Learn to Explore with Folders Intended For Windows Vista Windows XP Windows 2003 Windows 2000 Windows Me Windows 98 Windows 95 Here are some tips for controlling the way folders and files behave. Although selecting Options from the View menu in My Computer lets you choose whether to open each new folder as a new window or re-use the same window, there is a way to pick-&-choose this behavior on the fly: Select Options from the View menu in My Computer, select Custom, and then click Settings. From the Browse folders as follows section, choose the option that you want. Even though you've chosen one option, you can hold Ctrl while double-clicking folder icons to use the other option. Other keys that work with either setting: Hold Alt while double-clicking on a file or folder to view the Properties window for that object. Hold Shift while double-clicking on a folder to open Explorer at that location (careful when using this as Shift is also used to select multiple files). Press Backspace in an open folder to go to the parent folder. Hold Shift while clicking on the close button (X) to close all open folders. A shortcut for choosing a new program to be used with a certain file type is to hold the Shift key while right-clicking on a file, and choosing Open With... More information: Move or Copy Files at Will, Force Windows to Remember Window Positions This article has been recently supported by and featured on this Internet Webhosting Guide Written by: Annoyances.org Last updated: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 Care to discuss this article with other Windows users? Select your operating system here, and click Continue to post your question. - Choose your OS -Windows 7Windows Server 2008Windows VistaWindows Server 2003Windows XPWindows 2000Windows MeWindows 98Windows 95 Previous discussions about this article: (open a message to see applicable responses, if any) [Windows 98] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (sweety: Thursday, December 6, 2001) [Windows XP] Question about ''Same Window'' vs. ''Own Window'' (Jeff Schallenberg: Thursday, October 24, 2002) [Windows 98] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (Stepeh Kelly: Thursday, January 2, 2003) [Windows Me] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (Stephen Kelly: Thursday, January 2, 2003) [Windows 98] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (Stephen Kelly: Friday, January 3, 2003) [Windows XP] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (Gabriel Lugo: Monday, September 8, 2003) [Windows XP] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (Lindsey: Wednesday, January 21, 2004) [Windows XP] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (Gene: Saturday, August 7, 2004) [Windows XP] Question about 'Learn to Explore with Folders' (EKB: Saturday, April 19, 2008) Return to "Using Windows"