# How do I change Windows Explorer default? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 6, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616 "2002-08-06T15:17:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/1 "2002-08-06T15:17:57Z")
I’m running Win98 2nd edition and when I open Windows Explorer, it defaults to “C:\Windows\Start Menu” and I have to scroll up and click on the “-” sign so I can see all my drives listed. How can I change the default so that when I open Explorer, the C: drive is listed just like everyother drive. Bascially I want it to default to “my computer”. Thanks, Van ---
**Author:** ![bobwass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bobwass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobwass)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/2 "2002-08-06T15:23:45Z")
right click on explorer icon go to properties insert on target line: C:\WINNT\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,c:\ that’ll do 'er ---
**Author:** ![bobwass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bobwass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobwass)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/3 "2002-08-06T15:27:23Z")
whoops, for win 98 C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,c:\ ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/4 "2002-08-06T15:31:02Z")
Thanks, but that will default to the C: drive but it will also expand the C: drive. I would like all the drives to not be expanded when explorer is opened. ---
**Author:** ![bobwass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bobwass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobwass)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/5 "2002-08-06T15:35:18Z")
leave out the c:\ argument C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e, ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/6 "2002-08-06T15:36:30Z")
Try c:\windows\explorer.exe \*\*/n, /e, /select, c:\ \*\* ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/7 "2002-08-06T15:43:00Z")
JuanitaTech You Rock!!! THanks ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/8 "2002-08-06T15:46:19Z")
How rude of me… Bobwass, I really appreciated your advice too. Thanks. But simply leaving out the C: argument didnt work. Thanks again to the both of you. ---
**Author:** ![bobwass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bobwass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobwass)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/9 "2002-08-06T16:15:43Z")
no problem, anyone have the list of command line arguments for explorer.exe? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/10 "2002-08-06T16:30:09Z")
bob, here are the explorer.exe switches I use regularly: **/e** uses the two-paned windows explorer folder view **/n** opens it in a new window **select,** (followed by path or drive) tells explorer what dirctory to open **/root** (followed by server name expressed as \servername) to display the root of a server This, of course, is a very simplified list of explorer.exe switches and their uses. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/11 "2002-08-06T16:33:36Z")
Whoops, **/** should have preceded **select**. ---
**Author:** ![VanLandry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/eb9ed0/32.png) [@VanLandry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VanLandry)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/12 "2002-08-07T17:59:00Z")
A follow-up if you dont mind. I changed the target path and it works great as long as I use the windows explorer shortcut. However, I usually open explorer by right clicking on the start button and then left clicking on “explore” and this still defaults to “C:\windows\Start Menu”. I’ve looked for another possible shortcut but cannot seem to locate it. Will this have to changed in the registry? Thanks again, Van ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2002, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-windows-explorer-default/122616/13 "2002-08-07T20:41:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by bobwass \* > \*\*no problem, anyone have the list of > command line arguments for explorer.exe? \*\* [Here is one list](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q130510) but I swear I have more complete list from Microsoft at home somewhere. I’ll see if I can dig it up and post the link.