Teach you Windows Explorer Command Line Parameters

You can use the following parameters in the Explorer.exe command.

Parameters Result

/n Opens a new single pane window for the default selection.

The default selection is usually the root of the drive where Windows is installed.

/e Start Windows Explorer with the default view.

/e, "object" Use the default view to launch Windows Explorer and focus on the specified folder.

/root, "object" Opens a window view of the specified object.

/select, "object" Opens a window view with the specified folder, file, or

program selected.

Running Windows Explorer from a command prompt

To run Windows Explorer from a command prompt: 1. Click Start, and then click Run.

2. In the Open box, type Explorer and then click OK.

Example The following example illustrates the use of Windows Explorer parameters. • Explorer /n

This command opens a resource manager window with default settings. The content displayed is usually the root of the drive where Windows is installed.

? Explorer /e

This command starts Windows Explorer with the default view.

? Explorer /e,C:\\Windows

This command starts Windows Explorer with the default view and focuses on C:\\Windows.

? Explorer /root, C:\\Windows\\Cursors

This command starts Windows Explorer and focuses on the C:\\Windows\\Cursors folder. This example uses C:\\Windows\\Cursors as the "root" directory for the Windows Resource Manager

processor.

Note: Please note the comma after the “/root” parameter in the command.

? Explorer /select, C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\banana.ani

This command starts Windows Explorer and selects “C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\banana.ani” file.

Note: Please note the comma after the “/select” parameter in the command.

Windows Explorer parameters can be combined in one command. The following example shows a combination of Windows Explorer command line arguments. Explorer /root,

\\\\server\\share, select, Program.exe

This command starts Windows Explorer with remote sharing as the "root" folder, and Program The .exe file will be selected.

Changing the Windows Explorer default startup folder

To change the default startup folder for Windows Explorer:

1. Click Start, point to All Program, point to the attachment, then right click on Windows Explorer.

2. On the menu that appears, click Properties.

3. In the “Target” box, append the “/root" command line argument to the “%SystemRoot%\\Explorer.exe” command and use the desired launch location. For example, if you want Windows Explorer to be located at the root of the C drive after startup, edit the command as:

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

4. Click OK.

With command line arguments, you can either customize the default view that Windows Explorer starts with, or specify the view that you see when you start from a command prompt.