Problems Opening or Exploring Folders in Internet Explorer

• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

When you try to open or explore a folder, you may receive the following message:

Open With
Click the program you want to use to open the file SHDOCVW.DLL.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if you include the Windows Desktop Update when you install Internet Explorer version 4.0 or 4.01 and the Windows Explorer DesktopProcess registry key is set.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, delete the DesktopProcess key.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To delete the DesktopProcess key, use Registry Editor to view the following key, and then delete the DesktopProcess key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Internet Explorer version 4.0 and 4.01.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about the DesktopProcess key, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q156366 How to run NT Explorer as a separate process

Additional query words: shell active

Keywords : kbenv winnt
Version : WINDOWS:4.0,4.01; winnt:4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbprb