Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Windows Explorer is everywhere - yet finding Windows Explorer on the Start Menu is actually fairly difficult. We look at where Windows Explorer is, and some of the many other ways you can get to it.
I am running Windows XP Pro, and for some reason I cannot find Windows Explorer. I can't find it in the Start Menu ... could you point me in the right direction?
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Windows Explorer is both the hardest to find, and the easiest to find program there is. There are several ways to get it, and all of them are really, really easy.
It's just that none of them are obvious.
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First, the "expected" location:
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Start menu
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All Programs item
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Accessories sub-menu
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Windows Explorer menu item
Not obvious, but that's typically where you'll find it.
And for what it's worth, I never, ever, use that location.
Here are some of the other ways you can get to Windows Explorer, most of them much easier than that:
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If your keyboard has a "Windows Key", then Windows+E brings up Windows Explorer.
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Right click on My Computer, and click on Explore.
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Click on Start, then Run, and enter in a folder name, like "C:\", and click OK - that will open up Windows Explorer (without the left hand navigation pane) on that folder.
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Click on Start, then Run, and enter in "explorer /e,c:\folder" where "c:\folder" is replaced with the folder you want to view. This is roughly the same as the previous point, except that the left hand navigation pane is visible.
If you have a directory that you like to view often in Windows Explorer, that last point can be very handy - just create a shortcut with that as the command line. For example on my Start menu I have an entry that is a shortcut to something like:
explorer /e,\\Server\share\mp3
A click on that menu item, and the mp3 folder on one of my shared machines opens up.
Article C2712 - July 4, 2006
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
After you find Explorer in the first method you show, right click on Explorer and drag it to the desktop. Select "Copy Here".
Posted by: Dick at July 26, 2011 1:36 PMThen you will always have a desktop icon to open Explorer.
Thank you so much, I don't have a problem but my daughter (who has my old computer) couldn't find windows explorer, this has made it easy for me to tell her how to find it, I knew it was there but. . . . .
Posted by: Trish at August 6, 2011 2:34 AMI had no trouble finding the file I wanted in Windows explorer, but I need to uninstall the file that's there and it's not giving me that option. What is the best way to delete an unwanted file from Windows Explorer?
25-Oct-2011
@Marina
Here's an article on Ask Leo which explains how to do that
http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_delete_a_file_in_use.html
I use Unlocker Assistant. It's free and it often works when MoveOnBoot fails.
Posted by: Mark J at October 25, 2011 2:23 AMhttp://unlocker.en.softonic.com/
when I click on Window Explorer (WE), a new tab will appear behind the WE icon at the foot of my screen. It will NOT expand to a proper screen even after I clicked on the tab. Appreciate your help.
Posted by: Andrew at December 7, 2011 9:35 PM