Windows Explorer displays "Folder's List" in all windows - how to remove this?

I recently must have changed or tweaked a setting for XP's Explorer,
and I can't seem to correct it.

The problem is that when exploring and navigating through my folders via My Computer (aka Windows Explorer, I suppose?), I now have the Folder's List on the left side of the window (the entire list of folders with the hierachy
and the "+" and "-" signs).

I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE DISPLAYED AT ALL.

The way I used to have it, and what I am trying to get back too, was that
the Common Tasks were displayed on the left instead of the folders list.

I can't seem to correct this though? I have my folder options set up so that
Windows XP is using the "new" XP style of folder viewing, so it's set to show
the common tasks. I have the "show simple file view in Windows folder list "
unchecked (not surewhat this means, but I don't want to have anything to do
with Folders List). I have the options set to open folders in the same
window, but if I close the folders list and try to open a folder, it just
pops a new window with the folders list on the left side yet again.
Basically, if the folders list isn't up now, it won't open folders within the
same window.

I've been trying everything but no luck. I've looked at the folder options
many times, and no change in settings seems to take off the folders list
view. I've even set up my explorere window to look like I want it to, and
tried the "apply to all folders" button, but still...folders list on every
single window.

Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance.
Jonny

P.S. I recently installed TweakUI, which someone mentioned might be
overriding some setting in the folers options...? I checked, but couldn't
find anythign in TweakUI about the folder views/options....what do you guys
think?

 

is there no little x in the folder list??

if not, right click the toolbar, then click customize.
then add the folders icon to the 'current toolbar buttons' list, then click close
now simple press the folder button to show/hide the folder list.

 

No, no...there is an X to close the folders list pane. But that's the problem - that it (the folders list) is there in the first place and I have to close it.

I used to have it setup so no folder list showed up...just an explorer window that had the Common Tasks pane in the left, not the folder list.

And not to mention, when I close the folder list pane and attempt to open up a folder, it opens that folder in a NEW window with the folder's list pane BACK AGAIN!?! Despite my folder options set to "open folders within the same window," they won't do so UNLESS the folders list pane is open...


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I know this problem probably sounds pretty cut and dry, but I'm pretty positive it's not. To elaborate a bit... I think what messed everything up was when I was making changes to the "registered file types" in the folder options dialog. My original problem was that folders were opening new explorer windows with the "search companion" started in them. To fix this I had to reset a specific default value in the Registry Editor...

I think to fully resolve this folder list problem, I may need to reset something in the Reg. Editor too...just not sure what?

 

this definitely sounds like a regedit. explorer should not act that way.

did u back up your reg before you changed it?

first thing is use TweakUI to see if you can find any settings that may have been changed.

maybe soneone who knows more about the registry can help...

 

Jonny ...

I hate to seem dense, but what, exactly, do you mean by "Common Tasks" in Explorer's left pane? I use the Windows Classic display, rather than XP's Luna look, and I've never seen anything BUT the system tree (folders) in the left pane, except when doing a search.

The only setting I can find for common tasks is on the Folder Options General tab. The top item allows you to select "Show common tasks in folders ", but selecting it doesn't seem to change the presentation in Explorer. It may be necessary to log off and back on for this setting to take effect. I'll do so after I post this, then come back and add what (if anything) changed.

Addendum ...

I don't see any change at all in the display in Explorer's left pane. Everything looks (and behaves) exactly as it did before I changed the setting in Folder Options.

I just checked Microsoft's website, though, and I think you might find some help at some of the links on this page. In any event, please post back and let us know if the information at any of the MS links solved your problem.​

 

Scroll almost all the way down to the bottom of this page and check out some of the fixes Kellys site has to offer. If you do not find relief here let me know. If you do find your fix please remember to share it.

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_f.htm

Any additional advice I would give you is to close all open windows. Using "control panels" icon for "folder options ": After clicking the general tab I would reset to default. Then clicking the view tab I would "reset all folders" apply and okaying my way out. I'd I then open "My Computer ", open c drive, set the view the way I prefer then via the menubar>Tools>Folder options>View> "apply to all folders "...once again applying and okaying my way out. From then on I may have to reset a few folders to the view I prefer but if it got rid of what you are now frustratingly dealing with, you'd be ahead of the game.

 

Jonny123

Right click on MY Computer and see if "Open" or "Explore" is the default (Bold and listed first).

I have a feeling that Explore is the default which gives you the folder pane on the left when you click My Computer.

If so, go to control panel>folder options>File Types Tab and highlight "Folder" then click advanced then click on "open" and "set default" button and ok out.

 

Problem solved everyone!!

Thank you all for your immediate help and suggestions...it's greatly appreciated.

To elaborate on the solution a bit...

It appears that Gasolene annd BMoore were the closest to hitting the nail on the head. The problem was exactly as BMoore described...the default action for folders was set to "explore," which was causing every explorer window to display the folder's list. Hence, when I closed the folders list and tried to open up a specific folder, it would default to "explore" again and simply open a new explorer window with the folders list displayed.

To fix this, all I had to do was exactly as BMoore described (thanks dude!)...just change the default action in the File Types tab of the folder options. So in turn, I think this setting was more related to the Registry Editor settings than the general folders options settings...the default action in the RegEdit (or File Types tab) was overriding the general viewing settings.

Again, thanks everyone for your help. I think I've found a new home for resolving my future Windows problems/annoyances.

 

Wow, I learned a little with Bmoore's post as well, perhapse he can help with my nit-picky little problem that is very similar. When I click My Documents it opens as Tiles instead of Icons. As per someones instructions in another thred here I changed the "view" from folder options opened from Control Panel instead of in a folder and clicked apply to all folders and it stayed. Now when I open the folders they show the Icons view instead of tiles view. However, when I goto the My Music sub folder I want the view to be list because there are hundreds of files. When I right click and change the view to List from Icons then back out, when I go back into the sub folder the view has returned to Incons. Now it seems MY stinking machine is the only one that does that. I am cleaning malware from my step sisters machine and all the XP machines at work all retain the view you set it to. So if I go into My documants, then into My Music, then into New and set the view in New to List instead of Icons, back all the way out to C:\ root and go back in, the one folder that I changed my documents\my music\new retains the veiw as List instead of defaulting back to Icons. Why won't my machine do that? And I have looked in Folder Options "Remember each folder's view settings" is checked. It still will not do it. I must have a registry problem. GAHH!!!

 

Well, I reinstalled Windows in about October so it shouldn't be that high yet, but I am ready to try anything. I shall return after I perform said experiment