Windows explorer is now a web page

Can someone please help me figure out why my windows explorer comes up as a web page, let me explain.... When i
right click on start, then hit explore, the menu doesn't come up on the side panel as normal, it shows up on the Address bar of an Internet explorer page. In the address drop down box, it shows all the drives and icons for, my computer, desktop, etc. Can anyone tell me how to fix it so it goes back to it's normal view.

 

Olga--What is it that you are expecting to see?
When I right click Start and then click Explore, I get something that looks very much like what you describe. But it is a Windows Explorer window, not an Internet Explorer window. The title bar (at the very top) says Exploring--Start Menu. The left pane has the vertical tree of all the directories/folders on my PC and the "Address Bar" drop down has the same tree.
Perhaps you are not getting the left panel? Click View|As Web Page.

 

when you in windows explorer you will see words at the top.
click on view. you will see item that mentions as web page.
if that is marked click on that to unmark it

 

windows explorer

Thank you Welshjim and Cindy, but as you put it, you have the tree and sub directories on the left panel. I don't, they are in the address bar. It's not being viewed as a web page, i have tried that already. It's a mystery to me. I would like to have the directories back in the left side panel. If anyone has anymore suggestions i would really appreciate it. Thanks

 

Olga--I may be misunderstanding. In Start|Explore, the left panel and the Address bar drop down offer the same list of directories. To get the left panel, you click View|as Web Page.
Do you have the left panel when you open other Windows Explorer windows and View| "as Web Page" is checked?
If yes, open any other Windows Explorer window where you have "as Web Page" checked, click View|Folder Options|View tab|click "Like Current Window "|Reboot.
P.S. At worst if other Windows Explore windows still offer the left panel, you are not missing much in Start|Explore as long as you can get to the directories from the Address bar.
P.P.S. If View| "as Web Page" does not work in any Explorer window, post back. That is a different problem.
P.P.P.S

throughout my comments, I have assumed you meant to say
"Can someone please help me figure out why my windows explorer does not come up as a web page." The web page view is the one with the left panel.

 

Maybe this will get you what you want. When you right click on the start button and choose explore, in the window that opens click view>explorer bar>folders.

 

This is normal for the Address Bar in Windows Explorer.

Zander has the instructions on how to get the Folders back on the left.

 

Still no luck on Windows Explorer - view

I have tried all your suggestions, and even Zander who said to make sure "folders" is checked in the explorer bar. It is and still nothing. The left panel is there but shaded in grey.

Just to add to the confusion, when i use interenet explorer, all my directories and folders show up in the address bar, mixed with the sites visited. That is not normal!

 

Olga--Another idea
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/win98/t1059282777
Did you tell us if all your Windows Explorer windows have the grayed-out left panel? Or is the problem only in the Start Menu window?
I have never heard of the new problem you mention with Internet Explorer's Address bar. So following are just wild-eyed guesses.
1) Maybe you should use the IE Repair Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;194177&
Or,
2) if you do not mind losing what is now in your IE Address bar list, right click on a blank spot in the Taskbar (very bottom of screen), click Properties|Start Menu Programs tab|Documents Menu|click Clear button.

 

windows explorer

Just wanted to let you guys know, that i fixed my problem. I ugraded from ie 5.5 to ie 6 and that restored all my settings. Thanks for all your help

 

Glad to here you got it fixed. I did some searching on this problem and it seems that the general consensus is that repairing IE seems to fix it. I suppose installing IE6 did the same thing.