Open folders not on Start Menu following restart

[mbmanley]

Up until recently, any folders that were open prior to shutdown would again be restored to appear on the Start Menu (of my Windows Me) after a restart or shutdown/reboot. I have to manually open them again (waste of time). I tried using the System Restore function (went back about a week), and to look for a folder options setting, but no luck. I can't find any reference to this type of problem at WinGuides, Microsoft, windows-help.net, etc. (so far) Any ideas?

[DanK]

Place shortcuts and any files, folders or programs that you want to start/open when windows starts in the startup folder

[mbmanley]

Thanks, but I'm referring to other "user" folders. Example: a folder of documents I was working in under My Documents that was opened before shutdown, normally will reappear open again following a restart so I don't have to hunt it down and reopen it to resume working on the documents within it. Hopefully this is a clearer statement of my problem!

[Nana]

mbmanley,

There are 2 possibilities.
First, right click on the taskbar & select Properties. Click on the Advanced tab. At the bottom, under 'Start Menu & Taskbar', there is a line that says:

<font color=blue>"Expand my Documents"</font color=blue>

If the box beside it is unchecked, your recent documents etc. will not be listed beside 'My Documents'.

<font color=red>And/Or</font color=red>

Do you have TweakUI? If so, on the IE tab, there is an item:

<font color=blue>"Add new documents to 'My Documents' on Start Menu"</font color=blue>

If there is no tick in the checkbox beside it, your recent document list will not be created.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[mbmanley]

Thanks, but that is not my problem. You know, when you open then minimize an on-screen window, say, an ordinary folder of documents, a button appears on the Start Menu, and you click that button to restore the window for that folder.

Well, normally, if I leave that folder "open" then restart my PC, it will once again reappear opened, with a button on the Start Menu, until I close it; it is restored... or at least it used to do that.

IE, folders opened in one session are no longer carried over to reappear in the next session following a restart. Thanks!

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by mbmanley on 07/05/02 16:49.</FONT></P>

[Nana]

mbmanley,

Sorry I wasn't able to help, but now I understand better what you're asking. The only way I can think of to get what you want is to put your computer on <font color=red>Standby</font color=red> or <font color=red>Hibernate</font color=red>.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[mbmanley]

Well, it's not so much what I want as what I already had as part of the normal system function before it quit... Thanks anyway!

[IKBrunel]

In Windows explorer, go to tools...folder options....view, make sure there is a check mark against "Remember each folders view settings"
If not click for check mark and then "Apply"

IKB

[mbmanley]

Yes there is/was a checkmark beside that option. I had also toggled it OFF, Apply, OK, Restart; then toggled it back ON, Apply, OK, Restart... no change.

The folders do reappear with their last settings/views when I reopen them (so that option is working); they just don't automatically reopen onscreen in a window when I boot/restart if left open before the shutdown or restart, so I have to hunt down and reopen the folder again to get to my documents.

[IKBrunel]

I am running Me, and it does not restart showing the previous open windows explorer page.
So if you find the solution, please let me know.

IKB

[report_2]

I do not know the answer you seek but what you describe is an improper shut down.

What has been suggested is to utilize the Start, Documents function to accomplish what you desire.

The last document you were working on will be listed there.

Your problem may be the result of performing the improper shutdowns.

I personally view my PC's desktop the same way as I do my actual desktop. If I have something that I am actively working on then I leave it on my desk so that it is right there when I am wanting to work on it again.

Creating a desktop shortcut is very similar to that process.

When I am all done working on that document I delete the shortcut to it.

To create a shortcut. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the file or just a folder. Right click on the file or folder and drag it to your desktop. Release the mouse button and select 'Create shortcut here'

Improper shutdowns can lead to corrupted files and .dll's

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by report_2 on 07/06/02 05:47.</FONT></P>

[DanK]

If you have folders that are open when you restart your computer & the same folder opens when you log on, that is an error & shouldn't really happen.

Click start&gt;Run and type msconfig. Under the startup tab are your programs that are sheduled to load when windows starts

If you want My documents to load on start up, right click my documents&gt;Create Shortcut. Copy the new shortcut and open start&gt;all programs&gt;startup, copy the shortcut into this folder. The shortcut from the desktop that we just created can be deleted

This applies to any folder/file/program that you want to load when windows starts

[Nana]

Thanks DanK and report_2,

I thought I was going crazier than normal reading what mbmanley was trying to get back. I was pretty sure it wasn't normal for a system to retain settings through a complete shutdown (except Standby and Hibernate which aren't true shutdowns), but I'm not experienced enough to say:
"That shouldn't happen."
Now I can. Thanks for the info.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[DanK]

I can see where mbmanley is coming from though, on my win98SE machine i once had windows explorer open when my system crashed, to my surprise windows explorer opened when my system rebooted.
It only happend the once as there wasn't an entry in msconfig or anything in my startup folder.

It gets strange because mbmanley seems to think it happens all the time on his machine

[mbmanley]

(Regarding the earlier "extra entries": I did not mean to double-post -- I was merely trying to restate/clarify the problem since it was apparently misunderstood from the initial suggestions I was getting.

So here's the reworded and further-updated version added to appear in this thread:)


TITLE: User folders no longer re-opened following restart

SUMMARY: "user" folder windows opened during one "usage session" (i.e., powering up the PC) are no longer carried over to reappear in the next session following a restart (or shutdown/powerup).


For nearly the past two years on my Dell's WinMe system, any "user" folders (say, under My Documents) that were opened prior to a shutdown would again be automatically re-opened/"restored" as a window (with the usual button on the Start Menu) following the restart (or shutdown/reboot).


That is, when I would open and then minimize an on-screen window for an ordinary "user" folder of documents I was working in (say, somewhere under My Documents), the usual "button" appears on the Start Menu, and I click that button to restore the view for that folder's window.

Well, it used to be that if I leave that folder "open" then restart my PC, it would once again reappear opened, with a button on the Start Menu (until I eventually close the folder window for good, of course).


Since this "feature" quit working, I now have to manually hunt the user folders down again by "navigating" through Windows Explorer, or via multiple/nested folders after every restart to resume working on the documents within it -- a waste of time.


To restore the functionality, I tried using the System Restore function (went back about a week), and also looked for a "folder options" setting, but no luck. I can't find any reference to this type of problem so far at WinGuides, Microsoft, windows-help.net, etc.


Also, I did in fact uncover an entry on WinGuides "Disable Save Settings at Exit" in a search of WinGuides and added/tried it. As opposed to the content of the entry, I actually WANT the folder settings to be preserved, which would be a "NoSaveSettings" flag setting of "0" I think.

However, after first adding it, I toggled it to "1"; changed about every setting one at a time in the Folder Options control panel (and also tried via the My Computer TOOLS/Folder Options pull-down menu, just in case there was a difference for some reason); Reset All Folders (supposedly to the Windows Me installation default); used the Like Current Folder (via the CP and the My Computer TOOLS... as described above); toggled enabled/disabled Web View, Active Desktop, Browse Folders same/own windows, Launch Each Folder in a Separate Process, etc.


Then I tried toggling the flag to a "0" and tried all the other stuff again. I did all these toggles in the hopes that one of them would somehow restore/reactivate/reinstate the desirable earlier behavior.


When trying each combination, I would Restart at least twice between each described change to ensure I was allowing the effect of a change to "take hold" before looking for a change, and make sure to have some folders opened prior to every Restart/Shutdown.

However, each time no folder button (or opened folder window) would re-appear again following the restart (or shutdown/powerup). During the changes, all the settings did appear to give their respective expected results.


So after two years of careful computer use with relatively rare error messages (for WinMe anyway) and no evidence that I know of for daily crashes or "improper shutdowns" when shutting down or restarting, should I think that what I was seeing since the day I first fired up my PC was "wrong"? That seems far-fetched... but then again, this is Windows Me... I dunno... it seemed to be working fine, even if it was a fluke... I sure would like it back though!


Thanks!

<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by mbmanley on 07/07/02 01:00.</FONT></P>

[Nana]

mbmanley,

Hi! I just wanted to clarify a couple of things with you.
"I was merely trying to restate/clarify the problem. . ."
When you post the same thing in more than one forum or start a new thread in the same form, it becomes confusing for the people trying to help. It's nothing to apologize for, it's just easier all around.

"the usual "button" appears on the Start Menu. . ." I believe you are referring to a button on the <font color=blue>Taskbar</font color=blue> not the <font color=blue>Start Menu</font color=blue>, is that right? Again, it's just for clairification.

"For nearly the past two years on my Dell's WinMe system. . ."
Was the WinMe an OEM install? If so, have you contacted Dell? Post in their forum, email etc.?
If not an OEM install, have you tried Microsoft? Either email (costly) or post in their newsgroups (free)? Here's a link to all the Microsoft Google (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;EN-US;news&FR=0&SD=GN&LN=EN-US&>newsgroups</a>.)[/b] to the WinMe groups only.

BTW: Have you tried turning on the feature (see above) where My Documents lists your most recent activity? It may give you what you want, if you can't find out how to get the other way back, with only one click.

I agree, it seems odd that something worked for two years, quit and now everyone tells you that it was a mistake all along. But, no one else seems to have had the same experience from WinMe.

I hope you get some satisfaction somewhere. If it's not from here, could you make sure to post back to tell us what you find out, please? That way, if someone else asks, we'll know the answer.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[mbmanley]

Nana,

Thanks for your continued interest!

Yes, you are right -- I'm referring to opened window buttons appearing on the Taskbar.

Yes, the WinMe was an OEM install by Dell... and I have posted the same question in their WinMe forum (no reply so far though -- from the posting dates it's much less active -- probably most folks are writing about XP these days). I haven't e-mailed them yet, nor posted in Microsofts newgroups (thanks for the suggestion).

Can you clarify by "...tried turning on the feature (see above) where My Documents lists your most recent activity...". I looked "above" in the postings, but didn't recognize what you were referring to... sorry (duh)! What/where would I be "turning on" something (perhaps I've already done it before)?

If you mean displaying the shorcuts to the most recently accessed "documents", yes, that still works fine (mine is set for a listing of 15). Or is it something else?

M.Manley

[report_2]

Although closing all programs before shutting down is the proper method for shutting down in your case you have achieved a desired effect by doing otherwise.

Your question is why it no longer performs as it did.

To take a wild guess...Have you installed any batch files to delete your C:\Temp or C:\Windows\Temp folders upon startup?

I believe the taskbar button is recalled from there when an 'improper shut down' (by desire or not) is used.

[mbmanley]

Well, it's interesting you should mention that. In fact, 2 or 3 weeks ago I did go and manually delete most files from the C:\Windows\Temp directory (I left files dated within the previous 3 days, a couple of restart's worth).

I wonder if that's when this change took place? However, I've emptied the Temp directory before every so often (several months apart) just to prevent problems.

I know some folks set things up to automatically empty it with every startup for security or stability reasons, but I haven't done that. My system has been reasonably stable, for WinMe of course -- I have to restart every few days or so or else things start to "bog down" and I've learned that at that time I risk a real (and obvious) crash.

But if I have to force a restart due to a lockup (by cycling power), that's when Scandisk automatically cranks up at the beginning. So I don't think that when I've been seeing my folders reappear on the Taskbar it's due to an improper shutdown... or do you know better?

Upon reflection, a couple of weeks ago I also finally allowed Internet Explorer v5.5 to update to v6.0. Hmmm... I wonder if this had an effect?...

Since I don't ALWAYS leave folders open at shutdown time, I can't be sure exactly when my "feature loss" occurred; that is, at what software change or maintenance event.

Thanks for your insight!

[report_2]

Deleting the Temp files weeks ago would not be it.

IE is well integrated with Windows and it is possible IE6 resolves that 'problem'. I personally do not know this.

[mbmanley]

Ah, so! Well, in response to your posting I've added to a posting I've got going at Microsoft's Windows newsgroups (Thanks, "Nana"!) with the blurb about recently upgrading IE 5.5 to 6.0 -- maybe someone there might shed some light on the topic.

Thank you!

[Nana]

mbmanley,

I'm glad you found the MS newgroups a good idea. I sure hope you'll get some answers from them.

As for the other:
"If you mean displaying the shorcuts to the most recently accessed "documents", yes, that still works fine (mine is set for a listing of 15)."
Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Doesn't it help at all? Mine is turned off because I seldom used it, but when I did use it, I found it very handy.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[mbmanley]

Nana,

Well, yes, choosing previously-edited documents from the "recent" list is handy, and I use it quite a lot.

But so is (rather, WAS) having all the previously-opened folders reopen after a restart -- I'd be right back where I left off (with the restart restoring Windows Me performance again, as we all know). I'm used to that convenience I had -- it seemed a logical part of Windows that I thought was a nice new feature of WinMe.

(I wonder if XP is that much better in term of "performance"? All reports seem to indicate that it is, but that's another subject... OK, basically I have some "legacy" software & hardware that isn't being updated to work under XP, so until I abandon that software, I'm sorta stuck in "WinMe land" on this PC... at least I'm used to it after progressing from Win3.1 and Win95 over the years, otherwise I'd be spoiled and couldn't stand to go backwards!)

Thanks! And if you have any further ideas, please mention them (I've got the e-mail reply-notification choice turned on).

M.Manley

[Nana]

mbmanley,

I wish I could have helped, but it doesn't look like it. Sorry, I am out of ideas.

Nana /images/forums/icons/frown.gif

[mbmanley]

Nana,

A person at another forum stated that it was a "well known problem" with an Internet Explorer 5.5 installation, and that updating to IE 6.0 "corrected" it.

Since I did recently update IE from 5.5 to 6.0 on 6/23/02, that might indeed coincide with the change, and I didn't immediately notice it as mentioned in an earlier post.

I requested that the poster of that message on the other forum please tell me, if possible, what the URLs are where I can find/read an official statement of either the "problem" or the "correction". Hopefully I might hear on it and post it here if true.

M.Manley

[Nana]

mbmanley,

That sounds promising. It would be great if you can get the info from the other forum and post a link here. I'm sure there are lots of us who would like to find out what it's all about.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[mbmanley]

Nana,

This is all that's developed on the topic since last weekend; just passing it on. If you yourself happen to stumble on a reference to IE 5.5 having this unintended/short-lived "feature", would you mind letting me know?

Otherwise, it looks like I've reached a dead-end since I don't think I'm going to permanently go backwards to IE 5.5 from 6.0 (and beyond) just to get the folders to reopen upon restart. You know, since my Macintosh does this intentionally, I had been thinking Windows did too!

Perhaps somewhere there's a freeware/shareware Windows shell add-on that can perform the function -- that would be cool!

Bye, and thanks for your interest.

M.Manley



&gt;-----Original Message-----
&gt;This well known bug in Explorer/Internet Explorer 5.5 was at long last fixed
&gt;in IE6.
&gt;--
&gt;Mike Maltby MS-MVP
&gt;mcmaltby@hotmail.com
&gt;"Mike M" &lt;No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only&gt;


-----------------------------

MS WinMe Community forum TITLE: Did you say the "User Feature" I'm trying to restore was an IE v5.5 "Bug"?


Hello Mike,

Did you say "Bug"? What I saw was a defect? Hey, I liked it a lot!

Say, can you give me URL/links to some MS articles outlining it as a bug under IE 5.5, or as something fixed under IE 6?

I've got postings at several other forums seeking an answer with quite a few people interested in either getting the "feature" (I guess I'll have to tell them "Sorry!"), or adding to their technical expertise on the subject as they've been advising me on what is or isn't normal behavior.

Thanks in advance!

M.Manley


-----------------------------

&gt;-----Original Message-----
&gt;No article that I know of but there's nothing to stop you looking for one on either the TechNet or Knowledge Base sites. This was a bug as it was an unintended "feature" of IE5.5 and not present in earlier and now later versions.
&gt;--
&gt;Mike Maltby MS-MVP
&gt;mcmaltby@hotmail.com
&gt;"Mike M" &lt;No_Spam@Corned_Beef.Only&gt;

Thanks for your reply. I did indeed look all over the Microsoft site, but apparently am not using the right combination of keywords. If you ever happen to come across a reference, I'd appreciate you forwarding it to me. In the meantime, I'll just have to take your more-experienced word for it -- Thanks!

[mbmanley]

You might want to look at what might be my final posting today on the subject to "Nana" on 7/13/02.

Sorry (for me and you) that this didn't pan out, but as I mentioned, there may be some sort of Windows "shell add-on" enhancement that can perform this function -- I might look for one at the shareware sites (and you can too!).

M.Manley

[Nana]

mbmanley,

Thank you for posting that information. It must have made you feel better, knowing that someone - especially an MS MVP - knew this 'feature' existed. Too bad he couldn't find any articles about it. I'll keep looking, as I traverse the Net, and post back here if I find any reference to it.

BTW: I used IE5 from its earlest days. I have WinMe, as an OEM install, and it came prepackaged with IE5.5. Mine never exhibited this 'feature'.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[Nana]

mbmanley,

I was out surfing (as usual) today & found the following at Annoyances.org. I don't know if this is what you're talking about, but have a look:

<a target="_blank" href=http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article05-016>Get Rid of the Unwanted Explorer Windows at Startup</a>

The title is opposite to what you want, but it may help you find out what you have to do to get this "feature" back.

Nana /images/forums/icons/smile.gif

[als_ict]

I have a computer running windows xp. When a folder is open click on the TOOLS button, Folder Options, View. Scroll down to find "Restore Previous Folder Windows at Logon. Check the box. Then click on "Apply to All Folders" at the top. This might work for you - I think it also works in 2000.