Teach you Windows Explorer command line parameters

You can use the following parameters in the Explorer.exe command.
Parameters Results
/n Opens a new single pane window for the default selection.
The default selection is usually the root of the drive where Windows is installed.
/e Start Windows Explorer with the default view.
/e, "object" Use the default view to launch Windows Explorer and 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.
Running 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.
Example The following example illustrates the use of Windows Explorer parameters. • Explorer /n
This command opens a resource manager window with default settings. The content displayed is usually the root of the drive where Windows is installed.
? Explorer /e
This command starts Windows Explorer with the default view.
? Explorer /e,C:\\Windows
This command starts Windows Explorer with the default view and focuses on C:\\Windows.
? Explorer /root, C:\\Windows\\Cursors
This command starts the Windows Explorer and the focus is on the C:\\Windows\\Cursors folder. This example uses C:\\Windows\\Cursors as the "root" directory of the Windows Resource Manager.
Remarks: Please note the comma after the “/root” parameter in the command.
? Explorer /select, C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\banana.ani
This command selects the “C:\\Windows\\Cursors\\banana.ani” file after starting Windows Explorer.
Remarks: Please note the comma after the “/select” parameter in the command.
Windows Explorer parameters can be combined in one command. The following example shows a combination of Windows Explorer command line arguments. Explorer /root,
\\\\server\\share, select, Program.exe
This command starts Windows Explorer with remote sharing as the "root" folder and the Program.exe file will be selected .
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, then right-click Windows Explorer.
2. On the menu that appears, click Properties.
3. In the "Target" box, attach the “/root" command line parameter to the “%SystemRoot%\\Explorer.exe” command and use the desired launch location. For example, if you want Windows Explorer to be located at the root of the C drive after startup, edit the command to:
%SystemRoot%\\Explorer.exe /root, C:\\
4. Click OK .
With command line arguments, you can either customize the default view used when Windows Explorer starts, or you can specify the view that you see when you launch from a command prompt.