Windows Explorer-Desktop/Downloads/Recent Places in left pane problem

[kwil]

Hi there,

Normally, opening Windows Explorer in Windows 7 shows at top LEFT: 'Favorites/Desktop/Downloads/Recent Places/

For some reason only 'Favorites' is now showing in left pane, all the rest show in the right pane

I noted there's NO black 'down' arrow next to Favorites
So all I've been able to try is: right-clicking 'Favorites' > 'Restore Favorite Links' but nothing happens

I also went into C: > Users > tried dragging eg 'Downloads' folder up to 'Favorite's area' in the hope it might show as normal.
But no luck: all I get is the file DUPLICATED in the RIGHT pane!

Am I missing something simple here? Having the above in the LEFT pane as normal is important for me.

Would appreciate some help...

Many thanks

 

[wither 2]

Try dragging and dropping Desktop, etc. from the right pane to underneath Favorites on the left pane..

 

[kwil]

Hi W2...thanks for taking time to reply.

However, I've already tried that and all that happens is that duplicates of Desktop etc are placed in the RIGHT pane, not quite what I needed...
Any other ideas? The answer surely must be simple....

Regards

 

[wither 2]

I don't understand. The short cuts in the left pane are duplicates of what's in the right pane. I can drag and drop Desktop from the right pane to the left pane. Since Desktop is already in the left pane, it will add another Desktop shortcut under Favorites. Regardless of which one I select, it does the same thing.

 

[kwil]

Hi again...it appears you've misunderstood me.

Dragging say, 'Desktop' FROM right pane to, as you suggest, 'underneath Favorites' merely results in the duplicate showing in the RIGHT pane as 'Desktop 2'

The left pane continues to show ONLY 'Favorites'

The problem seems to be that there's no black arrowhead next to 'Favorites'. Here's a screenshot:




Note the black arrowhead next to 'Libraries'
I hope that clarifies...

Regards

 

[wither 2]

Thanks for the clarification. As usual, a picture is worth a 1000 words. Right click on Favorites and select "Expand." That should do the trick.

 

[kwil]

Hi W2...thanks again for your input.

However, I've already tried right-clicking on 'Expand'...Just tried again...Same result: nothing happens.

'Desktop/Downloads/Recent Places remain stubbornly in the right pane

So, I've tried 'Expand' and 'Restore Favorite Links' to no avail. The mystery continues...

Regards

 

[wither 2]

When you click on Expand, you should see the vertical scroll bar. In your screen shot, Collapse is selected. Hover your mouse pointer over the right edge of the scroll bar until you see an opposing arrows icon. Hold down the left mouse button and then move the scroll bar to the left.

 

[kwil]

Hi W2
Tried your suggestion....no luck

However, fairly regularly, I make a Registry Backup

Clicking on a previous RB, then restarting, solved the problem! Now everything is as should be!

Clearly then I must've done something that messed up the Registry and caused the annoying problem.

As another point of information for others:

I've unearthed another possible reason for my original problem: it may be related to 'Shortcut Arrows' and the need to remove them, though I had no arrows showing on my own Desktop.

This involves going into the Registry > Start > type regedit > Run As Administrator...

Rather than give a blow-by-blow description there's a useful and clear 'how-to' with pictures at:

How to Remove Shortcut Arrows (with Pictures) - wikiHow

I've asked around and this might be an answer or helpful as a possible solution for Favorites acting as they did for me. Especially if you haven't backed up the Registry. Don't ask me why!

Final thought: useful and easy to make regular Registry Backups! So do it! I keep mine handy on my Desktop screen.

I hope all of the above is of some help and saves some of you anguish!

Microsoft, as in so many instances, just seem intent in making computing life annoying for us all, don't they? Don't even begin to ask me what I think of Windows 8/10/11!!

Many thanks again to all for their time and input...

 

[SIW2]

Take a look in %userprofile%\Links

type or copy and paste that bolded line into start search box and see what is in there

 

[wither 2]

I'm glad he got it fixed. Clearly, there was a bigger problem than using Windows controls to resolve it.