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

Anonymous
2009-10-28T18:12:01+00:00

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.

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

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Anonymous
2011-06-30T22:14:30+00:00

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:

  1. The engineers are aware of this issue.
  2. 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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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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  1. Anonymous
    2010-03-23T23:11:40+00:00

    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...

    Any update on this bug? It's really frustrating when navigating to have it jumping to the bottom constantly. Anyone know of a work around?

    This is the Left Pane Scroll Bug.

    See the bottom of this post for help with the left pane scroll bug.

    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.

    FIX THE BUG IN 10 MINUTES:

    Classic Shell mostly eliminates the bug in Windows Explorer, but it will still exist in the open/save dialogs.

    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 does 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 don'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...

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-24T16:03:27+00:00

    I just visited the feedback form... ouch. They need to work on it a little bit I think...

    In case you have not been to the feedback form: **There is a character limit placed on the form!**They don't tell you that until you try to submit. You have been warned!

    This is what I wrote after submitting, what turned out to be, several 'answers'.

    Too bad this feedback form only accepts a certain amount of text, but does not tell you when you have reached that limit until you try to submit... perhaps limiting the number of lines of text? or characters? Maybe displaying the "The answer of the question is too long" in real time as soon as you reach the limit. That would make leaving constructive feedback much easier and less irritating when you have to cut and paste until you find the size limit. At least warn us that there is a size limit.Thanks.

    But on a possitive note, at least they have a feedback form! Glad to see they want to hear our oppinion!

    TrekDozer; you are right on with your post! Nearly all of those issues have come up for me. I'm especially irritaed by the 'full row selection'!! I never know if I'm going to paste into the folder I just right clicked on or what. I like that it highlights the entire row when you select the file, but essentially making the row, in CSS terms, display:block is a terrible design. Seems like the last time I used an Apple it had a simalar design flaw...

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-25T21:53:43+00:00

    TrekDozer; you are right on with your post! Nearly all of those issues have come up for me. I'm especially irritaed by the 'full row selection'!! I never know if I'm going to paste into the folder I just right clicked on or what. I like that it highlights the entire row when you select the file, but essentially making the row, in CSS terms, display:block is a terrible design. Seems like the last time I used an Apple it had a simalar design flaw...

    Thanks. It boggles my mind trying to think how they could mess Windows Explorer up so bad. It would be great if they could add more options to make it more customizable by the time SP1 is released, or even sooner with it's own update through Windows Update. But part of me is also thinking they wont fix Windows Explorer until Windows 8, or not at all.

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

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

    Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?

    FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-03-26T13:37:22+00:00

    <snip>

    Thanks. It boggles my mind trying to think how they could mess Windows Explorer up so bad. It would be great if they could add more options to make it more customizable by the time SP1 is released, or even sooner with it's own update through Windows Update. But part of me is also thinking they wont fix Windows Explorer until Windows 8, or not at all.

     

    Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?

    FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

    I have the impression that MS hired a completely new group of "engineers" to re-work Explorer for Windows 7 and gave them the same specification that was written for Windows 95.

    These guys have left out many useful features including the ability to create toolbars on the left, right and top of the screen.

    The fact that no MS Support Moderator has replied since "Supreeth" whose reply itself was modified by "Steven", says a lot about this "intentional design".

    What are they afraid of? All we want is something along the lines of: "Yes, it is a mistake. We'll put it right soon."

    I live in Asia. I thought "losing face" was just an Asian thing. MS have taken it to a new level.

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