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

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

THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT HAVE AN ANSWER.    I DID NOT MARK ANY REPLY AS SUCH.

BEWARE MODERATOR ANSWER ABUSE!!!

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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

4 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

123 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Deleted

    This answer has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The answer was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.

    Comments have been turned off. Learn more

  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-25T11:26:35+00:00

    This has been annoying me since beta, so here's my 2 cents worth ...

    Firstly, to everyone at Microsoft, a feature "by design" that can't be turned off is called a BUG in the "real world". This explorer problem (and so many other things in your software) areBUGS . If they were "features", I could choose to disable them.

    Second, the rubbish you write isn't worth the ridiculous prices you demand for it. I run on Microsoft at work and it IS ____. Activation and KMS are a nightmare, as is deployment of Windows 7. Customization of Windows is poor to say the least and the number of "by design" bugs in Microsoft products makes the Microsoft experience a very unpleasant experience.

    At home I run a Linux network. It cost me 20c for the DVD to burn the ISO I use to build as many machines as I desire. I can get a fully functional installation from this 1 DVD without having to hunt for the product key and activate my installation online. This offers me a choice of desktop environments that allow me a VERY high level of customization AND allow me to choose to turn off annoying "by design" features.

    And finally ... Windows 7 was NOT designed by me (or for me), so stop spewing this rubbish in your advertising. If Windows 7 were designed by ME it would not be full of annoying things I can't choose to turn off.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-02-24T02:39:13+00:00

    Its been a problem for me too, I am about to set up some folders, for my music projects and I need multiple layered folders.

    I have already had the problem with looking through music samples and have to keep "pulling" the folder back up again. When you have

    multiple layered folders, - samples separated by genre, loop type etc etc, then this quickly starts to get difficult.

    I really wonder why we don't hear much about this on ordinary message boards or just in general? There are lots of musicians

    who work with samples and would almost certainly have had the same problems, but I don't see this mentioned on any music/musicain

    websites?

    I didn't want to use a 3rd party explorer, because I actually like the aero theme and other things, I just don't like this folder behaviour!

    Anyway thanks for reading.

    PS, I have left feedback at that link posted above as well.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-01-25T01:54:43+00:00

    ALL of the suggestions to fixing this issue are WORKAROUNDS.

    There is no real anwser here, until the MS managers deign to actually fix it.

    This is a BUG. Not possible to excuse it as "by design."

    It's now been two years since the Windows 7 beta was released with this bug, and what should be an easy fix has not been taken care of yet. But until Microsoft actually fixes it the only option is a work around - and Classic Shell comes pretty close.  I also agree with the "by design" excuse, because there is no possible benefit from the behavior.

    Thank you TrekDozer for your persistance in analyzing and documenting this stupidity.

    Thanks, many have found the information useful so I'm glad it's helping people.

    Left Pane Scroll Bug****

    VOTE TO HAVE THIS BUG FIXED:

    Tell MS you want it fixed by voting at the Microsoft Connect website:

    **http://connect.microsoft.com/WindowsServerFeedback/feedback/details/621426/bug-when-expanding-folders-in-explorer-server-2008-r2-and-windows-7**

    Watch the left pane scroll bug: Video evidence of the left pane scroll bug using Windows Explorer in Windows 7

    This shows one way to reproduce it, clicking the triangle to expand a folder you're currently viewing also reproduces it.

    YOU CAN FIX THE BUG IN 10 MINUTES:

    Left pane scroll bug (and other fixes):

    Using Classic Shell To Restore Some Features To Windows Explorer

    After installing the free Classic Shell you can customize Windows Explorer closer to how you want it, the quote below is just one way to do so. Click here to see some of the options you can customize, and here is the FAQ page for Classic Shell.

    A solution which did work for restoring some features.

    1. Install the free Classic Shell.  This is very customizable, and works as a mod for Windows Explorer rather than a full blown replacement. You didn't need to install the Classic Start Menu option, but you can if you want.
    2. Reboot the computer.
    3. Launch Windows Explorer (Start - Computer) and turn on "Always Show Menus" (Organize - Layout - check Menu Bar). This is just for configuration, you can turn it off again afterwards if you want.
    4. Right click on the menu bar and turn on the "Classic Explorer Bar". This adds a series of cut/copy/paste icons to Explorer. Crucially, it also adds the "Configuration" icon.
    5. Go into the configuration and from here you can tweak things to your heart's content. To kill the horrible Windows 7 folder-jumping, switch the "Navigation Pane Style" to Vista. You can even knock it back to XP mode if you want (this adds in the lines to the folder tree and adds a classic "+" icon for expanding folders). The Windows Vista style folder view looks pretty much the same as the Windows 7 view, but gets rid of the horrible jumping.
    6. Tweak any other settings you want.

    After this, you can turn the toolbar and menus back off in Explorer if you wish. Windows Explorer looks largely the same, but folders no longer jump around. Vote for Microsoft to fix this bug.

    Now, if only MS could code properly so that we don't have to mess with third party apps to get Windows to actually work properly...

    You can also let Microsoft know you want this bug fixed here: http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Feedback.aspx?formID=195

    Note: don't make the message too long, there is a size limit to your message even though the page doesn't tell you about it.

    Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?

    FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments