Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

May 7, 2008

Some of the folders have this odd behavior while others

are working normally.

If I attempt to open (right click/Open) or

double click, nothing happens. However, if I

right click/explore, it operates normally and the explore

window opens displaying the contents.

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

Dave

May 7, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

dave xnet <davexnet02DEL@ETEyahoo.com> wrote in

news:p3v12417boi890viht782bejbmhki7t1j9@4ax.com:

> Some of the folders have this odd behavior while others

> are working normally.

>

> If I attempt to open (right click/Open) or

> double click, nothing happens. However, if I

> right click/explore, it operates normally and the explore

> window opens displaying the contents.

>

> Any thoughts on this?

> Thanks,

> Dave

I have never personally run across this, but:

Is/has it ALWAYS been like this? Does it continue like that

after a complete reboot?

It's Windows. We should be grateful it works at all. (I

suppose).

You might consider getting a real file manager. I bought, use

constantly (you would not believe what it can do) and recommend

the one from http://www.ghisler.com, or a free (but missing some

advanced features) ripoff called "free commander". Google. There

are about a hundred others.

--

There is no doubt that life is given us, not to be enjoyed, but

to be overcome--to be got over.

- Arthur Schopenhauer

May 10, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

dave xnet wrote:

| Some of the folders have this odd behavior while others

| are working normally.

(1) Is it always the same folders that are abnormal?

(2) Which are they, then, & what are their Properties?

(3) Can you close & reopen Explorer to fix it?

(4) Does a reboot fix it?

| If I attempt to open (right click/Open) or

| double click, nothing happens. However, if I

| right click/explore, it operates normally and the explore

| window opens displaying the contents.

|

| Any thoughts on this?

(1) "Start button, Settings, Folder Options".

Switch from style to style to jog a setting. But, in the end,

Web style is to be avoided.

(2) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"

It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE & E

are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of IE is

indicated.

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194177

Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool

| Thanks,

| Dave

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

May 15, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

On Fri, 9 May 2008 21:04:32 -0400, "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote:

>dave xnet wrote:

>| Some of the folders have this odd behavior while others

>| are working normally.

>

>(1) Is it always the same folders that are abnormal?

>(2) Which are they, then, & what are their Properties?

>(3) Can you close & reopen Explorer to fix it?

>(4) Does a reboot fix it?

>

>| If I attempt to open (right click/Open) or

>| double click, nothing happens. However, if I

>| right click/explore, it operates normally and the explore

>| window opens displaying the contents.

>|

>| Any thoughts on this?

>

>(1) "Start button, Settings, Folder Options".

> Switch from style to style to jog a setting. But, in the end,

> Web style is to be avoided.

>

>(2) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"

> It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE & E

>are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of IE is

>indicated.

>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194177

>Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool

>

>| Thanks,

>| Dave

Wasn't able to fix it by playing with folder options.

I remembered that I had an ancient Windows 95

install on this machine, it's in a 600MB hidden

partiton.

I booted it up and checked he registry at

hkey-classes-root/Folder and exported it.

Checked it against Windows 98 and found the follwoing difference

at location Hkey_classes_root\folder\shell\open\ddexec:

windows 98

@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

Windows 95

@="[ViewFolder(%l, %I, %S)]"

As soon as I changed it to the Win95 value,

the problem was fixed.

May 15, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

dave xnet wrote:

| On Fri, 9 May 2008 21:04:32 -0400, "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote:

|

|>dave xnet wrote:

|>| Some of the folders have this odd behavior while others

|>| are working normally.

|>

|>(1) Is it always the same folders that are abnormal?

|>(2) Which are they, then, & what are their Properties?

|>(3) Can you close & reopen Explorer to fix it?

|>(4) Does a reboot fix it?

|>

|>| If I attempt to open (right click/Open) or

|>| double click, nothing happens. However, if I

|>| right click/explore, it operates normally and the explore

|>| window opens displaying the contents.

|>|

|>| Any thoughts on this?

|>

|>(1) "Start button, Settings, Folder Options".

|> Switch from style to style to jog a setting. But, in the end,

|> Web style is to be avoided.

|>

|>(2) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"

|> It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE &

|>E are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of

|>IE is indicated.

|>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194177

|>Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool

|>

|>| Thanks,

|>| Dave

| Wasn't able to fix it by playing with folder options.

| I remembered that I had an ancient Windows 95

| install on this machine, it's in a 600MB hidden

| partiton.

|

| I booted it up and checked he registry at

| hkey-classes-root/Folder and exported it.

| Checked it against Windows 98 and found the follwoing difference

| at location Hkey_classes_root\folder\shell\open\ddexec:

|

| windows 98

| @="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

|

| Windows 95

| @="[ViewFolder(%l, %I, %S)]"

|

| As soon as I changed it to the Win95 value,

| the problem was fixed.

Mine in Win98SE is...

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

"NoActivateHandler"=""

HOWEVER, I guess you are fine with the Win95 setting, if all seems to be

working well now. It's not like you are XP-irradiated!

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

May 15, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

Sounds to me like the problem wasn't fixed, only a symptom. Sounds to me

like you have a mis-matched file(s) there. What did you

install/update/uninstall around the time this behavior started?

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"dave xnet" <davexnet02DEL@ETEyahoo.com> wrote in message

news:cvap2414i77aplsljp73gtgrakg98k8ik9@4ax.com...

> On Fri, 9 May 2008 21:04:32 -0400, "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote:

>

>>dave xnet wrote:

>>| Some of the folders have this odd behavior while others

>>| are working normally.

>>

>>(1) Is it always the same folders that are abnormal?

>>(2) Which are they, then, & what are their Properties?

>>(3) Can you close & reopen Explorer to fix it?

>>(4) Does a reboot fix it?

>>

>>| If I attempt to open (right click/Open) or

>>| double click, nothing happens. However, if I

>>| right click/explore, it operates normally and the explore

>>| window opens displaying the contents.

>>|

>>| Any thoughts on this?

>>

>>(1) "Start button, Settings, Folder Options".

>> Switch from style to style to jog a setting. But, in the end,

>> Web style is to be avoided.

>>

>>(2) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"

>> It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE & E

>>are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of IE is

>>indicated.

>>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=194177

>>Description of the Internet Explorer Repair Tool

>>

>>| Thanks,

>>| Dave

> Wasn't able to fix it by playing with folder options.

> I remembered that I had an ancient Windows 95

> install on this machine, it's in a 600MB hidden

> partiton.

>

> I booted it up and checked he registry at

> hkey-classes-root/Folder and exported it.

> Checked it against Windows 98 and found the follwoing difference

> at location Hkey_classes_root\folder\shell\open\ddexec:

>

> windows 98

> @="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

>

> Windows 95

> @="[ViewFolder(%l, %I, %S)]"

>

> As soon as I changed it to the Win95 value,

> the problem was fixed.

May 16, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

On Thu, 15 May 2008 16:10:25 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>Sounds to me like the problem wasn't fixed, only a symptom. Sounds to me

>like you have a mis-matched file(s) there. What did you

>install/update/uninstall around the time this behavior started?

Hello Gary,

unfortunately, very difficult to tell.

The machine is seldom used, just a few old games my

kids play. I did recently go through a cycle of the video

driver (ATI Radeon catalyst) and Via 4in1, chipset drivers,

but I think it may have existed before, just not certain.

One other thing I updated recently was the

Microsoft foundation class MFC redistributable VC++ from 2005,

but I can't swear the problem didn't already exist

before that either. I did this because the Norton registry

search tool was crashing in mfc42??.dll - (it still crashes after

running the VC++ update)

It's just a few folders - reboot doesn't affect it, I've tried

scandisk and and Nortons Disk Doctor (I've had NU2000 installed for

years - not running real time progs)

Now it seems I've installed a value from Windows 95, and at the

moment, it appears as if it's fixed.

PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

May 16, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

Well, like I said, the "Problem" is almost certainly not the behavior your

observed, that was just a symptom that you managed to alleviate. Not sure

there's anything you can do about it, either. You can't uninstall that set

of runtimes.

Perhaps than force reinstalling IE6SP1. I dunno. Of course, you've fixed

what bothered you, so you could of course proceed as if everything is fine

unless and until you run into other odd behavior.

--

Gary S. Terhune

MS-MVP Shell/User

http://www.grystmill.com

"dave xnet" <davexnet02DEL@ETEyahoo.com> wrote in message

news:o0kp24h24df3el51g8gr4r2f2mqg89p133@4ax.com...

> On Thu, 15 May 2008 16:10:25 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>

>>Sounds to me like the problem wasn't fixed, only a symptom. Sounds to me

>>like you have a mis-matched file(s) there. What did you

>>install/update/uninstall around the time this behavior started?

> Hello Gary,

> unfortunately, very difficult to tell.

> The machine is seldom used, just a few old games my

> kids play. I did recently go through a cycle of the video

> driver (ATI Radeon catalyst) and Via 4in1, chipset drivers,

> but I think it may have existed before, just not certain.

>

> One other thing I updated recently was the

> Microsoft foundation class MFC redistributable VC++ from 2005,

> but I can't swear the problem didn't already exist

> before that either. I did this because the Norton registry

> search tool was crashing in mfc42??.dll - (it still crashes after

> running the VC++ update)

>

> It's just a few folders - reboot doesn't affect it, I've tried

> scandisk and and Nortons Disk Doctor (I've had NU2000 installed for

> years - not running real time progs)

>

> Now it seems I've installed a value from Windows 95, and at the

> moment, it appears as if it's fixed.

>

> PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

>

May 16, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

dave xnet wrote:

| On Thu, 15 May 2008 16:10:25 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

|

|>Sounds to me like the problem wasn't fixed, only a symptom. Sounds to

|>me like you have a mis-matched file(s) there. What did you

|>install/update/uninstall around the time this behavior started?

| Hello Gary,

| unfortunately, very difficult to tell.

| The machine is seldom used, just a few old games my

| kids play. I did recently go through a cycle of the video

| driver (ATI Radeon catalyst) and Via 4in1, chipset drivers,

| but I think it may have existed before, just not certain.

|

| One other thing I updated recently was the

| Microsoft foundation class MFC redistributable VC++ from 2005,

| but I can't swear the problem didn't already exist

| before that either. I did this because the Norton registry

| search tool was crashing in mfc42??.dll - (it still crashes after

| running the VC++ update)

|

| It's just a few folders - reboot doesn't affect it, I've tried

| scandisk and and Nortons Disk Doctor (I've had NU2000 installed for

| years - not running real time progs)

|

| Now it seems I've installed a value from Windows 95, and at the

| moment, it appears as if it's fixed.

|

| PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

You are welcome. That is a complex area of the Registry. I see both

avast! & WinZip have added entries nearby, & the Briefcase (which I

hate) is nearby too. But here is everything under Folder than seems to

be pure Win98SE, unaffected by those...

===== Export starts after this line=============

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

"NoActivateHandler"=""

@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]

@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]

@="AppProperties"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]

@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]

@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

"NoActivateHandler"=""

@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]

@="Folders"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]

@="AppProperties"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]

@="[]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]

@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /e,/idlist,%I,%L"

===== Export ends before this line ============

===== and includes the blank line ============

Other than the single Win95 datum you've now got, does your Registry

look just like that from ...Shell on? If not, maybe export what you've

got & import mine. If you revert to the unwanted behavior, switch it

back again.

OR... just let it be, if all seems to be working well enough.

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

May 17, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

On Fri, 16 May 2008 19:12:01 -0400, "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote:

>dave xnet wrote:

>| On Thu, 15 May 2008 16:10:25 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

>|

>|>Sounds to me like the problem wasn't fixed, only a symptom. Sounds to

>|>me like you have a mis-matched file(s) there. What did you

>|>install/update/uninstall around the time this behavior started?

>| Hello Gary,

>| unfortunately, very difficult to tell.

>| The machine is seldom used, just a few old games my

>| kids play. I did recently go through a cycle of the video

>| driver (ATI Radeon catalyst) and Via 4in1, chipset drivers,

>| but I think it may have existed before, just not certain.

>|

>| One other thing I updated recently was the

>| Microsoft foundation class MFC redistributable VC++ from 2005,

>| but I can't swear the problem didn't already exist

>| before that either. I did this because the Norton registry

>| search tool was crashing in mfc42??.dll - (it still crashes after

>| running the VC++ update)

>|

>| It's just a few folders - reboot doesn't affect it, I've tried

>| scandisk and and Nortons Disk Doctor (I've had NU2000 installed for

>| years - not running real time progs)

>|

>| Now it seems I've installed a value from Windows 95, and at the

>| moment, it appears as if it's fixed.

>|

>| PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

>

>You are welcome. That is a complex area of the Registry. I see both

>avast! & WinZip have added entries nearby, & the Briefcase (which I

>hate) is nearby too. But here is everything under Folder than seems to

>be pure Win98SE, unaffected by those...

>

>===== Export starts after this line=============

>REGEDIT4

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

>@=""

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]

>@=""

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

>"NoActivateHandler"=""

>@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]

>@="Folders"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]

>@="AppProperties"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]

>@="[]"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]

>@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]

>@=""

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

>"NoActivateHandler"=""

>@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]

>@="Folders"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]

>@="AppProperties"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]

>@="[]"

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]

>@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /e,/idlist,%I,%L"

>

>===== Export ends before this line ============

>===== and includes the blank line ============

>

>Other than the single Win95 datum you've now got, does your Registry

>look just like that from ...Shell on? If not, maybe export what you've

>got & import mine. If you revert to the unwanted behavior, switch it

>back again.

>

>OR... just let it be, if all seems to be working well enough.

Well I just took a cursory glance at the 98 values

before I deleted it and merged in the whole of the 95

"folder" key.

I had winzip and winrar installed in both.

AS you say, both have entries in there.

I expected them to be the same, and they nearly were,

except a couple of the CLSID's eferenced by winzip had a slight

difference. (fixed that).

Before I deleted the 98 "folder" key I EXPorted it first.

I haven't been through it line by line yet,

but I can put it back as it was if I have to.

I'll do a compare tomorow with the 95 version,

compare it to your lines above, and I'll

post back what comes up.

Thanks !

May 17, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

"dave xnet" <davexnet02DEL@ETEyahoo.com> wrote in message

news:qhms245chjf9ac1hn0ovnhv9akjj7er13t@4ax.com...

| On Fri, 16 May 2008 19:12:01 -0400, "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote:

|

| >dave xnet wrote:

| >| On Thu, 15 May 2008 16:10:25 -0700, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:

| >|

| >|>Sounds to me like the problem wasn't fixed, only a symptom. Sounds

to

| >|>me like you have a mis-matched file(s) there. What did you

| >|>install/update/uninstall around the time this behavior started?

| >| Hello Gary,

| >| unfortunately, very difficult to tell.

| >| The machine is seldom used, just a few old games my

| >| kids play. I did recently go through a cycle of the video

| >| driver (ATI Radeon catalyst) and Via 4in1, chipset drivers,

| >| but I think it may have existed before, just not certain.

| >|

| >| One other thing I updated recently was the

| >| Microsoft foundation class MFC redistributable VC++ from 2005,

| >| but I can't swear the problem didn't already exist

| >| before that either. I did this because the Norton registry

| >| search tool was crashing in mfc42??.dll - (it still crashes after

| >| running the VC++ update)

| >|

| >| It's just a few folders - reboot doesn't affect it, I've tried

| >| scandisk and and Nortons Disk Doctor (I've had NU2000 installed

for

| >| years - not running real time progs)

| >|

| >| Now it seems I've installed a value from Windows 95, and at the

| >| moment, it appears as if it's fixed.

| >|

| >| PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

| >

| >You are welcome. That is a complex area of the Registry. I see both

| >avast! & WinZip have added entries nearby, & the Briefcase (which I

| >hate) is nearby too. But here is everything under Folder than seems

to

| >be pure Win98SE, unaffected by those...

| >

| >===== Export starts after this line=============

| >REGEDIT4

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

| >@=""

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]

| >@=""

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

| >"NoActivateHandler"=""

| >@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]

| >@="Folders"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]

| >@="AppProperties"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]

| >@="[]"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]

| >@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]

| >@=""

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

| >"NoActivateHandler"=""

| >@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]

| >@="Folders"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]

| >@="AppProperties"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]

| >@="[]"

| >

| >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]

| >@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /e,/idlist,%I,%L"

| >

| >===== Export ends before this line ============

| >===== and includes the blank line ============

| >

| >Other than the single Win95 datum you've now got, does your Registry

| >look just like that from ...Shell on? If not, maybe export what

you've

| >got & import mine. If you revert to the unwanted behavior, switch it

| >back again.

| >

| >OR... just let it be, if all seems to be working well enough.

|

| Well I just took a cursory glance at the 98 values

| before I deleted it and merged in the whole of the 95

| "folder" key.

| I had winzip and winrar installed in both.

| AS you say, both have entries in there.

| I expected them to be the same, and they nearly were,

| except a couple of the CLSID's eferenced by winzip had a slight

| difference. (fixed that).

| Before I deleted the 98 "folder" key I EXPorted it first.

| I haven't been through it line by line yet,

| but I can put it back as it was if I have to.

| I'll do a compare tomorow with the 95 version,

| compare it to your lines above, and I'll

| post back what comes up.

| Thanks !

You are welcome. OK-- sounds as if you know what you're doing. It is

always good to do an export before a delete! Right, make the comparisons

& report back. I did not post the nearby area of that Registry key that

contains my WinZip & avast! modifications.

If you restore your Win98 registry key, & the problem reappears, then...

You say it was only a few folders that were not opening when clicked in

Explorer? Did they have different Property settings than the others? For

instance, was Thumbnail view enabled for them? Were they customized?

Perhaps turn both of those off & on again to jog a setting. Also...

(1) Undo Active Desktop.

(a) R-Clk the Desktop, point to Active Desktop, & select Customize my

Desktop.

(b) Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a WEB page" & Apply.

Is there anything in the box under that item? Those are WEB sites that

would appear on the Desktop. Delete them.

as a WEB page" & OK.

(d) R-Clk the Desktop, & uncheck "View as WEB page".

(2) "START, Settings, Folder Options, General tab". Set to "Classic

style". If all gets better, click "Custom...", & gingerly go back to how

you like it. But stay away from "Enable all Web related content...".

May 19, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

On May 17, 4:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

> "dave xnet" <davexnet02...@ETEyahoo.com> wrote in message

>

> news:qhms245chjf9ac1hn0ovnhv9akjj7er13t@4ax.com...

<snip>

> | >| PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

> | >

> | >You are welcome. That is a complex area of the Registry. I see both

> | >avast! & WinZip have added entries nearby, & the Briefcase (which I

> | >hate) is nearby too. But here is everything under Folder than seems

> to

> | >be pure Win98SE, unaffected by those...

> | >

> | >===== Export starts after this line=============

> | >REGEDIT4

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

> | >@=""

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]

> | >@=""

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

> | >"NoActivateHandler"=""

> | >@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]

> | >@="Folders"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]

> | >@="AppProperties"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]

> | >@="[]"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]

> | >@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]

> | >@=""

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

> | >"NoActivateHandler"=""

> | >@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]

> | >@="Folders"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]

> | >@="AppProperties"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]

> | >@="[]"

> | >

> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]

> | >@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /e,/idlist,%I,%L"

> | >

> | >===== Export ends before this line ============

> | >===== and includes the blank line ============

> | >

> | >Other than the single Win95 datum you've now got, does your Registry

> | >look just like that from ...Shell on? If not, maybe export what

> you've

> | >got & import mine. If you revert to the unwanted behavior, switch it

> | >back again.

> | >

> | >OR... just let it be, if all seems to be working well enough.

> |

> | Well I just took a cursory glance at the 98 values

> | before I deleted it and merged in the whole of the 95

> | "folder" key.

> | I had winzip and winrar installed in both.

> | AS you say, both have entries in there.

> | I expected them to be the same, and they nearly were,

> | except a couple of the CLSID's eferenced by winzip had a slight

> | difference. (fixed that).

> | Before I deleted the 98 "folder" key I EXPorted it first.

> | I haven't been through it line by line yet,

> | but I can put it back as it was if I have to.

> | I'll do a compare tomorow with the 95 version,

> | compare it to your lines above, and I'll

> | post back what comes up.

> | Thanks !

>

> You are welcome. OK-- sounds as if you know what you're doing. It is

> always good to do an export before a delete! Right, make the comparisons

> & report back. I did not post the nearby area of that Registry key that

> contains my WinZip & avast! modifications.

>

> If you restore your Win98 registry key, & the problem reappears, then...

>

> You say it was only a few folders that were not opening when clicked in

> Explorer? Did they have different Property settings than the others? For

> instance, was Thumbnail view enabled for them? Were they customized?

> Perhaps turn both of those off & on again to jog a setting. Also...

>

> (1) Undo Active Desktop.

>

> (a) R-Clk the Desktop, point to Active Desktop, & select Customize my

> Desktop.

> (b) Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a WEB page" & Apply.

>

> Is there anything in the box under that item? Those are WEB sites that

> would appear on the Desktop. Delete them.

>

> as a WEB page" & OK.

> (d) R-Clk the Desktop, & uncheck "View as WEB page".

>

> (2) "START, Settings, Folder Options, General tab". Set to "Classic

> style". If all gets better, click "Custom...", & gingerly go back to how

> you like it. But stay away from "Enable all Web related content...".

I checked the 98 registry against your sample.

Mine is identical to your except for the value to these lines.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

"NoActivateHandler"=""

@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

"NoActivateHandler"=""

@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

where in my case the data value now is

[ExploreFolder("%l", %I, %S)] and [ViewFolder("%l", %I, %S)]

respectively. Active desktop is turned off, I checked all the items

you mentioned.

I tried generic classic and the problem still existed.

I first noticed the problem after creating a few folders right on the

desktop.

Doubleclicking on them did nothing, but right click/explore worked.

I then opened "my computer" double clicked a few of the folders in

there and found one or two

more that exhibited the problem.

I've been unable to account for any attributes that may be involved.

The PC is dual boot with

win2k - opening the same folders in win2k is not an issue - works

normally.

For now I'm going to leave it as-is, since it appears to be working

normally since I

replaced those registry values. The ddeexec part of the key may be a

clue.

Perhaps I'll research that and see if I can find out anything.

Dave

May 20, 2008

Re: Folder double-click or Open doesn't do anything

davexnet01@yahoo.com wrote:

| On May 17, 4:52 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:

|> "dave xnet" <davexnet02...@ETEyahoo.com> wrote in message

|>

|> news:qhms245chjf9ac1hn0ovnhv9akjj7er13t@4ax.com...

| <snip>

|

|> | >| PCR - thanks for pointing out the registry information.

|> | >

|> | >You are welcome. That is a complex area of the Registry. I see

|> | >both avast! & WinZip have added entries nearby, & the Briefcase

|> | >(which I hate) is nearby too. But here is everything under Folder

|> | >than seems to be pure Win98SE, unaffected by those...

|> | >

|> | >===== Export starts after this line=============

|> | >REGEDIT4

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]

|> | >@=""

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]

|> | >@=""

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

|> | >"NoActivateHandler"=""

|> | >@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]

|> | >@="Folders"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]

|> | >@="AppProperties"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]

|> | >@="[]"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]

|> | >@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]

|> | >@=""

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

|> | >"NoActivateHandler"=""

|> | >@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]

|> | >@="Folders"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]

|> | >@="AppProperties"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]

|> | >@="[]"

|> | >

|> | >[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]

|> | >@="c:\\windows\\Explorer.exe /e,/idlist,%I,%L"

|> | >

|> | >===== Export ends before this line ============

|> | >===== and includes the blank line ============

|> | >

|> | >Other than the single Win95 datum you've now got, does your

|> | >Registry look just like that from ...Shell on? If not, maybe

|> | >export what you've got & import mine. If you revert to the

|> | >unwanted behavior, switch it back again.

|> | >

|> | >OR... just let it be, if all seems to be working well enough.

|> |

|> | Well I just took a cursory glance at the 98 values

|> | before I deleted it and merged in the whole of the 95

|> | "folder" key.

|> | I had winzip and winrar installed in both.

|> | AS you say, both have entries in there.

|> | I expected them to be the same, and they nearly were,

|> | except a couple of the CLSID's eferenced by winzip had a slight

|> | difference. (fixed that).

|> | Before I deleted the 98 "folder" key I EXPorted it first.

|> | I haven't been through it line by line yet,

|> | but I can put it back as it was if I have to.

|> | I'll do a compare tomorow with the 95 version,

|> | compare it to your lines above, and I'll

|> | post back what comes up.

|> | Thanks !

|>

|> You are welcome. OK-- sounds as if you know what you're doing. It is

|> always good to do an export before a delete! Right, make the

|> comparisons & report back. I did not post the nearby area of that

|> Registry key that contains my WinZip & avast! modifications.

|>

|> If you restore your Win98 registry key, & the problem reappears,

|> then...

|>

|> You say it was only a few folders that were not opening when clicked

|> in Explorer? Did they have different Property settings than the

|> others? For instance, was Thumbnail view enabled for them? Were they

|> customized? Perhaps turn both of those off & on again to jog a

|> setting. Also...

|>

|> (1) Undo Active Desktop.

|>

|> (a) R-Clk the Desktop, point to Active Desktop, & select Customize

|> my Desktop.

|> (b) Uncheck "View my Active Desktop as a WEB page" & Apply.

|>

|> Is there anything in the box under that item? Those are WEB sites

|> that would appear on the Desktop. Delete them.

|>

|> viewed as a WEB page" & OK.

|> (d) R-Clk the Desktop, & uncheck "View as WEB page".

|>

|> (2) "START, Settings, Folder Options, General tab". Set to "Classic

|> style". If all gets better, click "Custom...", & gingerly go back to

|> how you like it. But stay away from "Enable all Web related

|> content...".

| I checked the 98 registry against your sample.

| Mine is identical to your except for the value to these lines.

| HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]

| "NoActivateHandler"=""

| @="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]

| "NoActivateHandler"=""

| @="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"

|

| where in my case the data value now is

| [ExploreFolder("%l", %I, %S)] and [ViewFolder("%l", %I, %S)]

| respectively. Active desktop is turned off, I checked all the items

| you mentioned.

Alright. I was thinking that maybe there were more differences between

what you had to begin with & true Win98 lines. Then, if you went back to

true lines as a whole, it might fix you better than the small reversion

to Win95 did. I guess it won't. Still -- I don't know -- unless you have

already done it -- maybe revert those two lines temporarily anyhow --

just to see whether it was a coincidence that taking the Win95 lines was

the cure. If not, go back again.

| I tried generic classic and the problem still existed.

I was hoping it might jog a setting. Too bad it didn't!

| I first noticed the problem after creating a few folders right on the

| desktop.

| Doubleclicking on them did nothing, but right click/explore worked.

Mine all work.

| I then opened "my computer" double clicked a few of the folders in

| there and found one or two

| more that exhibited the problem.

Mine all work in there too. Open (whether by click of an icon or R-Clk,

Open) seems to open it in the same instance of Explorer-- so that the

back & forward arrows work. R-Clk, Explore, opens it in a new instance--

so that it may be minimized & the original window shows up. But that

behavior to some extent is controlled by settings... uh, such as...

"START button, Settings, Folder Options, bolt Custom, Settings button,

bolt Open each Folder in the Same Window"

That is why I wanted you to switch settings to & fro-- too, too bad it

didn't work!

| I've been unable to account for any attributes that may be involved.

Alright. Too bad.

| The PC is dual boot with

| win2k - opening the same folders in win2k is not an issue - works

| normally.

I don't know whether Win2K could be putting secret markings on folders.

I never heard of such a thing, though, & I guess it would happen to all

of them, not just to some.

| For now I'm going to leave it as-is, since it appears to be working

| normally since I

| replaced those registry values.

That may be best for now. As Terhune suggested, keep in mind you may

some day notice other peculiarities. Then, bring up this matter again

along with the new thing.

| The ddeexec part of the key may be a

| clue.

| Perhaps I'll research that and see if I can find out anything.

Absolutely, & keep us informed. I don't know what that is. It doesn't

appear to be a separate program, but may be a function of Explorer.exe.

What is your version of it. Here is what I've got for Win98SE...

EXPLORER.EXE

Desc: Windows Explorer

Loc: C:\WINDOWS

Size: 180,224 bytes

Mod: Friday, April 23, 1999 10:22:00 PM

Ver: 4.72.3110.1

You should have only one, & it should be in C:\Windows...!...

C:\>DIR C:\Explorer.exe /a /s

Directory of C:\WINDOWS

EXPLORER EXE 180,224 04-23-99 10:22p EXPLORER.EXE

| Dave

--

Thanks or Good Luck,

There may be humor in this post, and,

Naturally, you will not sue,

Should things get worse after this,

PCR

pcrrcp@netzero.net

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