Vista - Explorer.exe /Root Issue

I like to use the following EXPLORER.EXE command line to basically Explore
From Here on some folders:

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,"<SOME_FOLDER>"

In Vista this command does not work for all folders. More specifically any
folder on my desktop, like "C:\Users\esiemiat\Desktop\Test". When I try to
run this command from anywhere, including a CMD prompt, I recieve the
following error message:

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this
action. Create an association in the Set Associations Control Panel."

Why can I not Explore From Here on desktop sub folder? This used to work in
XP. If I remove the /ROOT switch, leaving just /E, everything works fine. Is
this a problem with EXPLORER.EXE when used with /ROOT?

Because %SystemRoot% is the windows directory.
Why are you staring from there?


--

Steve Easton



"esiemiat" <esiemiat@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:FD94DFAC-E5AB-4166-8759-894DA588BE2C@microsoft.com...
>I like to use the following EXPLORER.EXE command line to basically Explore
> From Here on some folders:
>
> %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,"<SOME_FOLDER>"
>
> In Vista this command does not work for all folders. More specifically any
> folder on my desktop, like "C:\Users\esiemiat\Desktop\Test". When I try to
> run this command from anywhere, including a CMD prompt, I recieve the
> following error message:
>
> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this
> action. Create an association in the Set Associations Control Panel."
>
> Why can I not Explore From Here on desktop sub folder? This used to work in
> XP. If I remove the /ROOT switch, leaving just /E, everything works fine. Is
> this a problem with EXPLORER.EXE when used with /ROOT?
>

The %SystemRoot% folder is part of the path to EXPLORER.EXE not to specify
which folder is behind expanded. The <SOME_FOLDER> indicator marks where I
place the path to the folder I wish to expand.

"Steve Easton" wrote:

> Because %SystemRoot% is the windows directory.
> Why are you staring from there?
>
>
> --
>
> Steve Easton
>
>
>
> "esiemiat" <esiemiat@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FD94DFAC-E5AB-4166-8759-894DA588BE2C@microsoft.com...
> >I like to use the following EXPLORER.EXE command line to basically Explore
> > From Here on some folders:
> >
> > %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,"<SOME_FOLDER>"
> >
> > In Vista this command does not work for all folders. More specifically any
> > folder on my desktop, like "C:\Users\esiemiat\Desktop\Test". When I try to
> > run this command from anywhere, including a CMD prompt, I recieve the
> > following error message:
> >
> > "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this
> > action. Create an association in the Set Associations Control Panel."
> >
> > Why can I not Explore From Here on desktop sub folder? This used to work in
> > XP. If I remove the /ROOT switch, leaving just /E, everything works fine. Is
> > this a problem with EXPLORER.EXE when used with /ROOT?
> >
>
>
>

Esiemiat

The /Root is the problem and I'm not sure why you would even use that in the
path to the folder?

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"esiemiat" <esiemiat@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E283DF14-32CF-407D-8F5F-EF2EFB0859FE@microsoft.com...
> The %SystemRoot% folder is part of the path to EXPLORER.EXE not to specify
> which folder is behind expanded. The <SOME_FOLDER> indicator marks where I
> place the path to the folder I wish to expand.
>
> "Steve Easton" wrote:
>
>> Because %SystemRoot% is the windows directory.
>> Why are you staring from there?
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> Steve Easton
>>
>>
>>
>> "esiemiat" <esiemiat@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:FD94DFAC-E5AB-4166-8759-894DA588BE2C@microsoft.com...
>> >I like to use the following EXPLORER.EXE command line to basically
>> >Explore
>> > From Here on some folders:
>> >
>> > %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e,/root,"<SOME_FOLDER>"
>> >
>> > In Vista this command does not work for all folders. More specifically
>> > any
>> > folder on my desktop, like "C:\Users\esiemiat\Desktop\Test". When I try
>> > to
>> > run this command from anywhere, including a CMD prompt, I recieve the
>> > following error message:
>> >
>> > "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing
>> > this
>> > action. Create an association in the Set Associations Control Panel."
>> >
>> > Why can I not Explore From Here on desktop sub folder? This used to
>> > work in
>> > XP. If I remove the /ROOT switch, leaving just /E, everything works
>> > fine. Is
>> > this a problem with EXPLORER.EXE when used with /ROOT?
>> >
>>
>>
>>

You are correct, as stated earlier removing the /ROOT switch fixes the
problem. However, this switch works for all other folders on the system and
is the "EXPLORE FROM HERE" functionality that worked in previous versions of
Windows for ALL folders. I am just curious why this functionality is broken,
and throws an error, for folders unders the USER folder, while it still works
for all other folders on the system.

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

Esiemiat

I can confirm what you are seeing with that /Root switch and the user
folders.

The only thing I can think of is that it must have something to do with the
changes that were made in Explorer.exe. Unless this was an intentional
change, it could be a bug.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"esiemiat" <esiemiat@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news7E7CD47-E26A-4492-A18B-93BA9D8E1C14@xxxxxx

Try the following (tested under Vista Ultimate 32bit, no SP)

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Explore from here]
@=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\Explore from here\command]
@="Explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i"

but I recommend to use because it does not display the context on folders where the command will fail (e.g. Desktop > My Computer)

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Explore.From.Here]
@="Explorer from here"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\Explore.From.Here\command]
@="Explorer.exe /e,/root,/idlist,%i"