Vista - Windows Explorer: folder shortcut, can't navigate up the folder tree

When I create a folder shortcut on my desktop, open the folder and navigate
up the folder tree, it takes me to C:\Users\Bill\Desktop instead up the
actual path the folder is on. I would like to have the same behavior as XP
where going up the tree takes you up the actual path not the path of the
shortcut. Anyone know how to do this in Vista?

Bill

take a look see if there is a MY COMPUTER in the tree.
if so, click the > by it and then navigate the tree.



mikeyhsd@comcast.net



"Bill Fallon" <bill@fallonmarine.com> wrote in message news:O8raGGxaHHA.808@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
When I create a folder shortcut on my desktop, open the folder and navigate
up the folder tree, it takes me to C:\Users\Bill\Desktop instead up the
actual path the folder is on. I would like to have the same behavior as XP
where going up the tree takes you up the actual path not the path of the
shortcut. Anyone know how to do this in Vista?

Bill

Sure, there is a Computer node in the tree at the left but this entails
starting at the Computer node and drilling back down all the way through the
directory tree when all I want to do is go up one or two levels from where I
am, like I can in XP with the Up button. In Vista, they did away with the
Up botton: to go up one level, you click on the folder name in the bar at
the top of the Explorer window. But in may case, where my folder is a
sort-cut, the folder that is up one level is not in the bar at the top of
the window, instead the bar has C:\Users\Bill\Desktop.

Bill

"mikeyhsd" <mikeyhsd@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:O9QVHKyaHHA.960@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
take a look see if there is a MY COMPUTER in the tree.
if so, click the > by it and then navigate the tree.


mikeyhsd@comcast.net

"Bill Fallon" <bill@fallonmarine.com> wrote in message
news:O8raGGxaHHA.808@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
When I create a folder shortcut on my desktop, open the folder and navigate
up the folder tree, it takes me to C:\Users\Bill\Desktop instead up the
actual path the folder is on. I would like to have the same behavior as XP
where going up the tree takes you up the actual path not the path of the
shortcut. Anyone know how to do this in Vista?

Bill

yep that's the problem with the shortcut I guess.



mikeyhsd@comcast.net



"Bill Fallon" <bill@fallonmarine.com> wrote in message news:Orz8z$yaHHA.4180@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
Sure, there is a Computer node in the tree at the left but this entails
starting at the Computer node and drilling back down all the way through the
directory tree when all I want to do is go up one or two levels from where I
am, like I can in XP with the Up button. In Vista, they did away with the
Up botton: to go up one level, you click on the folder name in the bar at
the top of the Explorer window. But in may case, where my folder is a
sort-cut, the folder that is up one level is not in the bar at the top of
the window, instead the bar has C:\Users\Bill\Desktop.

Bill

"mikeyhsd" <mikeyhsd@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:O9QVHKyaHHA.960@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
take a look see if there is a MY COMPUTER in the tree.
if so, click the > by it and then navigate the tree.


mikeyhsd@comcast.net

"Bill Fallon" <bill@fallonmarine.com> wrote in message
news:O8raGGxaHHA.808@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
When I create a folder shortcut on my desktop, open the folder and navigate
up the folder tree, it takes me to C:\Users\Bill\Desktop instead up the
actual path the folder is on. I would like to have the same behavior as XP
where going up the tree takes you up the actual path not the path of the
shortcut. Anyone know how to do this in Vista?

Bill

I too would like to know how to get the actual path displayed in windows explorer, and not the path of the shortcut, as it used to work in windows before vista.

Solution.

* Windows Explorer in Windows Vista supports two types of shortcuts: A "folder shortcut" and the (old, standard) windows shortcut file, that explorer will act on.
* When navigating a folder shortcut, windows explorer will show the shortcuts path - not the target path.
* A windows shortcut file will cause explorer to move to the target location and display the target path.

* Both are (maybe depending on settings) displayed the same in the windows explorer. So,
* To check for type of shortcut, select the shortcut and choose properties (alt-enter).
* A folder shortcut has little info, two tabs in the properties dialogue. It is not at all like the properties dialog of a file.
* A windows shortcut file (like previous windows versions) has the same kind of properties dialogue as a file or folder. It has many tabs (5?).


* To create a folder shortcut by dragging,
drag folder and hold down ctrl and shift.
* To create a windows shortcut file by dragging,
drag folder and hold down alt.

Hope this helps someone.

/mawi

Source:
I got to the solution by reading this reply from a Keith Miller:

"You've got a Folder Shortcut rather than a Shortcut to a folder.

Folder Shortcuts are the OS equivalent of NTFS junction points, they create
a second path in the namespace to the folder. The advantage is that they
behave more like real folders -- they sort with folders & will cascade on a
toolbar.

[continues]"

Link to full post:

Explorer Shortcuts and Address Bar - Microsoft Windows Vista Community Forums - Vistaheads

Solution.

* Windows Explorer in Windows Vista supports two types of shortcuts: A "folder shortcut" and the (old, standard) windows shortcut file, that explorer will act on.
* When navigating a folder shortcut, windows explorer will show the shortcuts path - not the target path.
* A windows shortcut file will cause explorer to move to the target location and display the target path.

* Both are (maybe depending on settings) displayed the same in the windows explorer. So,
* To check for type of shortcut, select the shortcut and choose properties (alt-enter).
* A folder shortcut has little info, two tabs in the properties dialogue. It is not at all like the properties dialog of a file.
* A windows shortcut file (like previous windows versions) has the same kind of properties dialogue as a file or folder. It has many tabs (5?).


* To create a folder shortcut by dragging,
drag folder and hold down ctrl and shift.
* To create a windows shortcut file by dragging,
drag folder and hold down alt.

Hope this helps someone.

/mawi


Src:
I got to the solution by reading this reply from a Keith Miller:

"You've got a Folder Shortcut rather than a Shortcut to a folder.

Folder Shortcuts are the OS equivalent of NTFS junction points, they create
a second path in the namespace to the folder. The advantage is that they
behave more like real folders -- they sort with folders & will cascade on a
toolbar.

[continues]"

Link to full post:

Explorer Shortcuts and Address Bar - Microsoft Windows Vista Community Forums - Vistaheads