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Explorer windows always open in new window?

Question
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Hello!
In Windows Explorer, I have the setting checked that each folder will open in the same window. It seems to be ignoring that setting, and everything always opens in new windows. It gets very annoying. Any fixes for this?
Thanks,
macwinTuesday, May 19, 2009 2:03 AM
Answers
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I happened to come across a post which fixed a problem that I was having with both IE8 not opening new tabs (at all!) & Windows Explorer only opening new windows. No matter which boxes I checked in Windows Explorer instructions, it would not REPLACE the current tab with the new window. IT ALWAYS OPENED A NEW WINDOW.
Anyway, another forum suggested to run from a command prompt the following DLL file (copy and paste into your command prompt line):
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
I ran it and it INSTANTLY fixed my problems, without rebooting! I haven't rebooted since installing, so I'm not sure if this is a permanent fix. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK -- I'm hardly a tech expert!!!- Proposed as answer by NguyenHoan Saturday, July 4, 2009 4:54 AM
- Marked as answer by Linda Yan Wednesday, May 19, 2010 8:32 AM
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 3:44 PM -
Here's a fix for the windows explorer and ie8 corrupted dll bugs mentioned above. Close all instances of IE and Windows Explorer then run this in a cmd file.
@echo off
echo.
echo IEREREG Version 1.07 for IE8 27.03.2009
echo by Kai Schaetzl http://iefaq.info
echo installs and registers (if suitable) all DLLs known to be used by IE8.
echo should only take a few seconds, but please be patient
echo.
REM ******************************
echo registering IE files
REM IE files (= part of setup)
regsvr32 /s /i browseui.dll
REM regsvr32 /s /i browseui.dll,NI (unnecessary)
regsvr32 /s corpol.dll
regsvr32 /s dxtmsft.dll
regsvr32 /s dxtrans.dll
REM simple HTML Mail API
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\hmmapi.dll"
REM group policy snap-in
regsvr32 /s ieaksie.dll
REM smart screen
regsvr32 /s ieapfltr.dll
REM ieak branding
regsvr32 /s iedkcs32.dll
REM dev tools
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\iedvtool.dll"
regsvr32 /s iepeers.dll
REM Symptom: IE8 closes immediately on launch, missing from IE7
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\ieproxy.dll"
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i iesetup.dll
REM no reg point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s imgutil.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n inetcpl.cpl
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i inseng.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
REM license manager
regsvr32 /s licmgr10.dll
REM regsvr32 /s msapsspc.dll
REM regsvr32 /s mshta.exe
REM VS debugger
regsvr32 /s msdbg2.dll
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i mshtml.dll
regsvr32 /s mshtmled.dll
regsvr32 /s msident.dll
REM no reg point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s msrating.dll
REM multimedia timer
regsvr32 /s mstime.dll
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i occache.dll
REM process debug manager
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\pdm.dll"
REM no reg point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s pngfilt.dll
REM regsvr32 /s /i setupwbv.dll (not there anymore!)
regsvr32 /s tdc.ocx
regsvr32 /s /i urlmon.dll
REM regsvr32 /s /i urlmon.dll,NI,HKLM
regsvr32 /s vbscript.dll
REM VML renderer
regsvr32 /s "%CommonProgramFiles%\microsoft shared\vgx\vgx.dll"
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i webcheck.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n wininet.dll
REM ******************************
echo registering system files
REM additional system dlls known to be used by IE
REM added 11.05.2006 Symptom: Add-Ons-Manager menu entry is present but nothing happens
regsvr32 /s extmgr.dll
REM added 12.05.2006 Symptom: Javascript links don't work (Robin Walker) .NET hub file
regsvr32 /s mscoree.dll
REM added 23.03.2009 Symptom: Find on this page is blank
regsvr32 /s oleacc.dll
REM added 24.03.2009 Symptom: Printing problems, open in new window
regsvr32 /s ole32.dll
REM mscorier.dll
REM mscories.dll
REM Symptom: open in new tab/window not working
regsvr32 /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 /s asctrls.ocx
regsvr32 /s cdfview.dll
regsvr32 /s comcat.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n comctl32.dll
regsvr32 /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n digest.dll
regsvr32 /s dispex.dll
regsvr32 /s hlink.dll
regsvr32 /s mlang.dll
regsvr32 /s mobsync.dll
regsvr32 /s /i msieftp.dll
REM regsvr32 /s msnsspc.dll #no entry point
regsvr32 /s msr2c.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /s oleaut32.dll
REM regsvr32 /s plugin.ocx #no entry point
regsvr32 /s proctexe.ocx
REM plus DllRegisterServerEx ExA ExW ... ?
regsvr32 /s /i scrobj.dll
REM shdocvw.dll hasn't been updated for IE7 and IE8, it still registers itself for the Windows Internet Controls
regsvr32 /s /i shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 /s sendmail.dll
REM ******************************
REM PKI/crypto functionality
REM initpki can take very long to run and is rarely a problem
REM if there are problems with crypto, SSL, certificates
REM remove the three following REMs from the lines
REM echo We are almost done except one crypto file
REM echo but this will take very long, be patient!
REM regsvr32 /s /i:A initpki.dll
REM ******************************
REM tabbed browser, do at the end, why originally with /n ?
regsvr32 /s /i ieframe.dll
REM ******************************
echo correcting bugs in the registry
REM do some corrective work
REM Symptom: new tabs page cannot display content because it cannot access the controls (added 27. 3.2009)
REM This is a result of a bug in shdocvw.dll (see above), probably only on Windows XP
reg add "HKCR\TypeLib\{EAB22AC0-30C1-11CF-A7EB-0000C05BAE0B}\1.1\0\win32" /ve /t REG_SZ /d %systemroot%\system32\ieframe.dll /f
REM ******************************
echo all tasks have been finished
echo.
pauseThursday, November 19, 2009 3:01 AM -
Okay, I just reinstalled Windows 7. Everything seems to work fine now. Thank you so much for your help, everybody!!!!
- Marked as answer by macwin Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:28 AM
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:28 AM
All replies
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Did you inadvertently check "launch folder windows in a separate process"? Uncheck it may help.
Each time you execute explorer, it will open a new window. Each time you click on a folder within that window, it will change that window to display the folder contents.
KrisTuesday, May 19, 2009 3:37 AM -
Hi,
I have exactly the same issue, also have the issue with internet explorer 'hanging' on new tabs or new window.
I have removed all add-ins, A fresh install of RC7 on a clean HDD, have checked & unchecked all settings I can find for different window behaviours.
Any help greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
DrewTuesday, May 19, 2009 10:56 AM -
Did you inadvertently check "launch folder windows in a separate process"? Uncheck it may help.
Well, I did not check that box, but I tried checking and unchecking it, same deal.Tuesday, May 19, 2009 1:55 PM -
hmmm, so you have one windows explorer window open, click on a folder in that window, and it opens a second window? and leaves the first one there and unchanged?
EDIT: Wondering what is the default (top item) when you right click on a folder in the right pane?
So I'm not stealing Ramesh's work, you might take a look at
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/65440-windows-explorer-always-opens-new-window.html
where one suggestion is a non MS shell extension that is interfering .
I do think the suggested workaround at the end is a bit ghastly, though. I'll keep working on this.
EDIT EDIT: ShellExView might help you ID shell extensions you have put on (they're highlighted in pink)
look at http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html and part way down the page you can download it.
I am amazed at how many non MS extensions I have! nero, avast, zip-genius, Puram, Real, OpenOffice, Nvidia, Logitech, etc etc
googling "windows explorer open in a new window" opens Pandora's box!
Kris- Edited by KrisM77 Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:34 PM
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:16 PM -
The default action is to just "Open". "Open in new window" is not the default (bold), so I don't know why it's doing that!Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:45 PM
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The default action is to just "Open". "Open in new window" is not the default (bold), so I don't know why it's doing that!
Yes, I agree, that's wierd. But from what I see, I would look to a non-MS shell extension.
KrisTuesday, May 19, 2009 2:50 PM -
Aha! I found out something. I can right click on a folder, then hit open. It will open in the same window!!! However, I can't double click on the folder, or it will open in a new window. Maybe some setting is not correct?Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:54 PM
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Aha! I found out something. I can right click on a folder, then hit open. It will open in the same window!!! However, I can't double click on the folder, or it will open in a new window. Maybe some setting is not correct?
If "OPEN" is not bold black, then it is not your default. Again, the addition of some shell extension changed this.
Hope that helps! - - -./ KrisTuesday, May 19, 2009 3:00 PM -
I happened to come across a post which fixed a problem that I was having with both IE8 not opening new tabs (at all!) & Windows Explorer only opening new windows. No matter which boxes I checked in Windows Explorer instructions, it would not REPLACE the current tab with the new window. IT ALWAYS OPENED A NEW WINDOW.
Anyway, another forum suggested to run from a command prompt the following DLL file (copy and paste into your command prompt line):
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
I ran it and it INSTANTLY fixed my problems, without rebooting! I haven't rebooted since installing, so I'm not sure if this is a permanent fix. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK -- I'm hardly a tech expert!!!- Proposed as answer by NguyenHoan Saturday, July 4, 2009 4:54 AM
- Marked as answer by Linda Yan Wednesday, May 19, 2010 8:32 AM
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 3:44 PM -
I don't think that is the problem...this happened before I installed even McAfee.
- Edited by macwin Tuesday, May 19, 2009 5:35 PM
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 4:11 PM -
Ok, well regsvr32 registers dll files, but it seems like that registering that dll file did not work for me either in normal or elevated command prompt. I appreciate your help, though.
I'm really wondering if I should just reinstall my Windows 7 RC OS?
That would be sad, because I have already copied my files here and that would take a bunch of my time to do that.
I REALLY hope this can be fixed!!!- Edited by macwin Tuesday, May 19, 2009 6:56 PM typo
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 4:14 PM -
Okay, I just reinstalled Windows 7. Everything seems to work fine now. Thank you so much for your help, everybody!!!!
- Marked as answer by macwin Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:28 AM
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 12:28 AM -
WOOOT ! What a miracle ! I got the same problem as the topic title, and when i run "your" command, its totally fix my problem !
Thanks alot mate =)Saturday, July 4, 2009 4:54 AM -
Any idea how to fix if I don't want to do a complete reinstall of Win7RC and the SFC scan doesn't help?Tuesday, July 21, 2009 1:04 AM
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I happened to come across a post which fixed a problem that I was having with both IE8 not opening new tabs (at all!) & Windows Explorer only opening new windows. No matter which boxes I checked in Windows Explorer instructions, it would not REPLACE the current tab with the new window. IT ALWAYS OPENED A NEW WINDOW.
Anyway, another forum suggested to run from a command prompt the following DLL file (copy and paste into your command prompt line):
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
I ran it and it INSTANTLY fixed my problems, without rebooting! I haven't rebooted since installing, so I'm not sure if this is a permanent fix. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK -- I'm hardly a tech expert!!!
I have had the windows explorer opening every folder in a new window, ran the command, got a confermation that the dll was registered, but the problem with Windows explorer still exists. If I use the right click open on a folder, it does open in the same window, so thanks very much for that tidbit
GlennWednesday, July 22, 2009 2:18 PM -
I have exactly the same problem as Glenn. I've tried uninstalling Norton Beta IS, Java and Flash. I've tried the regsvr fix and I've tried disabling all add ons, but I still have the problem with Explorer opening a new window and IE "connecting" with the address shown in the tab bar not the address bar.
I've tried a system restore to a point where everything was fine but that hasn't fixed the problem.
I don't really want to have to reinstall, but I need to use IE for work and I can't use work files while this issue persists.
Many thanks for the right click>Open hint - that makes it marginally more bearable!
ClaireSaturday, August 8, 2009 4:11 PM -
Any idea how to fix if I don't want to do a complete reinstall of Win7RC and the SFC scan doesn't help?
Try an inplace upgrade. Itraduzca your W7 dvd. Start setup. Q. What type of installation do you want, upgrade or custom - choose upgrade and this should repair most of the files while retaining all of your programs and documents.Saturday, August 8, 2009 10:45 PM -
This one just fixed it for me in vista. I re-registered that DLL, killed explorer and reloaded it and problem solved.
Now I'm just curious how it broke in the first place!Sunday, September 13, 2009 9:55 AM -
I have this same problem. I thought maybe it was something I did, but this last time I didnt do anything.
First time it happened, I reinstalled W7 and it solved the problem. Now it came back once again.
This time I cant see anything I could have done to cause it, and "regsvr32 actxprxy.dll" didnt work for me. Going to try looking at other ShellExs
Also had a post in:
http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-vista-windows-7-support/414046-opening-explorer-new-windows-unwanted.htmlFriday, October 30, 2009 7:56 PM -
hmmm, so you have one windows explorer window open, click on a folder in that window, and it opens a second window? and leaves the first one there and unchanged?
Disabled the OpenOffice.org and Nero additions that were the only changes in it around the time this started happening. Hasnt seemed to fix it for me yet. Will keep trying to work on it, though imo this is a big problem with W7 that may have me going back to XP, since I spend a lot of time with folders and do not wish to right click and open every time I want to browse.
EDIT: Wondering what is the default (top item) when you right click on a folder in the right pane?
So I'm not stealing Ramesh's work, you might take a look at
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/65440-windows-explorer-always-opens-new-window.html
where one suggestion is a non MS shell extension that is interfering .
I do think the suggested workaround at the end is a bit ghastly, though. I'll keep working on this.
EDIT EDIT: ShellExView might help you ID shell extensions you have put on (they're highlighted in pink)
look at http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html and part way down the page you can download it.
I am amazed at how many non MS extensions I have! nero, avast, zip-genius, Puram, Real, OpenOffice, Nvidia, Logitech, etc etc
googling "windows explorer open in a new window" opens Pandora's box!
KrisFriday, October 30, 2009 8:05 PM -
I had this problem with my desktop when I upgraded from XP to Windows-7. When I started the upgrade on my laptop from XP to Windows-7, i noticed that a new window did NOT open. I reset the folder options on my desktop and the problem went away. The trouble is that my laptop started having the same problem and now nothing fixes it.
Odd (:Sunday, November 8, 2009 9:18 PM -
After I reinstalled Windows 7. the problem with Windows Explorer always openning in a new window went away. Also, my DEVICES AND PRINTERS now works - which I found interesting. It seems that when your DEVICES AND PRINTERS displays a blank page, you also have this problem with Windows Explorer.Monday, November 9, 2009 6:11 AM
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Here's a fix for the windows explorer and ie8 corrupted dll bugs mentioned above. Close all instances of IE and Windows Explorer then run this in a cmd file.
@echo off
echo.
echo IEREREG Version 1.07 for IE8 27.03.2009
echo by Kai Schaetzl http://iefaq.info
echo installs and registers (if suitable) all DLLs known to be used by IE8.
echo should only take a few seconds, but please be patient
echo.
REM ******************************
echo registering IE files
REM IE files (= part of setup)
regsvr32 /s /i browseui.dll
REM regsvr32 /s /i browseui.dll,NI (unnecessary)
regsvr32 /s corpol.dll
regsvr32 /s dxtmsft.dll
regsvr32 /s dxtrans.dll
REM simple HTML Mail API
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\hmmapi.dll"
REM group policy snap-in
regsvr32 /s ieaksie.dll
REM smart screen
regsvr32 /s ieapfltr.dll
REM ieak branding
regsvr32 /s iedkcs32.dll
REM dev tools
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\iedvtool.dll"
regsvr32 /s iepeers.dll
REM Symptom: IE8 closes immediately on launch, missing from IE7
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\ieproxy.dll"
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i iesetup.dll
REM no reg point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s imgutil.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n inetcpl.cpl
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i inseng.dll
regsvr32 /s jscript.dll
REM license manager
regsvr32 /s licmgr10.dll
REM regsvr32 /s msapsspc.dll
REM regsvr32 /s mshta.exe
REM VS debugger
regsvr32 /s msdbg2.dll
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i mshtml.dll
regsvr32 /s mshtmled.dll
regsvr32 /s msident.dll
REM no reg point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s msrating.dll
REM multimedia timer
regsvr32 /s mstime.dll
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i occache.dll
REM process debug manager
regsvr32 /s "%ProgramFiles%\internet explorer\pdm.dll"
REM no reg point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s pngfilt.dll
REM regsvr32 /s /i setupwbv.dll (not there anymore!)
regsvr32 /s tdc.ocx
regsvr32 /s /i urlmon.dll
REM regsvr32 /s /i urlmon.dll,NI,HKLM
regsvr32 /s vbscript.dll
REM VML renderer
regsvr32 /s "%CommonProgramFiles%\microsoft shared\vgx\vgx.dll"
REM no install point anymore
REM regsvr32 /s /i webcheck.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n wininet.dll
REM ******************************
echo registering system files
REM additional system dlls known to be used by IE
REM added 11.05.2006 Symptom: Add-Ons-Manager menu entry is present but nothing happens
regsvr32 /s extmgr.dll
REM added 12.05.2006 Symptom: Javascript links don't work (Robin Walker) .NET hub file
regsvr32 /s mscoree.dll
REM added 23.03.2009 Symptom: Find on this page is blank
regsvr32 /s oleacc.dll
REM added 24.03.2009 Symptom: Printing problems, open in new window
regsvr32 /s ole32.dll
REM mscorier.dll
REM mscories.dll
REM Symptom: open in new tab/window not working
regsvr32 /s actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 /s asctrls.ocx
regsvr32 /s cdfview.dll
regsvr32 /s comcat.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n comctl32.dll
regsvr32 /s cryptdlg.dll
regsvr32 /s /i /n digest.dll
regsvr32 /s dispex.dll
regsvr32 /s hlink.dll
regsvr32 /s mlang.dll
regsvr32 /s mobsync.dll
regsvr32 /s /i msieftp.dll
REM regsvr32 /s msnsspc.dll #no entry point
regsvr32 /s msr2c.dll
regsvr32 /s msxml.dll
regsvr32 /s oleaut32.dll
REM regsvr32 /s plugin.ocx #no entry point
regsvr32 /s proctexe.ocx
REM plus DllRegisterServerEx ExA ExW ... ?
regsvr32 /s /i scrobj.dll
REM shdocvw.dll hasn't been updated for IE7 and IE8, it still registers itself for the Windows Internet Controls
regsvr32 /s /i shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 /s sendmail.dll
REM ******************************
REM PKI/crypto functionality
REM initpki can take very long to run and is rarely a problem
REM if there are problems with crypto, SSL, certificates
REM remove the three following REMs from the lines
REM echo We are almost done except one crypto file
REM echo but this will take very long, be patient!
REM regsvr32 /s /i:A initpki.dll
REM ******************************
REM tabbed browser, do at the end, why originally with /n ?
regsvr32 /s /i ieframe.dll
REM ******************************
echo correcting bugs in the registry
REM do some corrective work
REM Symptom: new tabs page cannot display content because it cannot access the controls (added 27. 3.2009)
REM This is a result of a bug in shdocvw.dll (see above), probably only on Windows XP
reg add "HKCR\TypeLib\{EAB22AC0-30C1-11CF-A7EB-0000C05BAE0B}\1.1\0\win32" /ve /t REG_SZ /d %systemroot%\system32\ieframe.dll /f
REM ******************************
echo all tasks have been finished
echo.
pauseThursday, November 19, 2009 3:01 AM -
I haven't seen this written on here so for anyone else having this issue, I went into the Internet Explorer 8 settings (Tools > Inet Options > Advanced Tab) and under Browsing, make sure you uncheck "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts". That did it for me.Wednesday, November 25, 2009 6:05 PM
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You sir (boyongoo) are a legend and Kai Schaetzl is a GOD.
I wasn't looking forward to reinstalling windows, even though i had uninstalled quite a few apps to no avail. I was hesitant to try this script but it all seemed ok, i got a access denied error (i suspect on the reg add line) but it fixed my IE8 new tab not loading pages (without stopping and reloading) and the always opening in new window issue.
You saved me hours of work thanks.
Tim- Edited by Tim Hall Friday, December 11, 2009 5:40 AM Clarifying who i was replying to
Friday, December 11, 2009 5:16 AM -
Thank you, this fixed the problem for me. The other suggestions did not work.Wednesday, April 10, 2013 10:31 AM