Windows Explorer default view problem (left view pane greyed out)

I just completed a fresh install of Windows ME along with all applicable Windows updates. On completion of the install I noticed a problem with the default view within Explorer. When I open explorer the left view pane is greyed out and the right view pane shows the contents of the Start Menu. Regardless of the selection in the right view pane the left view pane remains greyed out and nothing is displayed. Would someone know of a method where I can "reset" explorer so I may have "both" view panes active and usable in the normal fashion, which it was designed? Any assistance any of you may have would be greatly appreciated.

Explorer's Folder View:
This particular problem is often the result of a damaged IE (usually IE6)
install, often as a result of doing so with Norton or McAfee running at the
time. Yes I do realise you are talking about Windows Explorer rather than
Internet Explorer but the two are linked. May I suggest that you try
repairing IE. Do this using Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and highlight
Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Add/Remove and then on the next screen
select "Repair Internet Explorer" and then OK.

If you don't have an entry for Microsoft Internet Explorer but rather it reads
something like Internet Explorer Q?????? don't worry. This is because you
have installed a cumulative update for Internet Explorer. You will need to
uninstall the update, then go back into Add/Remove Programs, look again for
Microsoft Internet Explorer, repair it and then reinstall the latest
cumulative update.

If this doesn't work or you have no entry for Internet Explorer in Add/Remove
Programs please post back and someone will hopefully post further details on
how to repair Explorer.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail


David Perrin David wrote:

I just completed a fresh install of Windows ME along with all
applicable Windows updates. On completion of the install I noticed a
problem with the default view within Explorer. When I open explorer
the left view pane is greyed out and the right view pane shows the
contents of the Start Menu. Regardless of the selection in the right
view pane the left view pane remains greyed out and nothing is
displayed. Would someone know of a method where I can "reset"
explorer so I may have "both" view panes active and usable in the
normal fashion, which it was designed? Any assistance any of you may
have would be greatly appreciated.

This problem is almost always caused by a corrupted install of IE6 (yes, I
do mean IEg)

Try a Repair of IE from Safe Mode....
Reboot to Safe Mode
Go to Add/Remove Programs and try a repair of Internet Explorer from there.
Go to the entry for 'Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 SP1 and Internet Tools'
in Add/Remove Programs
Click on Remove - and click on Repair on the window that pops up
Reboot on request to Normal Mode

If the above entry isn't there, you first need to uninstall all the patches
applied, then do the repair, then reapply the patches
The patches are listed in Add/Remove under the names 'Internet Explorer
Qxxxxxx'
highlight, click Remove - reboot if requested.
Repeat until the MSIE6SP1 entry appears - then repair as above.

HTH


--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"David Perrin" David wrote in message
...
I just completed a fresh install of Windows ME along with all applicable
Windows updates. On completion of the install I noticed a problem with the
default view within Explorer. When I open explorer the left view pane is
greyed out and the right view pane shows the contents of the Start Menu.
Regardless of the selection in the right view pane the left view pane
remains greyed out and nothing is displayed. Would someone know of a method
where I can "reset" explorer so I may have "both" view panes active and
usable in the normal fashion, which it was designed? Any assistance any of
you may have would be greatly appreciated.

I have the same problem and cant fix it. It has only
happened recently. Am wondering if it has been caused by a
virus as a friend has the same problem. Has been ok for
the last few years. Have you selected the "Folders" option
on the tool bar above the panes?
-----Original Message-----
I just completed a fresh install of Windows ME along with
all applicable Windows updates. On completion of the
install I noticed a problem with the default view within
Explorer. When I open explorer the left view pane is
greyed out and the right view pane shows the contents of
the Start Menu. Regardless of the selection in the right
view pane the left view pane remains greyed out and
nothing is displayed. Would someone know of a method
where I can "reset" explorer so I may have "both" view
panes active and usable in the normal fashion, which it
was designed? Any assistance any of you may have would be
greatly appreciated.
.

Did you read either of the two responses to the original post?
Did you follow that advice??

--
Noel Paton (MS-MVP 2002-2004, Win9x)

Nil Carborundum Illegitemi
http://www.btinternet.com/~winnoel/millsrpch.htm
http://tinyurl.com/6oztj

Please read http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm on how to post messages to NG's

"Carli" wrote in message
...
I have the same problem and cant fix it. It has only
happened recently. Am wondering if it has been caused by a
virus as a friend has the same problem. Has been ok for
the last few years. Have you selected the "Folders" option
on the tool bar above the panes?
-----Original Message-----
I just completed a fresh install of Windows ME along with
all applicable Windows updates. On completion of the
install I noticed a problem with the default view within
Explorer. When I open explorer the left view pane is
greyed out and the right view pane shows the contents of
the Start Menu. Regardless of the selection in the right
view pane the left view pane remains greyed out and
nothing is displayed. Would someone know of a method
where I can "reset" explorer so I may have "both" view
panes active and usable in the normal fashion, which it
was designed? Any assistance any of you may have would be
greatly appreciated.
.

Thank you very much Mike. The problem was fixed on the first attempt.
On another note, do you have the link for documents created by MS MVP's. I remember browsing a site where these documents were posted and categorized by OS, application, etc. If you could provide this URL, that would be greatly appreciated.

Again, thank you for the quick reply and the great advice. Excellent!!!!


"Mike M" wrote:

Explorer's Folder View:
This particular problem is often the result of a damaged IE (usually IE6)
install, often as a result of doing so with Norton or McAfee running at the
time. Yes I do realise you are talking about Windows Explorer rather than
Internet Explorer but the two are linked. May I suggest that you try
repairing IE. Do this using Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs and highlight
Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Add/Remove and then on the next screen
select "Repair Internet Explorer" and then OK.

If you don't have an entry for Microsoft Internet Explorer but rather it reads
something like Internet Explorer Q?????? don't worry. This is because you
have installed a cumulative update for Internet Explorer. You will need to
uninstall the update, then go back into Add/Remove Programs, look again for
Microsoft Internet Explorer, repair it and then reinstall the latest
cumulative update.

If this doesn't work or you have no entry for Internet Explorer in Add/Remove
Programs please post back and someone will hopefully post further details on
how to repair Explorer.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP
mcmaltby@hotmail


David Perrin David wrote:

I just completed a fresh install of Windows ME along with all
applicable Windows updates. On completion of the install I noticed a
problem with the default view within Explorer. When I open explorer
the left view pane is greyed out and the right view pane shows the
contents of the Start Menu. Regardless of the selection in the right
view pane the left view pane remains greyed out and nothing is
displayed. Would someone know of a method where I can "reset"
explorer so I may have "both" view panes active and usable in the
normal fashion, which it was designed? Any assistance any of you may
have would be greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure which site you are referring to as there are many personal
web-sites run by MVPs but two good places to start looking would be
http://www.aumha.org/ and www.mvps.org.

Regards and thanks for the feedback.
--
Mike Maltby MS-MVP



David Perrin wrote:

Thank you very much Mike. The problem was fixed on the first attempt.
On another note, do you have the link for documents created by MS
MVP's. I remember browsing a site where these documents were posted
and categorized by OS, application, etc. If you could provide this
URL, that would be greatly appreciated.

Again, thank you for the quick reply and the great advice.
Excellent!!!!