Windows 7: Explorer always opens each folder in new window

The default action for double-clicking a folder in Explorer is to open that folder in a new window. The only way to get it to open in the same window is to right click and select Open.

I have looked for specific registry edits, but my only results seemed to only apply to Vista or XP.

Please note that the Folder Options >> Open Each Folder in Same Window is ineffective, and a registry tweak or context menu edit is probably necessary at this point.



Any suggestions?

-Thanks in advance!

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000022
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000021
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
65,00,20,00,2f,00,65,00,2c,00,2f,00,69,00,64,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2c,\
00,25,00,49,00,2c,00,25,00,4c,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec]
@="[ExploreFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000010
"ExplorerFlags"=dword:00000012
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\
65,00,20,00,2f,00,69,00,64,00,6c,00,69,00,73,00,74,00,2c,00,25,00,49,00,2c,\
00,25,00,4c,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="[ViewFolder(\"%l\", %I, %S)]"
"NoActivateHandler"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\application]
@="Folders"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\ifexec]
@="[]"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]
@="AppProperties"
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\explore]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell]
@="none"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
@="none"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell]
@=-

Thanks for the response! Unfortunately, that did not fix the problem. Since opening a folder in the same window is possible by selecting manually Open from the context menu, would it be possible to edit the default double-click value to be this same Open command? -Thank you!

in shell try set (default) value "" instead "open" or "explore"
it's work for me (winXP)

Hi!
Probably you've already solved that or reinstalled the system by now. Anyway, I had the same problem and what did the trick was opening elevated command line - from start menu type "cmd" in the search box, right click on cmd.exe and run as administrator. Once you are in the command prompt type "regsvr32 shell32.dll". You should get confirmation if successful. This will re-register Windows shell library, which is responsible for how windows explorer operates. Remember to restart the system and it folders should open in the same window as you want them to.