Maintenance :: Windows / File Explorer Always Opens Minimized
Sep 15, 2014
I use Windows 8.1.
Until few days ago, everything was working fine. Whenever I open the File Explorer/Windows Explorer, it always opens minimized. Earlier I just needed to maximize it and close it so that when the next time I open it, it opens maximized. But when I do that now, it still opens minimized.
Not just that. I like to have my files and folders view to be as "large icons". But, its all in "details" view now. Earlier if something like this happened, I would change it once to "large icons" and it remained intact upon my viewing next time. However, it doesn't happen now. In spite of changing the view settings to "large icons", they still open "details" view.
I've added task manager to my scheduled tasks at logon. Everywhere I google, they say to put the /min or -minimized arguments in it to launch it minimized, except neither option works for me. Task Manager launches, but just sits there on my desktop.
Is there a new argument for minimized in Windows 8?
Windows 8 FILE EXPLORER has begun prompting me that it "can't find" or items "do not exist" when I try to manipulate the files in any manner. Of course they DO exist and oddly, if I repeat the command, the job gets done.
So...the functions seem to work, but I must repeat them and deal with this pesky prompt.
I am reluctant to use System Restore as I have made some time consuming changes to my OS since this problem started and do no suspect it will be successful.
i currently can not access the available Wi-Fi networks menu. when i attempt to open the available networks pane from either the taskbar, or the settings charm, explorer restarts. i receive no error. I think the problem originated a couple of days ago. on that day, i logged on and the resolution was wrong; Windows had just completed installing an update. since then, i've reinstalled the graphic, network, and audio drivers. i've also uninstalled the latest Windows updates, as well as try and use system restore to go back about a month. no results. the only thing telling is i get an error in safe mode that says "The instruction at 0x389fac1c referenced memory at 0x0000000. The memory could not be written." i recieve this error when i attempt to open the Network connections menu from the taskbar like usual.
Recently I've started having this problem where if I right-click anywhere in File Explorer, no matter what folder, my cursor switches to loading, then the folder goes to (Not Responding), and I have to close it out which causes Windows Explorer to disappear for a few seconds.
Internet Explorer 11 will only open if I right click and then select Run As Administrator. If I don't do this, the window opens, then closes straight away without doing anything. Links in Incredimail will not open in it either . Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox work fine (and with the Incredimail links). I have not added any programs recently. I have tried a clean boot, I have disabled all the add ons, I have checked/unchecked Enable Enhanced Protected Mode, I have made Google Chrome the default browser, then changed back to IE11, I have run Malwarebytes Anti Malware, Super Anti Spyware, Windows Defender and CCleaner, checked for Windows updates...all to no avail. Tried a system restore as well, but no joy.
I upgraded to w 8.1 with firefox as my default browser. When I opened the "e" shortcut google web page opened. I tried to download IE 11 but a message said it was already running. open IE ?
I'm trying to set up a miner for a cryptocurrency and to do so I have to start a .cmd file. However, instead of running in command prompt, it only opens in notepad. I already tried this: Default File Associations - Restore in Windows 8 and I get the message that some keys are open by the system blah blah or I have insufficient privileges (I am the only user on my computer).
I also tried going into regedit and deleting any extension associates (not sure if correct name), but there was not one of .cmd, and when I tried creating one and pasting the cmd reg file I downloaded into it, it didn't let me.
I also going through set associations in control panel and setting command prompt to being the default program, but it just says "The program you have selected cannot be associated with this file type. Please choose another program."
As I start my Surface Pro the normal Start appears. By tapping a Desktop tile I see My PC folder opened instead of desktop wallpaper...This started to happen after I installed recent apps updates. As far as I can remember, no registry tweaks nor system modifications were made by me.
When in file explorer the zip icon under the share tab is not active. When I click on a simple folder, it does not highlight. If I right click on the folder and go to send to all I get is the dvd drive unless I shift right click first then a drop down of more selections appear but not send to compress. Is this something that need to be activated. I can un-zip a fle from the view tab.
Under Windows 8, when I minimize a window it disappears completely? Have I somehow changed a setting for the actions of the minimize button? Task manager show the program running but nothing appears in the taskbar. All programs are doing this so it must be a Windows 8 setting?
I don't know how I did it but I got both Windows 7 File Recovery and Windows 8 File History active at the same time. I upgraded from Win 7 to 8 Pro and transferred settings so win 7 file recovery was already active, when I tried to turn on win 8 file recovery I got a message saying I cant because win 7 FR was active. So I deactivated win 7 FR then activated win 8 FR, for giggles I went back and turned on win 7 FR and it worked. Now I have both active, from what I have read this was not possible. Did I break my OS or am I just lucky?
Is this possible? I have 3 open Chrome windows that are minimized in the taskbar. I would like them to remain in the order that I originally opened them, but sometimes Windows 8 decides to switch their order. It's extremely frustrating and totally breaks up the flow of my work. Can I rearrange them back?
In Windows 8.0 File History, it had the nasty habit of duplicating your library files on your backup ( in my case, my external USB backup drive ( Replica 2 Terabyte ). By DUPLICATING, I mean they get copied over and over and over again... This happens to ALL of them, even though you have not touched the majority of them for YEARS. (File History is suppose to copy them over the FIRST time, then copy a new copy with a new name (old name plus date) if you edit the file in any way). I turned of file indexing on ALL my drives, except my C: drive, to see if that would stop it ( this is recommended in many threads on other sites ).
"To change the way Windows Explorer opens (copy and paste)
one of the examples below to the target portion of a shortcut and name it Windows Explorer.
Examples:
Open Windows Explorer with My Computer as the root with all drives visible and "My Computer" selected. C:WINDOWSEXPLORER.EXE /e,/n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}"
(other examples followed)
In Windows 8.1 the "target" box is grayed out. File Explorer always starts with the THIS PC folder highlighted... and I would like to change that. How?
I purchased an HP desktop with windows 8 towards the end of 2012, and have been running into a recurring problem that has worsened recently. Originally, something would occasionally occur after my computer went to sleep. When I woke it up, there would be no desktop icons and although I could launch programs, their windows would remain in a permanent minimized state. A simple restart would fix it temporarily, but as of late a new issue has complicated things. Now, certain programs (web browsers and the occasional game) will be permanently minimized on the regular desktop screen, and will only be viewable on the 2nd screen. As you can Imagine, this makes performing tasks that require multiple programs very difficult, as there is no surefire way to switch from the regular desktop screen to the second one. I attempted to fix the issue by changing the sleep settings and performing a repair install, but both of these had no effect.
I recently upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 8.1 (pro, 64bit) and everything seemed to be fine, except even in the beggining the file explorer was very very slow. (Had the green bar loading all the time) But today, the file explorer became completely unusable, 19 out of 20 times when I open "My Computer" it doesn't even show me my harddrives, even tho it should say Local Disc C and Local Disc D etc.
Screenshot: [URL] .....
While trying to upload this file, it didn't recognize at first that I had actually selected an image. The images while trying to select a file to upload are either blanks or pieces of paper, instead of previews.
Screenshot: [URL] ....
When trying to load a folder, in this case DOWNLOADS folder, where there should be a couple of TV series and a few films, it comes up with nothing, also the green bar is constant, and doesn't give results in the end. + I can't change the preview of images, like if they have small icons, big icons, medium icons etc. It has been grayed out.
Screenshot: [URL] ....
Also if I delete an image, it remains on my desktop till I restart my PC. Overally it's really really slow and very many of the functions seem to not work. I have ClassicShell installed, I've tried uninstalling it, didn't work, reinstalled it, because I find it easier to find control panel and etc with.
This is all software I currently have installed: [URL] .....
Hardware: CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945 RAM: 8,00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 669MHz (Vengeance) Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. GA-MA790XT-UD4P Video: ATI Radeon HD 4870 (1024 MB) HDD1: WD 500 GB/16MB/S-ATA HDD2: Samsung 200 GB/8MB/S-ATA II Power Supply: 650W Chieftec CFT-650-14CS
So, I've just installed Windows 8.1 on my pc, and most of the time when I open the file explorer that comes with windows it comes up with a green loading bar at the top, which usually takes around 10 minutes just to view the files, then, other times when I open the file explorer, it loads instantly. Here's a screenshot of what happens:
Also, when I make a new folder, then double click and re-name, when I press enter the file name doesn't change, then the file explorer crashes, then when I go back, it shows the file has been re-named.
0742827aff291207696b17a2f715350b.png
I'm not sure if you're able to click that so just copy and paste it.
My Specs:
GPU - HD 6790 CPU - AMD BULLZOZER FX 6100 RAM - 4GB CORSAIR HDD 1TB WESTERN DIGITAL BLUE
And others which I don't seem to thing are necessary. To note: I don't have a Solid State Drive.
I recently installed Microsoft Office 2013. And ever since I installed that I have had problems with the file explorer.
I am moving my windows 8.1 libraries from C: to D:. I tried to move Documents to the root folder of D: which is empty during that time. It asked me if I want to move also my files to D:, I moved it. So, the next thing I did was also to move Pictures at the root folder of D: also. Then it prompted if I want to merge these to libraries, I hit yes. Now the problem is that I can't un-merge it anymore. Whatever I put in my 'Documents' lib also appears in 'Pictures' and vice versa. I tried to explore solutions like changing properties, well at first it will change but it reverts to one library again though they appear differently as 'Documents' and 'Pictures' libs.
I decided to restore default setting of these two libraries, but nothing happened. In 'Documents' library, the location is C:UsersIdeapadDocuments and upon checking the location of 'Pictures' library its C:UsersIdeapadDocuments also. When I change the location of 'Picture' library to C:UsersIdeapadPictures, the 'Documents' library also changes to C:UsersIdeapadPictures.
Is there any way in doing this automatically without right click> open in a new window and when you click on diferent folders for the current open one not closing?
In Win8.1, if app calls FE, e.g. Firefox for downloading a file, FE starts to refresh content of folder instead immediately showing it's content. This takes several seconds and I can see folders and files popping out of nowhere.
I just installed Windows 8.1 and so far so good except for one minor but extremely annoying bug.
Any file explorer window I open is not properly aligning with the mouse pointer. So if I want to click on lets say the C drive, I can't hover the mouse pointer directly above the C drive, I have to hover off to the right somewhere near until I see the highlight occur and than click. Everything seems to be off to the right.
Windows Explorer as well as other desktop programs failed to respond to a right click from any interface. I was also having printer errors that involved total failure to print. At first, I thought I needed to uninstall all my Epson software and printer, but that resulted in no change. This was likely a Context Menu Handler problem. It suggested downloading a Shell File Extensions View (ShellExView - Shell Extension Manager For Windows) from NirSoft version 1.8.6.0 which was free.
The first download I did not use out of fear so I accessed the Context Menu area via regedit, but saw no way to disable any suspected third party Context Menu Handlers. So, in the end, I swallowed hard and ran the NirSoft application. I was able to see all the shell items in the registry, and sorted them by age, the most recent was a Context Menu Handler from Norton Internet Security occurring during the most recent update.
The manager software allowed me to disable just that one handler, and after a restart, File Explorer and everything else behaved normally. So, now I am posting this so it only takes you less than an hour to address this issue, where I spent 4-5 hours on it. I reinstalled the Norton Internet Security and all is still well.
