Windows 7: Windows Explorer help needed

cr2 · 20 Oct 2011

In win xp clicking on a folder on the left side opened its sub folders on the left and right. Is there a way to make windows explorer work like this in win 7? As it is set up now, I either have to hunt and click the little arrow next to the folder on the left, or double click the folder on the right to open its sub folders.

Brink · 20 Oct 2011

Hello cr2, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This may be able to help with that.

Navigation Pane - Automatically expand to current folder

Hope this helps,
Shawn

cr2 · 20 Oct 2011

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for the welcome and information. Unfortunately, I have tried all 4 options and restarted the pc twice, and the folders on the left still do not expand with one click. Are there any settings anywhere else that might prevent this from working?

Thanks,
Charlie

Brink · 20 Oct 2011

You'll need to either click on the arrow to the left of the folder or double click on the folder to expand the folder in the navigation pane.

white outlined arrow = unexpanded
black arrow = expanded

The automatic expand option is only for when you open the folders from within the main window to have it also expand to that folder in the navigation pane automatically.

cr2 · 21 Oct 2011

So the short answer to my initial question was/is 'no.' I consider this much less convenient that the way it worked in XP. Thanks anyway for trying to help.

ddix1026 · 21 Oct 2011

if you double click the folder on the left, it will expand the sub-folders underneath on the left and also show the sub-folders on the right... its not a single click but is a double click really that much less convenient?

otherwise, yes, they removed that feature starting with Vista I believe

pincushion · 21 Oct 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by ddix1026

if you double click the folder on the left, it will expand the sub-folders underneath on the left and also show the sub-folders on the right... its not a single click but is a double click really that much less convenient?

otherwise, yes, they removed that feature starting with Vista I believe

Thanks, didn't know that - I really think I should explore Windows 7 a bit more.

kado897 · 21 Oct 2011

You can set Windows 7 to open with a single click for everything including executables.

Windows Explorer help needed-screenshot037.png

Except apparently the right pane of explorer

Windows 7: Windows Explorer help needed

Windows Explorer help needed problems?