Lately, when I open control panel or recycle bin, the Folders explorer
bar is always shown. This is my preferred view for Explorer and My
Computer, but not the above. This just started a few weeks ago. I
think there is a registry tweak for this, but I don't know what it is or
what caused the change.

Is there an easy fix for this?
Windows XP Home SP2

Thanks,
Mike

If the default action for folders is 'explore' instead of 'open' (check this under 'Folder
Options' -> 'File Types' tab -> 'Folder' -> 'Advanced'), all folders, including special folders such
as Control Panel, will open with the folder pane displayed. You can override this default action
for special folders by adding an 'Open' command under the CLSID key for the special folder in the
registry.

For Control Panel:

Copy the text found between the lines below (Watch out for line wrap!)

Paste into notepad and save as a .reg file

Merge the .reg file.

---------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell]
@="Open"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\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\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec]
@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"


-----------------------------------------------------------
You can change the default for other special folders by replacing the control panel CLSID
({21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}) with the CLSID for the folder you want to change. Here's a
list I obtained from David Candy:


Name CLSID
Control Panel {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
Printer {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
Recycle Bin {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
Network Neighborhood or
My Network Places {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Dial-Up Networking {992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
My Computer {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
Desktop {00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Shortcut {00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
Shell Favorite Folder {1A9BA3A0-143A-11CF-8350-444553540000}
The Internet {3DC7A020-0ACD-11CF-A9BB-00AA004AE837}
My Documents {450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}
Internet Cache Folder {7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
Internet Explorer {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
Internet Explorer {FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
ActiveX Cache Folder {88C6C381-2E85-11D0-94DE-444553540000}
Scheduled Tasks {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
Subscription Folder {F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957}
Url History Folder {FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
Briefcase {85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
Inbox {00020D76-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
IE5
Web Folders {BDEADF00-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}
Visual Studio 6
Registered Active X {6B19FEC2-A45B-11CF-9045-00A0C9039735}
Developer Studio Components {D545EBD1-BD92-11CF-8772-00A0C9039735


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]


"michaeljnc" <michaeljnc@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:uoUUsBuLHHA.5000@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Lately, when I open control panel or recycle bin, the Folders explorer bar is always shown. This
> is my preferred view for Explorer and My Computer, but not the above. This just started a few
> weeks ago. I think there is a registry tweak for this, but I don't know what it is or what caused
> the change.
>
> Is there an easy fix for this?
> Windows XP Home SP2
>
> Thanks,
> Mike

Hi Keith. That's excellent. The Folder Options technique is quick,
easy and it works.

The .reg file merge did not work.
Error message:
The file is not a registry script. Can only import binary registry
files from within the registry editor.

Don't know what happened. I have done one or two .reg file merges with
smaller files in the same manner that worked OK. I tried the merge from
Explorer and from within Regedit.

However, the folder options fix took care of the primary issue.
Thanks for the help!
Mike

Keith Miller MVP wrote:
> If the default action for folders is 'explore' instead of 'open' (check
> this under 'Folder Options' -> 'File Types' tab -> 'Folder' ->
> 'Advanced'), all folders, including special folders such as Control
> Panel, will open with the folder pane displayed. You can override this
> default action for special folders by adding an 'Open' command under the
> CLSID key for the special folder in the registry.
>
> For Control Panel:
>
> Copy the text found between the lines below (Watch out for line wrap!)
>
> Paste into notepad and save as a .reg file
>
> Merge the .reg file.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------- Windows
> Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell]
> @="Open"
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open]
> "BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010
> "ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012
> @=""
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\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\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec]
>
> @="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
> "NoActivateHandler"=""
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\application]
>
> @="Folders"
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\ifexec]
>
> @="[]"
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\topic]
>
> @="AppProperties"
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> You can change the default for other special folders by replacing the
> control panel CLSID ({21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}) with the
> CLSID for the folder you want to change. Here's a list I obtained from
> David Candy:
>
>
> Name CLSID
> Control Panel {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
> Printer {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
> Recycle Bin {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
> Network Neighborhood or
> My Network Places {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
> Dial-Up Networking {992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
> My Computer {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
> Desktop {00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
> Shortcut {00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
> Shell Favorite Folder {1A9BA3A0-143A-11CF-8350-444553540000}
> The Internet {3DC7A020-0ACD-11CF-A9BB-00AA004AE837}
> My Documents {450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}
> Internet Cache Folder {7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
> Internet Explorer {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
> Internet Explorer {FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
> ActiveX Cache Folder {88C6C381-2E85-11D0-94DE-444553540000}
> Scheduled Tasks {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
> Subscription Folder {F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957}
> Url History Folder {FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
> Briefcase {85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
> Inbox {00020D76-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
> IE5
> Web Folders {BDEADF00-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}
> Visual Studio 6
> Registered Active X {6B19FEC2-A45B-11CF-9045-00A0C9039735}
> Developer Studio Components {D545EBD1-BD92-11CF-8772-00A0C9039735
>
>

You're welcome.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]


"michaeljnc" <michaeljnc@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:%23QsDjKEMHHA.3424@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Hi Keith. That's excellent. The Folder Options technique is quick, easy and it works.
>
> The .reg file merge did not work.
> Error message:
> The file is not a registry script. Can only import binary registry files from within the registry
> editor.
>
> Don't know what happened. I have done one or two .reg file merges with smaller files in the same
> manner that worked OK. I tried the merge from Explorer and from within Regedit.
>
> However, the folder options fix took care of the primary issue.
> Thanks for the help!
> Mike
>
> Keith Miller MVP wrote:
>> If the default action for folders is 'explore' instead of 'open' (check this under 'Folder
>> Options' -> 'File Types' tab -> 'Folder' -> 'Advanced'), all folders, including special folders
>> such as Control Panel, will open with the folder pane displayed. You can override this default
>> action for special folders by adding an 'Open' command under the CLSID key for the special folder
>> in the registry.
>>
>> For Control Panel:
>>
>> Copy the text found between the lines below (Watch out for line wrap!)
>>
>> Paste into notepad and save as a .reg file
>>
>> Merge the .reg file.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------- Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell]
>> @="Open"
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open]
>> "BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010
>> "ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012
>> @=""
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\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\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec]
>> @="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
>> "NoActivateHandler"=""
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\application]
>> @="Folders"
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\ifexec] @="[]"
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\shell\Open\ddeexec\topic]
>> @="AppProperties"
>>
>>
>> -----------------------------------------------------------
>> You can change the default for other special folders by replacing the control panel CLSID
>> ({21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}) with the CLSID for the folder you want to change.
>> Here's a list I obtained from David Candy:
>>
>>
>> Name CLSID
>> Control Panel {21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}
>> Printer {2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}
>> Recycle Bin {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
>> Network Neighborhood or
>> My Network Places {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
>> Dial-Up Networking {992CFFA0-F557-101A-88EC-00DD010CCC48}
>> My Computer {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
>> Desktop {00021400-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
>> Shortcut {00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
>> Shell Favorite Folder {1A9BA3A0-143A-11CF-8350-444553540000}
>> The Internet {3DC7A020-0ACD-11CF-A9BB-00AA004AE837}
>> My Documents {450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}
>> Internet Cache Folder {7BD29E00-76C1-11CF-9DD0-00A0C9034933}
>> Internet Explorer {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
>> Internet Explorer {FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
>> ActiveX Cache Folder {88C6C381-2E85-11D0-94DE-444553540000}
>> Scheduled Tasks {D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
>> Subscription Folder {F5175861-2688-11d0-9C5E-00AA00A45957}
>> Url History Folder {FF393560-C2A7-11CF-BFF4-444553540000}
>> Briefcase {85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}
>> Inbox {00020D76-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
>> IE5
>> Web Folders {BDEADF00-C265-11D0-BCED-00A0C90AB50F}
>> Visual Studio 6
>> Registered Active X {6B19FEC2-A45B-11CF-9045-00A0C9039735}
>> Developer Studio Components {D545EBD1-BD92-11CF-8772-00A0C9039735
>>