Escape from Windows 7 "Search Results" path

When I do a search for files on my system with Windows 7 built-in search, it opens a window with search results. If ones of the results is a folder and I open it, I go to a location like ms:query=searchstring\Folder name, which displays as " ▶ Search Results ▶ Folder name".

Is there any quick way I can convert this into a normal folder view like C:\Users\Username\Desktop\Folder name, so that I can navigate up to the parent directory, etc.? Preferably I'd like to be able to open it in a new window.

endolith

Posted 2011-05-28T00:42:50.007

Reputation: 6 626

– None – 2017-09-20T20:07:01.830

If for some reason the "open folder location" mentioned in the selected answer is not shown, a useful bypass is to shift-right click on the search result (a folder entry indeed) and select "copy as path", then paste this location into the location bar to open the folder using its full actual path rather than the useless search protocol syntax address. – mins – 2018-07-21T16:12:44.810

Answers

Easy! The search results will contain files from various folders. Right-click the file or folder you are interested in exploring. In the context menu select "Open File Location" or "Open Folder Location" (ctrl+click to open in a new window). Explorer will jump there and highlight the file or folder.

A change from XP is that backspace no longer moves up a folder in Explorer. Backspace acts like a web browser back button now. But once you are Exploring the file or folder you can click the breadcrumbs in the location box to move up the path.

Jed

Posted 2011-05-28T00:42:50.007

Reputation: 142

3I don't have Open File Location or Open Folder Location in my context menu. There's some thing that needs to be in the registry for this to exist, and I'm unable to find it right now. – Almo – 2015-05-26T14:10:52.557

1@Almo If you navigate to the folder in search results, you no longer have this option. Go back to the search results, right click on the folder, and almost at the bottom of the context menu is the "Open Folder Location" option. – AaronLS – 2018-10-15T19:42:16.253

2Yeah that's what I do already. :/ It doesn't always show files from the folders, though, and I guess I should have said that I want to open it in a new window. – endolith – 2011-05-28T02:32:32.847

3Still this the only way to do this and you can also use Shift key to open it in new window. – avirk – 2012-04-22T22:25:19.287

Right click, select Properties
Click in file path
Hit Home, then hit Ctrl-Shift-End to select all of path.
Ctrl-C to copy.
Paste in path bar.

Coutour Integral

Posted 2011-05-28T00:42:50.007

Reputation: 31

Unfortunately, it doesn't actually work this way. When you right click on a file, the context menu only offers "open folder location" sometimes. It seem to happen randomly. There needs to be a way to tell windows to always show the file path in the search results.

user182524

Posted 2011-05-28T00:42:50.007

Reputation:

I think it is always there, but the position may not be where you expect? – endolith – 2012-12-26T01:43:43.233

If your installation of Win 7 doesn't have open folder location or open file location, here's a solution:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/236988-open-file-location-add-remove-context-menu.html

Here's what's in that solution:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Created by: Shawn Brink
; http://www.sevenforums.com
; Tutorial:  http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/236988-open-file-location-add-remove-context-menu.html

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu]
@="{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibraryLocation\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu]
@="{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Results\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu]
@="{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.symlink\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu]
@="{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}"

Almo

Posted 2011-05-28T00:42:50.007

Reputation: 339