Windows explorer moves the selected folder to bottom of folders list. How do I stop this?

Anonymous
2009-12-27T19:25:21+00:00

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Open a windows explorer

show folders on left

Double Click Computer

Double Click C disk

Scroll to windows   Double Click 

Double Click diagnostics  (example)

The folder is now moved to the bottom of the folder list.

This also happens when any folder is clicked once and the the open gadget is clicked once.

This is increadably annoying.  How do I stop it?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-03-22T08:24:10+00:00

Hi j1234567890j - and everyone else that repsonded to this post. 

I also expierence this problem and like with everyone that replied on this post an many others that this is driving me insane. To make matters worse, this problem presents itself also on the Open or Save file dialogs in any application that relies on the Windows File Dialog.

In my case I also found that the behaviour is inconsistent. Sometimes the problem presents itself and sometimes it does not. - This is why it is difficult to zero in on the behavior and some folks cannot replicate the problem. So, I believe other replies on various posts where this problem cannot be replicated. As a developer I understand this, since we often have the response: "...but it works in my computer..." - And yes it does, because typically a dev/support machine is set up for ideal circumstances. I am digressing...

Trying to understand the Problem

I have noticed a pattern, however. I have found that if I collapse the folder in question and expand (double click) again, that the navigator moves again, this time exposing all sub-folders that are direct descendants of the folder in question. I have also noticed that if the sub-folders are too many to display in the navigation panel, that the selected folder is scrolled to the top of the panel, exposing as many folders that can be viewed. 

I think the intention of the navigation behavior is that when the user expands the folder, it will show as many as possible sub-folders in view - but I also think that this is where there is a bug - or at least where some other setting has an impact on the behavior. - For some reason, when a folder is expanded the navigation pane only finds the first sub-folder and exposes that one - hence the anoying movement of the selected folder away from the current mouse pointer position.

Finding an answer

And yes - even though I think I understand the problem - I agree with everyone elses user experience - This must be fixed!

I am not sure that a moderator will pick this up as this post is marked as awnsered - even though in my opnion it is not.

But if someone does: I think providing an option on the General tab of the Folder Options dialog for a user to turn off this behavior and just expand the folder without attempting to present all viewable folders in the navigation pane.

Regards

Andre Coetzee

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-12-04T13:03:41+00:00

    Windows 8 does not have this problem anymore. They fixed it in Windows 8. Which means that Microsoft knows exactly where the bug/problem is but they simply don't even care to fix it. It is like a penalty imposed on those that are "stubborn" and refuse to upgrade to the horrible Windows 8 (and 8.1 for that matter).

    I am a PC guy since 1992. I have had a hatred for Apple products and the Apple company ever since. But in recent years, sometimes I do think about giving Apple a chance because I get so angry at Microsoft so often these days that such "evil thought" (of giving Apple a chance) crosses my mind indeed sometimes. Or maybe trying some Linux distribution (I have already but could not get used to them as easily as I was expecting).

    Every time I click a folder to open it in Windows Explorer and that damn thing goes to the bottom of the pane - and it happens dozens of times a day - is a reminder to me that Microsoft is not anymore what it used to be.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-12-03T15:14:30+00:00

    Zaphod_B, thanks for the links to the list of features removed.  I hadn't seen these before.

    I agree with you, and I also believe it comes down to the project managers (and their bosses) making software quality a priority.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-03T05:54:16+00:00

    XP has great functionality. From XP onwards, it has been downhill all the way - and I don't mean "without obstacles the rest of the way". No, no. I mean "Deteriorating or declining from this point on".

    So that has what has happened with Microsoft's O/S's.

    And it's all documented in some very, very, long web pages:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_features\_removed\_in\_Windows\_Vista

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_features\_removed\_in\_Windows\_7

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_features\_removed\_in\_Windows\_8

    All that functionality stripped out. And for what? I think I know the answer. The guys who wrote the original XP all those years ago left Microsoft. The guys who took over development and maintenance don't have a clue how it all works. Maybe the original documentation (i.e. design specification, etc) were never completed. That kind of work is often the last to get done by the design team, especially when the project managers have a new urgent task for the designers to do... such as create "Vista".

    So a new bunch come in, try to maintain the unfathomable (because they are simply not up to it) so the only way to go is to strip out what they don't understand. So you end up with Vista. Then 7. Then 8, 10, ...

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-12-02T21:24:56+00:00

    Thanks Zaphod_B

    I have several machines and several monitors at my desk.  Part of my frustration is that Windows 7 and 8 want to control all the monitors.  They don't do it well, and continually screw things up.  XP worked very well in this configuration.

    Those of us who are professionals need to be productive.  These seemingly small problems take extra time multiple times per day.  For me, these are daily annoyances, which take too much of my time.

    A recent problem is Word 2010 not keeping the source formatting.  So far I've spent two hours on this problem and the solution is not close.  Apparently it is a bug with Bluetooth.  I'm using Word on a desktop without Bluetooth.  That two hours is 25% of my 8 hour day.  Way too much time for software which should be mature and function correctly.

    I realized today that when copying files with Windows 7, the overwrite dialog only provides the sending file's date/time stamp.  XP provided both the sending AND receiving date/time stamp, which I found useful.  So why did they make the OS less capable in a newer version?  It makes me just a bit crazy.

    If Microsoft is not going to fix these "Bugs", which would not require much engineering time, at some point it starts to make sense to consider moving to another OS.  I've already installed a couple of version of Linux and am starting to learn the ins and out of that OS.  Will it be better?  It has problems also.  The best fix would be if Microsoft put just a little engineering into improving the quality of their products.  I won't hold my breath.

    Perhaps if we keep stating the problem it will get to a decision maker at Microsoft.

    Keep the faith Zaphod_B

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