Double clicking a folder opens Search Window

Hi guys

I am really stumped here. When I double click a folder icon, instead of getting the folder contents the Search window comes up instead. I am running XP, and need all the help I can get!

Thanks

 

I've seen a similar problem before.... it was fixed by running Dial-A-Fix (a free download, available here: http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4899.html). Check all the boxes in the Registration Center and click Go. It might look scary, but Dial-A-Fix is totally safe. It doesn't remove or write anything to your hard drive; it simply re-registers certain files making them "active" again and making sure that these files are in the right places doing what they're supposed to do.... you could actually check every box in DAF if you really wanted to.

 

Found solution here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q321186

After applying the registry setting everything went back to normal. Thanks TimW and dlb for your quick responses

The problem is known to microsoft, they describe it like this:

CAUSE
This problem occurs when you open the Edit File Type dialog box for the Drive or File Folder registered file types. For example, this problem occurs for folders if you complete the following procedure: 1. Open the folder, and then click Folder Options on the Tools menu.
2. Click File Folder in the Register file types list, and then click Advanced.
3. After you perform this procedure, the None setting is removed from the value data for the Default string value in the following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
NOTE: This problem occurs even if you do not create a new action, edit existing actions, or change the default action in the Edit File Type dialog box.