Keystroke to open a new window in Windows 7 Explorer?

Question

I'm a bit late to the Windows 7 party, and having just installed it yesterday, I'm already sorely missing an XP feature. In explorer, I used to be able to click the toolbar Up button with Ctrl held down to open a new explorer window. In Windows 7, I neither have an Up button nor a keystroke to change navigation to open a new window (aside from Ctrl+double click).

I'm not asking about the "open everything in a new window" option in Tools -> Folder Options. Most of the time I want to stay in the same window - but sometimes I don't.

I also know Alt+↑ will go up a level, but Ctrl+Alt+↑ doesn't do anything.

So, two questions:

• Is there a convenient way to open the parent folder in a new window
• Does someone have a link to a good reference on all Windows 7 keyboard short cuts?

Answer 1

For the second part of your question there is this article on MS's site.

Click show all and you have them all.

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Unfortunately there is no shortcut to open a parent folder in a new window.

But there is a way...

You can do 1 of 2 things.

1. Ctrl+N then Alt+Up

2. use AutoHotkey to run this exact key command with a smaller and quicker command of your choosing

Answer 2

In Windows 7 it is simple:

• Use the arrow keys to select the folder you want to open in a new window, then press Ctrl+Enter

or using a mouse...

• Ctrl+double-click

Answer 3

Just click the folder you want to open in a new window then hold the Ctrl and click once on another folder (doesn't matter which) then double-click on the same folder (that you clicked last).

If you want to open two folders in new windows: click to the first then just double-click on the second (without marking it beforehand). This way you will have them both opened in new windows and your old folder. It's working in the same way if you want open multiple folders in new windows.

If you have just one sub-folder and nothing else in it, just hold the Ctrl key and click twice on the folder.

Answer 4

To answer your first question:

In Tools, Options, ensure you have Navigation Pane set to "Expand to current folder."

Now with your folder open, in the Navigation pane you should see your current folder and the parent.

Type SHIFT + F6 to move your focus to the navigation pane. Hit LEFT ARROW to move up one level (parent folder) or UP ARROW until it's selected. Now, SHIFT + F10 for the context window, and click Open in new Window (or, in Windows 7, keyboard accelerator "e"), and you'll get the parent open in a new window.

Not as simple as the old method on the toolbar, but this way you need not have "Always open in new window" selected in options.

Answer 5

Strangely enough for me Ctrl+double-click does not work for me but Shift+Ctrl+double-click does work.

It can also open multiple folders in new windows :)

Answer 6

shift + right-click on "open file location"

I found the answer on another site