Command Line Pointers for Windows Explorer

October 11, 2006 · 1 min read

Here are some pointers on how to use Windows Explorer, in Microsoft Windows XP Professional from the Command Line.

To have C: open (No folders)

%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /root, C:\

To have My Computer

C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /n

To have C: open expanded - Examples

%windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c: %windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,f:\Limited Documents

To have C: open and My Documents

    %windir%\EXPLORER.EXE /e,c:,%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\My Documents

For it to open to My Documents:

explorer /n,/e,%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\My Documents or C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /n,/e,%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\My Documents

To have My Documents open only (No folders)

Explorer /root, c:\Documents and Settings\%username%\My Documents Explorer /root, c:,%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%\Kelly's Computer

If you wish to have Explorer open at My Documents on another drive, you would use:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, f:\My Documents

To have another Drive letter assigned to opening: D for example

C:\Windows\Explorer.exe /e, d:\

d:\ can be modified for any folder/sub-folder you like. As in:

%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /e,d:\My Stuff

The /e switch tells Windows Explorer to open in the two pane explorer mode and the c:\ tells it to open in folder C:\. If you omit the /e switch, Windows Explorer opens in a single pane view.

References and Other Links:

Original Microsoft Support Newsgroup Post

Command-Line Switches for Windows Explorer

Command Line Switches Examples for Windows Explorer http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#comline

Explorer.exe Command-Line Options for Windows XP  

Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP  

Have Windows Explorer Default to the %SystemRoot% Drive When Started: http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=257518 

HOW TO: Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP

This article is part of the GWB Archives. Original Author: Murray Gordon

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