Windows Explorer expands folders inappropriately, jumping the folder you expand to the bottom of the navigation pane

Anonymous

When using a left-side Navigation pane, if there are enough folders in the navigation pane such that you have a vertical scroll bar, if you click on a folder with the mouse (so as to see the contends in the right pane), then expand the folder (either by clicking on the + symbol or with the arrow key), then the left pane will automatically scroll up as far as it can such that the folder you expanded is still in view at the bottom of the pane. This removes the folder from under your mouse, where it would be expected to stay.

This is certainly a bug, as it only happens the first time you attempt to expand a folder in the manner. After doing it once, you can scroll the navigation (left) pane so that the folder in question is back in the middle of the pane, and it will expand and contract as expected, remaining under the mouse.

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Anonymous

Because many people seem to be interested in this issue, I'll post some info on my recent contact with Microsoft regarding this issue.

It seemed that everywhere this issue was talked about, all anybody would get from a Microsoft employee was a boilerplate "Thanks for your feedback" response. Never was the validity of the issue discussed or even acknowledged. I decided to write an email to the man in charge, Steve Ballmer, clearly laying out the problem with links to a walkthrough of the problem, this discussion, and the bug report with 220 votes (at the time). I realized that Steve would never read it himself, but I figured his email must get auto-forwarded to someone who might actually read it.

Two days later I got an email from an Advocacy Specialist from Microsoft saying a "grace case" has been created and the Windows Escalation Team would get in touch with me. The next day an Escalation Engineer emailed me asking when would be a good time to talk on the phone about the issues. So that he would be completely clear with what I was talking about, I recorded a screencast that walked through precisely what the issue was.

Edit: I've made a more condensed video demonstrating the "folder jump bug", view it here.

The end result of our talking was this:

The engineers are aware of this issue.
They may or may not provide a fix for it.

Nothing groundbreaking, but it's one more little push in the right direction. In my opinion, posting in this thread about the problem is virtually worthless. I would suggest:

Voting up and commenting on the bug here:

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

He said that site is closely monitored by the dev team.

Writing intelligent, profanity-free complaints that mention how the bug negatively affects your everyday file-management workflow. Email these up the Microsoft food chain until you get a response. You are a paying customer and you deserve to be heard.

I got tired of dealing with it, so am now using XYplorer when doing heavy file management. It stings to have to pay for a decent file manager, but that is life. If this issue bothers you at all, please comment and vote on the bug, and write an email.

UPDATE 9/13/11: Bug is still present in Windows 8 Developer Preview, see it here.

UPDATE 1/30/12: Finally we have a public acknowledgment that this is in fact a bug that needs to be addressed, and it will apparently be fixed in the upcoming Windows 8 Beta. This is good news, but I know I will be using Win7 for at least another year or two, as will many, many others. We deserve a patch to fix this issue in Win7. Until that happens, keep bugging Microsoft about it.

FINAL THOUGHTS: This is a real bug with 645! votes on their feedback page, however MS has no plans to fix it for their Windows 7 users. The bug is fixed in Windows 8, which means nothing for a vast number of us who have no plans to upgrade. If this bug really gets under your skin, I suggest installing Classic Shell, which has been recommended a few times in this thread. You can choose to only install the 'Classic Explorer' feature which fixes this bug among others, and even brings back the old File Copy UI which is so nice to have back. I've been using it for many months now without any troubles.

Also, to those of you who think they find a solution to this problem by simply changing a few options settings somewhere... thank you for your desire to help all of us, but you must not be having the same problem, and please don't post your 'solution' here. If you read some of the 29 pages of this thread, you'll see every solution imaginable has been suggested. This is a bug in Explorer itself. If you use Windows 7 and plan to keep using it, your options are 1) use Classic Shell, or 2) use a third party file management tool, such as XYplorer. If you stumble across this thread because you just noticed this bug, please vote up the bug, and do either 1 or 2.

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Anonymous

2013-02-21T20:34:05+00:00

To Blaqsmith - Although you posted this many years ago, I thank you. I have just been way too tired to deal with the nonsense MS puts everyone through with every release of an OS. I knew if I acted on this over the past few years it would just bog my already too busy of a day with more bureaucracy and ignorance by MS and others who just didn't get it. This issue was (still is) a definite screw up and MS just hates to admit fault. When they say it was built to do this, then I feel sorry for MS for hiring these "programmers". Perhaps they need to take a DOS 6.2 course first before they start "coding" (or what they think is programming).

Today, I just about had it again with this nonsense and installed Classic Shell as you prescribed. Ah! Finally - I can see "...A distant ship, smoke on the horizon..." To Microsoft - "...You are only coming through in waves. Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying...."

Now I can finally move on and not hate opening up my explorer anymore.

Now if only I can get up enough time to rebuild a DOS machine and use the programs that worked for me decades ago, I might get something done during a regular course of a day instead of dealing with not only my issues but everyone else's as well. Now upgrade to Windows 8 - What? Why? Will I get better at creating a spreadsheet?, typing a document?, saving my files? Even Windows 98 was great! Why destroy perfection???

Keep all the fluff out of a computer for the people who want to play games and serf the net all day. Make an operating system that can strongly run "A" program at one time without crashing. For those who need 27 programs open and 400 internet browser tabs open at all times - then let them get 27 computers. Enough of this "multitasking nonsense". In all my 38 years in business I have never seen so much less get done and with so much more power! God forbid you ask a person to reconcile a bank account (BTW someone who actually graduated with an accounting degree). All they know is looking online at transactions to see what the bank says - WOW!

Well anyway, I wanted to start a Revolution Against all this Technology (R.A.T.). Unfortunately, I need technology to do it :). Perhaps your the one who can lead this crusade...

Thanks again Mr./Ms. Blaqsmith. I owe you a debt of gratitude.

(ToTechnical is not meant as Too Technical, it's in place of Mr., Mrs., Ms., etc.. - address me as To Technical.)
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Anonymous

2013-02-02T03:16:30+00:00

Here is the Classic Shell solution for those who don't want to read through 300+ replies

Classic Shell reports, "This option fixes a bug in Windows 7 that moves a folder to the bottom of the screen after it is expanded"

Install "Classic Shell" from http://www.classicshell.net/

Be sure to include the "Classic Explorer" feature

Open "Classic Explorer Settings" from the Start Menu

Click on "All Settings"

Click on the "Navigation Pane" tab

Check "Fix Folder Scrolling"

Click "OK"

Close and reopen Windows Explorer or Reboot as necessary
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Anonymous

2013-01-27T01:45:12+00:00

This BUG is a couple of years old now. Its incredibly painful.

Microsoft could you start a goodwill department that could arrange a support group to combat the stress associated with this incessant reminder every time I expand a folder in the navigation pane.

Really? A couple of years... I haven't felt pain like this since the comcat.dll **** from 1994. Yes some of us still remember! Where is Luke Chang when you need him.
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Anonymous

2013-01-26T04:48:45+00:00

I demand a remedy from Microsoft having paid for a product with acknowledged defect...File Management should not be as messy as this!!

I want to vote but this link is not working anymore...

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

It is such a pity that Microsoft left this un-fixed in Win7 and let users live with it. It is too annoying. I organize my files neatly. Hence, the subfolders abound. With this known bug, my everyday work and home tasks became terribly inefficient.
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