Windows – How to reinstall Windows 10 File Explorer

installationonedriveuninstallwindows 10windows-explorer

I want to uninstall Windows 10 File Explorer, then reinstall it. How do I accomplish this task?

Motivation: Every time I navigate to my C:\Users\MyUserID\OneDrive - Business\Documents\ directory two things happen:

  1. The C:\Users\MyUserID\OneDrive - Business\Documents\ folder is opened in my current instance of File Explorer.
  2. An additional File Explorer occurrence spawns with the following path; C:\Users\MyUserID\OneDrive - Business\ (one level up from the previous directory).

Action #2 above is unwanted, and I just close the window (constantly). This #2 behavior started after I installed One Drive. I can't find any way to disable action #2 above either. Uninstalling and reinstalling OneDrive didn't help.

With most things Windows it seems the only solution is to uninstall, then reinstall. But is it even possible with File Explorer?

Best Answer

I tried for over a year to fix a bug like this (and could not). I reinstalled (over the top, not fresh) windows, did SFC /scannow.. etc etc.

For me, it appeared to be a problem somewhere in HKCU because if I logged in as another user, it didn't happen. I am betting that it is a rogue shell extension.

I eventually found the following batch file and added a few lines of my own.

It would make the problem go away for a while.. until it came back. Then I would run it again.

It might help you.

`

@echo off

::kill explorer.exe
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

:: To reset folder view settings of all folders
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F

:: To reset "Apply to Folders" views to default
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults" /F

:: To reset size of details, navigation, preview panes to default
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane" /v ExpandedState /F

:: restart explorer
start explorer.exe

`

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