This step-by-step article describes how to use the Windows Explorer command-line switches in Windows XP.

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More Information

You can use the command-line switches either to customize the default view that Windows Explorer uses when it starts, or to specify the view when you start Windows Explorer from a command prompt.

You can use the following switches with the Explorer.exe command.

Switch	Result
/n	Opens a new single-pane Window for the default selection. This is usually the root of the drive on which Windows is installed.
/e	Starts Windows Explorer using its default view.
/e, <object>	Starts Windows Explorer using its default view with the 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.

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Run 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.

Examples

The following examples describe the use of Windows Explorer switches.

•	Explorer /n This command opens an Explorer window using the default setting. This is usually the root of the drive on which Windows is installed.
•	Explorer /e This command starts Windows Explorer using the default view.
•	Explorer /e,C:\Windows This command starts Windows Explorer using the default view, with the focus on C:\Windows.
•	Explorer /root, C:\Windows\Cursors This command starts Windows Explorer at the C:\Windows\Cursors folder. This example uses C:\Windows\Cursors as the "root" directory for Windows Explorer. NOTE: Note the comma after the "/root" switch in the command.
•	Explorer /select, C:\Windows\Cursors\banana.ani This command starts Windows Explorer with the "C:\Windows\Cursors\banana.ani" file selected. NOTE: Note the comma after the "/select" switch in the command.

The Windows Explorer switches can be combined in a single command. The following example shows the combination of the Windows Explorer command-line switches.

•	Explorer /root, \\server\share, select, Program.exe This command starts Windows Explorer using the remote share as its "root" folder, along with the Program.exe file selected.

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Change the Windows Explorer Default Startup Folder

To change the default startup folder for Windows Explorer:

1.	Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then right-click Windows Explorer.
2.	On the menu that appears, click Properties.
3.	In the Target box, append the "/root" command-line switch to the "%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe" command, using the startup location that you want. For example, if you want Windows Explorer to start at the root of drive C, edit the command to the following: %SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /root, C:\
4.	Click OK.

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