Unable to open folders in Windows Explorer


O

OldGrantonian

Well-known member
Member
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Local time
2:03 PM
Posts
74
OS
Windows 11 24H2
I can open Windows Explorer from the taskbar, but I can't open ANY folders. For example, I can't open "Program Files" or "Users".

I have an older laptop that I can use in the meantime, but I would be grateful for any help with this issue.

I'm comfortable in the registry.

Thanks
.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 24H2
OS
Windows 11 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640
Please provide more information.
Your specs say you are running Windows 10. If that's true you should post on Tenforums. If you indeed have 11 what version.
Fill out you full computer specs
Have you installed any 3rd party software that alters the GUI. If so uninstall it.
Does your mouse work correctly in areas other than file explorer? If cordless, change the batteries.
Check settings>accounts. Beside your name does it show you to be administrator.
Can you open your own user folders?
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8875i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.8875
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    2x1tb Solidigm m.2 nvme /External drives 512gb Samsung m.2 sata+2tb Kingston m2.nvme
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    #1 Edge #2 Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8875AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.8875
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Beelink Mini PC SER5
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics card(s)
    integrated
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Crucial nvme
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    still too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.8875
As I recall, there's an option in Explorer to open with either one or two clicks. Check that. If I'm wrong, shoot me. I'm sitting in a restaurant booth on my smartphone twelve miles away from my computer.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProIntel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/sIntel Arc graphics B390 Panther Lake
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 16 DA16260
    CPU
    Intel Series 3 Core Ultra X9 388H
    Memory
    64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/s
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Arc graphics B390 Panther Lake
    Monitor(s) Displays
    16" 3.2K Tandem OLED Infinity Edge
    Screen Resolution
    3200 x 2000 16:10 236 PPI
    Hard Drives
    1 Terabyte M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    NPU delivering 67 TOPS
    Microsoft 365 subscription
    Microsoft Office 365
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Visual Studio
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Microsoft Sysinternals Suite
    Microsoft BitLocker
    Microsoft Copilot
    Dell Support Assist
    Dell Command | Update
    Macrium Reflect X subscription
    1Password Password Manager
    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 ProSnapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) with Hexagon NP...32GB LPDDR5x 8448 MT/sIntegrated Adreno GPU
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft Surface Laptop 7
    CPU
    Snapdragon® X Elite (12 Core) with Hexagon NPU delivering 45 TOPS
    Memory
    32GB LPDDR5x 8448 MT/s
    Graphics card(s)
    Integrated Adreno GPU
    Sound Card
    Omnisonic speakers with Dolby Atmos spatial sound
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.8″ PixelSense Flow touchscreen 120 Hz 600 NIT
    Screen Resolution
    2304 × 1536 (201 PPI), 3:2 aspect ratio
    Hard Drives
    1 TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
    Case
    Black Anodized Aluminum
    Cooling
    Vapor Chamber Cooling
    Mouse
    None
    Internet Speed
    942 Mbps Netgear Mesh + 2 Satellites
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Chromium)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security (Defender)
    Other Info
    Microsoft 365 subscription (Office)
    Microsoft Office 365
    Microsoft OneDrive 1TB Cloud
    Microsoft Visual Studio 2026
    Microsoft Visual Studio Code
    Interactive Brokers Trader Workstation
    Lightroom/Photoshop subscription
    1Password Password Manager
    Microsoft Sysinternals
    Amazon Kindle for PC
    Microsoft BitLocker
    Microsoft Copilot
Do a System Restore to a time before this happened.
You can also Reset Windows Keeping Files.
Look at this as well

Unable to open folders/files and launch programs from File Explorer

Subject: Urgent Assistance Required - File Explorer & Program Launch Issues on HP Z2 Mini G9 Hello All, New member and new user of Windows 11 (current version is 22H2). I'm seeking help for an unprecedented issue that I've encountered on my new HP Z2 Mini G9. While my primary system is a...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro Insider 64 bit 25H2 26200.5742Intel Core i7 9700K 3.6016 GBnVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
OS
Windows 11 Pro Insider 64 bit 25H2 26200.5742
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Gigabyte Z390 UD
CPU
Intel Core i7 9700K 3.60
Motherboard
Gigabyte Z390 UD
Memory
16 GB
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
Sound Card
onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160
Hard Drives
M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
PSU
850w PSU
Case
Cyberpower PC
Cooling
Water cooled
Keyboard
Backlit Cyberpower gaming keyboard
Mouse
Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
Internet Speed
1 GB mbps
Browser
Brave
Antivirus
Windows Security
glasskuter said:
Your specs say you are running Windows 10. If that's true you should post on Tenforums. If you indeed have 11 what version.
Click to expand...
I've added Win 11 to my Account Details
glasskuter said:
Fill out you full computer specs
Click to expand...
Done
glasskuter said:
Have you installed any 3rd party software that alters the GUI. If so uninstall it.
Click to expand...
No
glasskuter said:
Does your mouse work correctly in areas other than file explorer?
Click to expand...
Yes
glasskuter said:
If cordless, change the batteries.
Click to expand...
N/A
glasskuter said:
Check settings>accounts. Beside your name does it show you to be administrator.
Click to expand...
Yes
glasskuter said:
Can you open your own user folders?
Click to expand...
No.
In File Explorer, the mouse works everywhere in the panel above "Home".
The mouse does not work anywhere in the panel below - and including "Home"

Thanks
.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 24H2
OS
Windows 11 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640
TraderGary said:
As I recall, there's an option in Explorer to open with either one or two clicks. Check that. If I'm wrong, shoot me. I'm sitting in a restaurant booth on my smartphone twelve miles away from my computer.
Click to expand...
.
I couldn't find that option.

I Googled it, but no hits.

Maybe in the earliest days, a single click was all that was available. That opened the parent in the left panel. I do't think there was a right panel.

Thanks
.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 24H2
OS
Windows 11 24H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Dell Inspiron 16 Plus 7640
By default, clicking once Selects an item, double clicking executes the item.
This is the Default behavior but you can change it to a Single Click to Execute.

Go to search and type Control Panel and press Enter.
Click File Explorer Options.
You can change this under Click Items as follows:
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro Insider 64 bit 25H2 26200.5742Intel Core i7 9700K 3.6016 GBnVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
OS
Windows 11 Pro Insider 64 bit 25H2 26200.5742
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Gigabyte Z390 UD
CPU
Intel Core i7 9700K 3.60
Motherboard
Gigabyte Z390 UD
Memory
16 GB
Graphics Card(s)
nVidia GEForce RTX 2060 Super
Sound Card
onboard
Monitor(s) Displays
Two 27" Dell 4K monitors
Screen Resolution
3840 x 2160
Hard Drives
M.2 NVME SSD, 500 GB; Two 2TB Mechanical HDD's
PSU
850w PSU
Case
Cyberpower PC
Cooling
Water cooled
Keyboard
Backlit Cyberpower gaming keyboard
Mouse
Backlit Cyberpower gaming mouse
Internet Speed
1 GB mbps
Browser
Brave
Antivirus
Windows Security
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