Desktop Shadow and then it expands to 23 more sub-directories such as Download Manager, App Data, Application Data, Bluetooth Software, Contacts - etc- one of which is Documents and THAT one is expanded to 11 more sub directories. (Add-in Express, Bluetooth Exchange Folder, My Diagrams, My Music - etc) THEN it goes to the Public directory. I want all directories on the Shadow level to be collapsed so I do not see all the sub-directories. Hopefully, I explained that well enough for you to get the idea. I sure appreciate the help. Years ago when I was working with 98, a co-worker showed me a simple switch that would allow the directory tree to open with all sub-directories under SHADOW to be collapsed. I tried to type out the directory tree...but this software will not show the indentations to show the sub-directories. Frustrating. __________________ Shadow

04-19-2008, 01:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
jcgriff2 Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 5,375 OS: Vista SP1 x64, x86 / XP SP3 Pro, Media, Home / IBM TSO/ISPF My System	Re: Directory trees in Windows Explorer Hi. . . Don't worry about the screen shot for now... I do have other methods to obtain the information that I would like to see. While I am getting that together, please reply to these questions: Your hard drive is partitioned - drive c: and a drive d:? Is the Vista Operating System (OS) on drive c: or drive d:? Regards. . . jcgriff2 __________________ SysInternals Suite • BSOD Bugchecks • Media Fire • Belarc Advisor • MS TechNet • MS NTDE/CPR MSDN Err Cds • Everest Home v2.20 • CCleaner • Memtest86+ • MS Help & Support Live SysInternals AutoRuns • Auslogics Defrag • McAfee RT • Norton RT • Kaspersky RT • MS One Care RT• AVG8 If you were expecting a reply from me and I have not yet done so, please send me a PM with a link to your thread.

04-22-2008, 09:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
campingshadow Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waskom, TX Posts: 29 OS: XP	Re: Directory trees in Windows Explorer I sent you an email with my results. Please let me know if you did not get it or need more information. Thanks. __________________ Shadow

04-23-2008, 03:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
campingshadow Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waskom, TX Posts: 29 OS: XP	Re: Directory trees in Windows Explorer Ok...I think I have the screen shots needed... please tell me if you can explain how to get my Windows Explorer directory to open with all directories collapsed (as in first image) instead of with some sub directories expanded (as in second image). Many many thanks, Shadow __________________ Shadow

04-23-2008, 09:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
jcgriff2 Moderator, Microsoft Support Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 5,375 OS: Vista SP1 x64, x86 / XP SP3 Pro, Media, Home / IBM TSO/ISPF My System	Re: Directory trees in Windows Explorer Hi again. . . Thanks to the mail you sent and the great screen shot, I do understand what it is that you want to do. I didn't "get it" before because I have never used Windows Explorer (WE) - via the start search box, that is. I have always known - or thought I knew and assumed wrongly - that going into Computer was WE - and it is - but as you point out with the collapsing of the left side "tree". What I have learned since getting your email and the dump data is that it seems to boil down to shortcuts - both that execute (invoke) the program c:\windows\explorer.exe - without any parameters in the command line itself. I have not (yet) found the reason that they open up differently except that WE opens to a users documents and Computer opens to the the "All Users" Desktop. All of this leads me to believe that there is either a registry entry (if so it can probably be changed) or the information is contained in the shortcut itself which can't be modified (but possibly replaced). I will keep looking. jcgriff2 __________________ SysInternals Suite • BSOD Bugchecks • Media Fire • Belarc Advisor • MS TechNet • MS NTDE/CPR MSDN Err Cds • Everest Home v2.20 • CCleaner • Memtest86+ • MS Help & Support Live SysInternals AutoRuns • Auslogics Defrag • McAfee RT • Norton RT • Kaspersky RT • MS One Care RT• AVG8 If you were expecting a reply from me and I have not yet done so, please send me a PM with a link to your thread.