Missing Menu, Address & Tool Bars in Folder Windows

[Teancum]

Some how I have lost all the toolbars at the top of my folder windows. I have checked just about everywhere I possibly could think of to turn them back on, with no luck. I have tried the folder options in Control Panel and even looked in Explorer. If someone could point me in the right direction, that would be awesome!

[leojose]

Some how I have lost all the toolbars at the top of my folder windows.

What exactly do you mean by 'folder window'? Is it the windows explorer window?

I any case, every window should have a View->Toolbar option that allows you to show or hide toolbars.

[PeejAvery]

What exactly do you mean by 'folder window'? Is it the windows explorer window?

The folder window is a sidebar to the left that lists only folders in tree format.

I any case, every window should have a View->Toolbar option that allows you to show or hide toolbars.

Well, this may not be as easy as that. Teancum mentioned that the file menu was missing. This is not an option to be hidden or shown. My guess is that it is something not as simple as showing a toolbar.

[leojose]

The folder window is a sidebar to the left that lists only folders in tree format.

oh ok...I get it.

Teancum mentioned that the file menu was missing.

Did he I don't see any mention of a file or a menu in his post ... He was talking about 'missing toolbars'.

[PeejAvery]

Did he I don't see any mention of a file or a menu in his post ... He was talking about 'missing toolbars'.

That is so odd. I am very sure that the first post was changed. I don't remember reading what is up there and remember reading a little variation. Why is there no date of edit though? Maybe I am just having mental problems.

[leojose]

That is so odd. I am very sure that the first post was changed. I don't remember reading what is up there and remember reading a little variation. Why is there no date of edit though? Maybe I am just having mental problems.

On second thoughts...I think you were right. Check out the title of his post, it reads...

Missing Menu, Address & Tool Bars in Folder Windows

He seems to be missing both, Menu and Toolbars!

[Teancum]

The windows I am talking about is the ones when you open a folder directly, either by clicking on My Computer, a link from the Start Menu or Desktop, or typing the path in the Run Dialog Box.

Now what I am missing is everything from the Title Bar to the actual contents of whatever folder I am viewing. I am missing the Menus, the tool bar, the address bar, etc. I have the status bar, but that is at the bottom.

Sorry for the confusion, and I hope this helps.

[leojose]

Now what I am missing is everything from the Title Bar to the actual contents of whatever folder I am viewing. I am missing the Menus, the tool bar, the address bar, etc. I have the status bar, but that is at the bottom.

Never faced or heard such a thing before...It seems that some system or registry files might have got corrupted. If so, you might need to re-install Windows.
Could you put up a snapshot of the folder window so we can get a clearer idea of what it is that you are facing?

[ChaosTheEternal]

Small suggestion, check your registry.

See if there is a key at:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

The key name could be NoFileMenu. If it is set to 1, that forces it to hide the file menu. If it's there, change it to 0 and if it's not, make it and set it to 0. Then restart your computer.

Hopefully that fixes it.

[Teancum]

No, that didn't work either. But I am sure it has something to do with a regestry key, just not sure what.

[PeejAvery]

What service pack do you have installed? Have you run a recovery install (not recovery console install)?

[dglienna]

Have you checked for viruses? They can do odd things.

[Teancum]

Thus far Norton(viruses) and LavaSoft(other Malware) have detected nothing. Although as I respond to this post, I noticed I got an update for Norton.

[PeejAvery]

Doesn't sound like a virus to me. Sounds more like it could be an installation of another toolbar. You didn't download and install any software lately did you? You can also do a SFC /SCANNOW scan to check and make sure all system files are intact.

Try running explorer.exe /e to open folder view and see what that does.

[Teancum]

OK, the explorer /e does bring up the folders correctly, with the bars displayed. And I can't seem to locate my XP disc to try the system files scan. Gonna check a few places and see if I can find it and let you know. When I did try, it identified at least 5 files it wanted to recopy before I cancelled it.