Summary: 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?
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.
•
First, the "expected" location:
-
Start menu
-
All Programs item
-
Accessories sub-menu
-
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:
-
If your keyboard has a "Windows Key", then Windows+E brings up Windows Explorer.
-
Right click on My Computer, and click on Explore.
-
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.
-
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.
Related:
-
Ask Leo! - How can I get Windows Explorer to default to open on a directory of my choosing?
-
Ask Leo! - How do I get Windows Explorer to display details by default?
Article C2712 - July 4, 2006
Is it possible that Windows Explorer may not be on your computer? So how can you find something that is not there to begin with?
13-Oct-2008
Dear Leo,
Posted by: Julie at October 23, 2008 1:34 AMI have a great problem...the "start" button is NOT on my computer...somehow I cannot run explorer. no idea what to do...help!
Hi Leo...
I don't find anything resembling "Explore" when I right click on MyComputer. I do find shared documents, jim's documents, local disk, 3.5 drive,nero scout, my sharing files, and hp printer.
That's it.
Similarly, if i use the Window Key + E, i cannot find the folder (System Drive) that i'm looking for.
My problem is i added critical upgrades to XP Pro and my outlook express will not longer open. MS sent me to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/873021 to fix this, and i got finshed down to #6, inclusive, but now i can't find "systemdrive" in windows explorer to finish. i do see program files, but i'm worried it's not the same thing as systemdrive\programfiles\outlookexpress, which is what i'm supposed to edit next.
thanks for allowing such a long explanation.
Posted by: Jim Lacey at December 15, 2008 10:43 AMjim
Hi Leo,
When I start up my computer I have no desktop and no start menu. A box pops up that says Windows has encountered a problem and needs to close. I tried running explorer.exe through my task manager and it will not start. I did a registry cleaner and it said this:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Doc Folder Paths
I have no idea what this means. Also on the Error Signature it had:
App Name: Explorer.exe
Mod Ver: 5.1.2600.1106
App Ver: 6.0.2800.1106
Offset: 0001b62f
Mod name: Kernel32.dll
I am really frustrated and stuck on this problem. Hopefully you can help me. Thanks a lot. My system is windows xp pro
23-Dec-2008
Hi Leo,
Posted by: Mary at December 23, 2008 1:47 AMWhen I start up my computer I have no desktop and no start menu. A box pops up that says Windows has encountered a problem and needs to close. I tried running explorer.exe through my task manager and it will not start. I did a registry cleaner and it said this:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Explorer\Doc Folder Paths
I have no idea what this means. Also on the Error Signature it had:
App Name: Explorer.exe
Mod Ver: 5.1.2600.1106
App Ver: 6.0.2800.1106
Offset: 0001b62f
Mod name: Kernel32.dll
I am really frustrated and stuck on this problem. Hopefully you can help me. Thanks a lot. My system is windows xp pro
Finding Windows Explorer: Right click on Start, when the menu comes up select (left click) Explore
Posted by: John Griffin at January 7, 2009 6:38 AMSimplist way is to right click on the START key and select explorer (usually the 2nd ent down).
09-Jan-2009
The bar at the bottom of Windows Explore has disappeared. I use it to display number of files in a folder and and total folder size
24-Feb-2009
dear mr.Leo ,I cant open any documents and files in my new labtop with windows vista,everytime i want to open them ,it comes up with an error saying that:Windows Explorer has stopped working ,check for online soloution!but theres no soloution,what can I do?
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: explorer.exe
Application Version: 6.0.6001.18164
Application Timestamp: 4907e242
Fault Module Name: dx.dll_unloaded
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 49dcc7f4
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 04224c84
OS Version: 6.0.6001.2.1.0.768.3
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: fd00
Additional Information 2: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
Additional Information 3: fd00
Additional Information 4: ea6f5fe8924aaa756324d57f87834160
thanks
If Windows Explorer is crashing on you like that it's likely that you've been infected with a virus, or Windows itself has become corrupt. You can try the System File Checker, but I think you're probably headed for a reinstall of Windows.
13-May-2009
I have problems with windows explorer. i can only open it by opening the shortcut in help and support.and even then it does show correctly on the toolbar, it shows up as "system" etc...I confess i might have deleted my desktop windows explorer link when i had a virus attack. what can i do to get it back and in the right place??ps am a bit of tech novuice so keep it simple please.
Posted by: happykat at August 21, 2009 3:31 AM