Help! File Explorer and "This PC" are not working at all

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  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
       #1

    Help! File Explorer and "This PC" are not working at all


    I'm unable to use either File Explorer and This PC. I need to access my drives and can't get to them. I did sfc/scannow and it says unable to use it. I opened up Task Manager - New File-as Admin and tried to run sfc/ scannow. Says it can't find a path. I'm stuck! The pinned start menu got all re-arranged (not by me) and now those 2 components are not working. I get a black screen and then the desktop when I try either one. I shut down and re-started my PC a bunch of times. Still nothing. Ran troubleshooter. Still can't access This PC or File Explorer. I have hundreds of photos that I can't download because I can't get to my drives. Nothing on the web to help either. I don't want to go back to Win 7. I love 10.. Until now. Any ideas? Or am I screwed? Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Lynda, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    Did you by chance remove "Quick access" from the navigation pane in File Explorer?

    If so, this could happen if you didn't set File Explorer to open to "This PC" instead of "Quick access". The tutorial below can help show you how to set this to fix this if this was the case.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...ck-access.html
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Brink said:
    Hello Lynda, and welcome to Ten Forums. :)

    Did you by chance remove "Quick access" from the navigation pane in File Explorer?

    If so, this could happen if you didn't set File Explorer to open to "This PC" instead of "Quick access". The tutorial below can help show you how to set this to fix this if this was the case.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...ck-access.html
    i can't open File Explorer at all, so I can't do this. Thanks for trying to help!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    You can open File Explorer Options from the Control Panel as well. :)

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Brink said:
    You can open File Explorer Options from the Control Panel as well. :)

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html
    I have to be able to access File Explorer to get to Options. Not there in the Control Panel. I tried the solutions in the link above. They all say open the file explorer panel. I can't open it. It isn't there.. ugh Thanks for trying..
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,661
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    It is. See OPTION ONE in the tutorial for how to open File Explorer Options from the Control Panel.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...a.html#option1
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 134,237
    Windows 11 Pro (x64) 23H2 Build 22631.3296
       #7

    LyndaB said:
    I have to be able to access File Explorer to get to Options. Not there in the Control Panel. I tried the solutions in the link above. They all say open the file explorer panel. I can't open it. It isn't there.. ugh Thanks for trying..
    Ok, did you also try pressing your Windows Key and your E key at same time?? That also opens file explorer. Just an idea....
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Brink said:
    It is. See OPTION ONE in the tutorial for how to open File Explorer Options from the Control Panel.

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...a.html#option1
    Hey Brink.. You are so kind to try and help. I did switch to Icons view (duh) and accessed file explorer and made sure This PC was selected. That didn't work, so I switched it to Quick Access (so I put it back). That didn't work either. As of now, I have no way to get to my drives. It's looking more and more like I will have to uninstall Win. 10 and go back to Win 7. Been researching all afternoon and have tried every option. The only thing I can't do, is switch my text views. I remember changing it to like 150% or 175%. There was a post somewhere that said try changing it back and now I can't remember how I did it. Tried looking that up and still can't find it. I know it's in there somewhere.. Thanks!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 134,237
    Windows 11 Pro (x64) 23H2 Build 22631.3296
       #9

    LyndaB said:
    Hey Brink.. You are so kind to try and help. I did switch to Icons view (duh) and accessed file explorer and made sure This PC was selected. That didn't work, so I switched it to Quick Access (so I put it back). That didn't work either. As of now, I have no way to get to my drives. It's looking more and more like I will have to uninstall Win. 10 and go back to Win 7. Been researching all afternoon and have tried every option. The only thing I can't do, is switch my text views. I remember changing it to like 150% or 175%. There was a post somewhere that said try changing it back and now I can't remember how I did it. Tried looking that up and still can't find it. I know it's in there somewhere.. Thanks!
    Actually you don't have to go back to Windows 7 ......worse comes to worse, you can RESET your computer and that should repair your Windows 10. Reset Windows 10
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #10

    OldMike65 said:
    Actually you don't have to go back to Windows 7 ......worse comes to worse, you can RESET your computer and that should repair your Windows 10. Reset Windows 10
    Thanks.. I think worse has come to worse.. I was actually just reading that very same reset info. It looks like a pain in the patootey but not much else I can do. I just totally don't understand what happened. It's been working great until this morning. Been months since I upgraded. Still searching my PC for the percentage view text . Somehow I think that might be the problem. It's the only change I made and some people said by changing it worked. I'll keep searching.. Thanks!
      My Computer


 

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