Access Windows Explorer in Vista???

I use a flash drive all the time. I don't think I have ever worried about stopping it. When I transfer a file there or from there to my computer, a little window pops up to show the progress, when it is done, I just yank the flash drive out and plug it into another computer or whatever I want to do. I am not at home now, but on my computer it shows up as G: removable drive.

I just yank the flash drive out

 

MY G==!!! That's so BRUTAL!

 

Just kidding.

The Sony instructions for my flash drive say to stop the drive before disconnecting. 

Non-stop disconnects can corrupt the flash drive similar to power-off computer shutdowns.

My Win 2000Pro computer pops up a warning message if a camera memory card is mistakenly removed from it's USB adapter without stopping it.

I don't know if the same message will pop up if the flash drive is disconnected without stopping it because I have avoided doing that so far.

Another Sony advisement is don't boot up the computer with the flash drive still connected from previous use.

The computer boot sequence may allow the computer to find the flash drive before the normal boot drive and try to boot up from it which can corrupt the flash drive too.

To each his own, but I'll keep stopping mine and removing it as soon as it's task is completed.

 

Back to the Vista Windows Explorer issue.

The Windows Explorer Taskbar icon on my Win 2000Pro is a shortcut to the C:\WINNT\explorer.scf file.

Would you or anyone using Vista do a search for the explorer.scf file on their computer and if found post it's Vista location back here?

 

With that information we can locate it on my sister's 530S and create a shortcut on the desktop like you've done except the short cut will be for Explorer itself not the C:\ drive.

Thanks for any replies!

Instructions? I don't need no stinken instructions!! :smileyvery-happy:

 

Never read instructions, but since the invention of XP, flash drives are plug-n-play. Go in, pull out. No wait, no hassle!! Never had a problem. Unlike CD drives that were removable so they can be replaced on the fly. Except if you yanked it out, without stopping it, XP would come crashing down. XPS series doesn't have removable drives. (You can replace them by unscrewing a couple screws, but not by pushing a button)

 

As far as your explorer.scf  file all I found in a search was explorer.sc_ and it was in the "C:\Backupxp\i386\" folder. I did a search on my XP drive and found explorer.sc_ on the i386 folder. But couldn't find it expanded anywhere.

Instructions? I don't need no stinken instructions!!

 

Hey!!! Treasure of the Sierra Madras has always been a favorite of mine.

 

since the invention of XP, flash drives are plug-n-play. Go in, pull out. No wait, no hassle!!

 

Well, that shows how far behind the OS's I am.

Beyond Win 2000Pro I'm OS challenged.
I have XP but haven't installed it because I'm still learning how to use Win 2000Pro. I gave up on trying to master DOS.

Does Vista/XP even have a USB icon appear when a flash drive is plugged in?

 

all I found in a search was explorer.sc_

 

That's interesting, there's a key file in Vista/XP somewhere that's used to initiate Windows Explorer. It's just going to take a little ingenuity to find it.
Your C:\ approach may be the best option.

How about the Windows Explorer icon in your XP?

If you right click on the icon itself and select Properties, what is the name of the target file and it's location?

 

Inspiron 8200(1) Purchased from eBay. (Never again)

 

Here's a surplus site from one of Speedstep's posts that really looks good for shopping for a used computer... http://www.pcretro.com

OK, in Vista it says "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe" for windows explorer.

 

As far as XP, I'll edit this message to add it. Because I have to reboot into XP.

OK, in XP it says "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe"

 

Looks the same to me...

 

I use to love DOS, didn't care for Windows 3.11. Only had it installed for the kids sake. When 98 came out, I dropped DOS all together. Now I am in Vista 99.9999% of the time. Going to XP to look for that path for you will be the first time in XP for a couple weeks.

 

As far as buying the used 8200 off eBay, that was the first time I bought one. I actually did buy the XPS Gen2 computer from eBay also. At least the seller transfered the warranty to me. I extended the warranty for 2 years. And 3 months before it was to expire, it got a short in it that was giving me jolts. so Dell replaced it with this XPS M1730. :smileyvery-happy: Way to go Dell!!!!

OK, in Vista it says "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe" for windows explorer.

 

:), I think you've found it!

 

I suspect all has to be done is do a Vista File/Folder search in C:\ drive and that should turn up the explorer.exe file.

Right click on the explorer.exe result in the Search Results and select Open. If it's the right file, Windows Explorer will open.

If it does, close Windows Explorer and right click on the explorer.exe file again and select the shortcut option; a message will probably pop up saying it can't create a shortcut here and show a browse window where you can browse back to the desktop and create the shortcut there.

Once you have a shortcut there you used to be able to drag/drop it into the taskbar, Start Menu or wherever in the Programs menu you wanted it.

As soon as I can get together with my sister on the phone we'll try this on her Vista and see if it works. It may be a day or so before we can find time to do that.

You or anyone lurking out there can try this method with Vista yourself and post back.  

. . or . . press the Windows Flag Key and E at the same time . .

on my system the file is located at C:\windows\explorer.exe  (Vista Ultima X64)

simpswr; Davet50:

 

Ok... Where have you two been lurking? :)

 

simpswr:
. . or . . press the Windows Flag Key and E at the same time . .
 
I had been told somewhere that pressing the ALT key would open Vista's Windows Explorer but it didn't.
Also, once Windows Explorer is opened, there's supposed to be a way to set it to display in the "Classic" way when opened the next time.
Do you know how to do that?
Where do Vista users find tips like that?
BTW; thanks for the neat tip and reply!

 

Davet50:

the file is located at C:\windows\explorer.exe

 

That's what we needed to know in order to create a visible Windows Explorer shortcut icon to click on in Vista.

Creating shortcuts is a very handy option especially if you download a standalone program or utility that doesn't have an icon to open it.
For example, I used to use a small utility named Chainsaw.exe that split a larger-than-floppy size file into floppy-size chunks.
Normally you just browsed to it's folder and opened it from there.
I had already created a Utility category on my Start menu so I put a Chainsaw shortcut in there for easy access and to avoid the browsing process.
I still run it occasionally just to hear the chainsaw run; it also shakes up anyone nearby that doesn't know what's going on. :O

Thanks for your reply too!
 

Check out the How to Geeks lots of things to do there.

Also, once Windows Explorer is opened, there's supposed to be a way to set it to display in the "Classic" way when opened the next time.
Do you know how to do that?

 

Not sure what the "Classic" way is . . say more . .  

 

Where do Vista users find tips like that? . . Trial and error . . this works the same as with XP as does most tips

BTW; thanks for the neat tip and reply!  You are welcome

simpswr: 

Not sure what the "Classic" way is . . say more . .  

Not sure myself but in this case I take it to mean having Windows Explorer open with the C: drive folders expanded like I'm accustomed to seeing in 2000Pro.

 

Trial and error . . this works the same as with XP as does most tips

That's the conclusion I'm coming to although some of my "trials" have produced major errors. :O

Oditius:

 

Thanks for the How To Geeks link!

 

Also, I want to thank you for all your time and effort you put into resolving the Vista Windows Explorer issue.

About these Issue Resolved buttons; sometimes there's more than one way to fix problems and I think there's a need to be able to select more than one post to give credit where credit is due.

Also, some users might overlook a fix they'd prefer because they didn't read everything.

 

[Off Topic: About the (ex?)Microsoft Vista people; I heard they were all snapped up by the remaining Presidential candidates because their sales and marketing skills are right up there on the level of being able to sell refrigerators to Eskimos in the Arctic circle.:smileyvery-happy:] 

Davet50:

 

If you would like explorer to open up and expand the C: drive so you don't have to click on the C: to see the  folders on the drive  just add the /e to the link like this..

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e

 

/e xcellent! /e xcellent!!

 

Thank you!

that's what i do a lot too. I keep a shortcut to a lot of things on the desktop. makes finding them easier...

as to your first question on customizing explorer..

on the top tool bar under the "Folder" button is tools click on that and that will bring up the customization tabs....

 

If you would like explorer to open up and expand the C: drive so you don't have to click on the C: to see the  folders on the drive  just add the /e to the link like this..

 

%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e