Opening "My Computer" on a double click

Plado · #1 03-19-2003, 06:16 AM

I have a fault that I have been unable to cure. Windows XP won't open My Computer C drive by double clicking on C: when you first have booted up. It requires Right click and choose OPEN which is a waste of two moves with the mouse.

After it has been opened that way , it then opens normally on a double click and only returns to needing right click and OPEN command after a reboot in the next session.

I can't change the Drive settings in File Types because they appear to be ghosted out. I've even tried getting solution to this problem on Experts Exchange and nobody has yet found a cure.

Anyone here a real expert on hidden faults in XP?
Plado

curtybob · #2 03-19-2003, 10:48 AM

well plado, seems like most of us here are victims, not experts.

Plado · #3 03-20-2003, 12:23 PM

Well that's a shame as I had hoped that there was some victims who'd overcome some of the carpet-chewing aggravation we meet with Windows XP. How funny that people in "the trade" seem to all advise me to upgrade to XP when as far as I was concerned Windows 98 wasn't broke. It seemed to have far less foibles than XP.

Are we making any advances in the world of computing or are we just going round in circles or backwards ?

Plado.

ESALADUANE · #4 03-21-2003, 08:15 AM

See if changing from double-click to single-click helps.

(right-click) Start > Explore > Tools > Folder Options > General

Plado · #5 03-21-2003, 08:53 AM

Good thinking, but sadly not the answer. Have already tried that. The computer is currently set on single click to open and point to select, though I don't like using it in that fasion but this is on a computer belonging to a friend.

I come from the tradition of "single click selects and double click opens or runs the file" school. Much more control that way.

Single click is for lazy people and as you can imagine they have got to be considerably lazy if they object to having to right click and choose open when opening the tree of folders in the C drive!
But I'm doing me best to solve it for them anyway.

Moe · #6 04-29-2003, 12:39 AM

I'm just a passer by, figured I'd put my two cents worth in, (too bad I had to register to do such a thing ;), but anyways, check the root directory of drive C: (or any drive you're having a problem with) and make sure there is NOT an "autorun.inf" file there. Sometimes what happens, is some how (either by accident, or an OS screwed (?: I this possible;) ?) an autorun.inf from a CD gets dropped in the root of the drive, and double clicking on the drive makes windows try and run the autorun.inf instead of opening the drive up.

This will cause strange behavour, including, but not limited to, drive icon turning to the "Generic Page" icon, or nothing happaning, or the OS complaining of a missing file when you double click on the drive.

If the autorun.inf file is there in C:\, then just delete it. Rebooting the OS after removing this file may be necessary, it usually is for the 9x series, not sure of the XP class..

- Mike.
Hope it helps someone...

Plado · #7 04-29-2003, 02:47 AM

Thanks that sounds like another avenue to explore on the computer concerned. I will try and see if there is an autorun.inf in the root drive.

What worries me though, is if there is one there and the problem is being caused by what you describe, then how come the C drive opens on a Right Click and then left clicking OPEN from the menu?

Also how come the second and every subsequent time you try to double-click the C Drive within "My Computer" it opens perfectly and that it only reverts to refusing to open the first request you make following a fresh boot up?

Once a right click and OPEN command has been done to the C drive in My Computer it then seems to "learn" that it must open on a double click until you next shut down and re boot. Then it's forgotten again. I think it's more likely a Folder Properties mess up in associations that has happened. Doing a registry sytem-restore to an earlier date and in fact repairing XP hasn't solved this trouble. It has foxed everyone that has tried to solve it.

I'll report back if I can fix it with your trick. It sounds interesting to say the least.

Cheers
Plado.

Moe · #8 05-03-2003, 09:34 PM

Well, I'm not sure about it "learning" what it's suposed to do, but when you right click and OPEN, and it opens properly, that's windows' default behaviour. Next time you pop in a CD that autoruns, hold down the shift key before you close the drawr, and don't let go til the CDROM has stopped reading the disk.

Now go into my computer, and right click and OPEN.

You will see that, to spite the CD having an autorun.inf, it still opens a folder view rather than autoruning the CD.

If you double click, it reads AUTORUN.INF, but if you "OPEN" it, it bypasses this.

Which is why I mensioned it.

- Mike

-- The Dark Fantastic Network, Canada.
http://www.tdf.ca
-- Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.

Plado · #9 05-04-2003, 03:11 AM

Thanks Mike this is a good explanation of your thinking on this autorun.inf idea.

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to go to the person's computer and get to hunt for the autorun.inf I have sent them an email advising them to look for one and destroy it if they find it on the C drive root but so far no feedback from them.

I should be able to visit the PC myself sometime soon and when I do I'll report back here what I find. Let's face it, I've explored every other known avenue to solving this strange riddle - and your idea has to be worth a try.

I'll come back and post what happens though it may be a while because the person is so busy using their home PC for work they do on a newspaper freelance, that getting back to them sometimes takes weeks. Thanks again for your efforts so far.
Problem still pending.
--
Plado