First off, yes, I know about Tools > Folder Options > General: Open each folder in same window

But, that is not the problem. I was in the file types section (under folder options), and I wanted to see if modifying the icon for the two folder entries would change the icons for all the folders in xp, it didnt work, but after changing and reverting the icon it somehow changed to opening a command line of the folder for each folder I open in explorer (I had a modification so there was an option to open folder in command line, but it was not default, so it became the default somehow). So to fix that I noticed there was no explore option, so I added my own with the command explorer.exe. Now when I open a folder from explorer it opens in a new window. I cant figure out how to edit that explore.exe because it is grayed out.

I would imagine there is some method in the registry to fix this but I am not aware of such a method. I would imagine this would be a pretty simplistic problem but the search terms for something like this are so ambiguous that I have not found anything about it yet.

How to backup the Windows XP Registry?

After backup check this key:

Locate and then click the Default value under the following key in the registry if this problem occurs with folders:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell

Click Modify on the Edit menu.

Type none in the Value data box, and then click OK.

Quit Registry Editor.

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Altering system files; & or modifying the registry can be risky and D-A-L.com and its members cannot accept liability for any adverse effects caused by following advice freely given on this site.

hah, okay. It worked... kind of. When I open a folder with the lefthand folder list off then the folder will open in the same window. But! If I have the folder list on then it opens a new window defaulted with the folder list off.

I am going to make the assumption that there is another registry key in that list that controls the other folder type, which would be with your folder list open. Suggesting each one uses a different form of exploror module. And that explains why there are two folder entities on the file types list. Is this right?

Edit: It seems so, aha. I fixed it using my own logic, it isnt \Directory\Shell but \Folder\Shell that I needed.

The none value actually runs the first alphabetical option in shell, so I removed the other ones that were causing conflict, and set the default to none so it defaulted right to explore. Excellent.
(of course insread of deleting those other things, I could have set the default value to explore)

Thank you!


(Thank you for the speedy response by the way)

Glad you got it fixed. Thank you for the update and added info. This will add to the search base for others. Thanks for your logic and passing it on!