.bat file to restart explorer.exe sometimes fail

Try3 said:

This is of no help to you at all but I've compared what you are using with what I'm using and they are exactly the same.

RestartExplorerWithFolders.ps1

Code:

$Shell = New-Object -ComObject shell.application
$SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL )
Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
$SavedPaths | ForEach { explorer $_ }

I have also run them by pasting those commands into a PowerShell window - as shown, there are no error responses.

Code:

PS C:\Users\Denis> $Shell = New-Object -ComObject shell.application
PS C:\Users\Denis> $SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL )
PS C:\Users\Denis> Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
PS C:\Users\Denis> $SavedPaths | ForEach { explorer $_ }
PS C:\Users\Denis>

As you noted above, it works for me [both as a ps1 file & as a set of commands in the PS window]. My FE folders get reopened afterwards

Denis

I see, alright thanks for hleping me check. I tried running from ps1 script and it also did the same, no folders were restored.

im guessing is because im accessing C drive or D drive from under "My computer" thats just how window explorer open its folder.



what does your show?

m18xr2 said:

I see, alright thanks for hleping me check. I tried running from ps1 script and it also did the same, no folders were restored.

im guessing is because im accessing C drive or D drive from under "My computer" thats just how window explorer open its folder.



what does your show?

Let's start with some obvious troubleshooting:

1. In PowerShell, does the command explorer open Explorer to its default? (This PC or Quick Access)
2. Does the command explorer c:\Users open the Users folder?
3. Now test using the LocationURL format: explorer file:///c:\Users

If those check out, let's double-check that the shell is restarting automatically by running: Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process

If that seems fine, let's add some confirmation messages and pauses to the code. When "Pause:" is displayed in the PowerShell window, execution is paused until you press enter.

Code:

$Shell = New-Object -ComObject shell.application
$SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL ) -ne ''
echo ( 'Path Count: ' + $SavedPaths.Count )
echo ( $SavedPaths | Out-String )
Read-Host Pause
Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
Read-Host Pause
$SavedPaths | ForEach {
    echo "explorer $_"
    explorer $_    
}

Post a screenshot of the PowerShell window or copy & paste the output inot your reply.

Code:

$Shell = New-Object -ComObject shell.application
>> $SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL ) -ne ''
>> echo ( 'Path Count: ' + $SavedPaths.Count )
>> echo ( $SavedPaths | Out-String )
>> Read-Host Pause
>> Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
>> Read-Host Pause
>> $SavedPaths | ForEach {
>>     echo "explorer $_"
>>     explorer $_
>> }
Path Count: 3
file:///C:/Users/keith/Downloads
file:///C:/Users/keith/Desktop
file:///C:/Users/keith/Documents

Pause:

Pause:

explorer file:///C:/Users/keith/Downloads
explorer file:///C:/Users/keith/Desktop
explorer file:///C:/Users/keith/Documents
PS C:\...\3d>

KeithM said:

Let's start with some obvious troubleshooting:

1. In PowerShell, does the command explorer open Explorer to its default? (This PC or Quick Access)
2. Does the command explorer c:\Users open the Users folder?
3. Now test using the LocationURL format: explorer file:///c:\Users

If those check out, let's double-check that the shell is restarting automatically by running: Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
If that seems fine, let's add some confirmation messages and pauses to the code. When "Pause:" is displayed in the PowerShell window, execution is paused until you press enter.

I think you found the culprit with one test at a time.

Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process does infact restart explorer.exe BUT
In PowerShell, command Explorer or explorer c:\Users do not work for me. when input in powershell with those two, it says "the term explorer is not recognized as a cmdlet, function etc...."

how can i fix this?

Try3 said:

Does the PowerShell window provide any error message or does it just pass on as if everything was alright?

Code:

PS D:\> Explorer                                                                                                        
PS D:\> explorer c:\Users                                                                                               
PS D:\>

Does the command explorer work alright if you put it in the Run dialog [Right-click on Start button, Run]

Denis

in run it works fine. just not in powershell saying its not a recognized command or name

m18xr2 said:

I think you found the culprit with one test at a time.

Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process does infact restart explorer.exe BUT
In PowerShell, command Explorer or explorer c:\Users do not work for me. when input in powershell with those two, it says "the term explorer is not recognized as a cmdlet, function etc...."

how can i fix this?

Not sure. The firt thing I would check is your Path environmental varable with the statement $env:path -split ';':

Code:

>$env:path -split ';'
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\iCLS Client\
C:\Program Files\Intel\iCLS Client\
C:\WINDOWS\system32
C:\WINDOWS
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

...

Make sure C:\WINDOWS is there.

But to get your code running, try substituting Start-Process for explorer:

Code:

$SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL )
Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
$SavedPaths | ForEach { Start-Process $_ }

KeithM said:

Not sure. The firt thing I would check is your Path environmental varable with the statement $env:path -split ';':

Code:

>$env:path -split ';'
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\iCLS Client\
C:\Program Files\Intel\iCLS Client\
C:\WINDOWS\system32
C:\WINDOWS
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

...

Make sure C:\WINDOWS is there.

But to get your code running, try substituting Start-Process for explorer:

Code:

$SavedPaths = ( $Shell.Windows() | select -expand LocationURL )
Get-Process explorer | Stop-Process
$SavedPaths | ForEach { Start-Process $_ }

these are the variables I have

C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath
C:\windows\system32
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common
im not even sure why java is there. how can I add c:\windows to the environment variable and remove unwanted ones like java

m18xr2 said:

these are the variables I have

C:\ProgramData\Oracle\Java\javapath
C:\windows\system32
C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0
C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common
im not even sure why java is there. how can I add c:\windows to the environment variable and remove unwanted ones like java

Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > System

Click the Advanced System Settings link found near the upper-left corner

Click the Environmetal Variables... button

Select Path in the System Variables section and select Edit


Looking at my Edit dialog, it appears that C:WINDOWS is in my path via the %SystemRoot% entry. Verify that is defined by typing env:SystemRoot in PowerShell. If %SystemRoot% is difined, I would try adding that to your path.

KeithM said:

Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > System

Just a heads up, not sure what version @m18xr2 is running but 20H2 Control Panel > System now takes you here. The Advanced settings, a link at the bottom.