XP (Home) Explorer

This is a hard one to explain, but it's really annoying.

Just got my first XP computer and I noticed something wrong with drag & drop immediately. For example, if I want to copy a file from SOURCE to TARGET, I would do the following:
- Open Explorer
- Left-click SOURCE in the left pane to display the files (SOURCE highlights)
- Right-click a file in the right pane and drag it to TARGET in the left pane (TARGET highlights)
- Drop the file. At this point, the context menu (Move here, Copy here, etc.) appears, but now TARGET is no longer highlighted. SOURCE is highlighted again!
If I select Copy here, the file will copy correctly, but since the target folder is not highlighted, I always have to check to be sure.

I'm hoping someone has a fix for this. No one at Dell seems to be able to comprehend the problem, let alone suggest a fix.
Thanks.

 

Shouldn't that be LEFT click on the source, to drag it? Right-click to get the context menu (but not drag).

 

Nope. RIGHT-click and drag. When you drop, you get a menu with four options:
Copy here
Move Here
Create Shortcuts Here
Cancel

Been doing it that way since back in Windows 95. Guess I've just gotten used to it.

I have spoken to Dell since posting. Their Application Support guy says he thinks it's standard behavior with Windows XP - so you know where you're copying FROM. My thought - If you're having trouble retaining THAT information, it's time to put the mouse away.
Keith

 

You're right, I just tried it, you can drag with either left or right click. (But only right click gives you context menu).

 

cnm -
I'm still trying to verify if the strange highlighting is now a 'feature' and not a 'bug'. I assume you're running XP. What happens to the highlight when you RIGHT-click, drag and drop? Does the the source folder highlight again, or does the target folder stay highlighted until you select from the context menu? I've got the distinct feeling that Dell is yanking my chain on this. Thanks.

 

Howdy

As soon as I release the right click the source folder highlites for me not the target folder...and it is highlited in a lighter color rather than the default blue...it does in fact go to the desired folder though if I click copy or move from the context menu

EDIT: It does the same thing if I right click the file in the right pane and select cut or copy ...then right click the target in the left pane and select paste


buck

 

Howdy agian

As another note...I just tried it on a machine with 98SE with IE6 and it is the same...

Then I tried it on a 98SE machine that still has IE5.01 and it works the way you wish it would

buck

 

Buck -
Then it's apparently a "feature", for whatever twisted reason. I'm glad someone finally understood my rambling description of the problem. Thanks for the clear reply. Looks like I'll have to change my ways.
Keith

 

I always drag with left click - don't understand reason for using right click to drag??

 

Howdy Calm Dog

Never thought about it until you brought it up...but it does seem odd...the older way makes more sense

progress

cnm... How are you sure it goes where you want it to without checking..I think that's what Calm Dog is pointing out...it also gives you the option of leaving the original where it was

buck

 

cnm - sometimes you don't want to move the file, just copy it. That's when the right click comes into play because the operating system has context sensitive defaults for copying and moving objects. When you drag and drop a file from one hard drive to another, copying is the default operation. But when you drag between two folders on the same drive, moving is the default operation.

 

Oh, I see. That explains it. Personally I always use Send to->Any folder. Or Ctrl left-click, which copies instead of moves. Lots of different ways to skin that cat!

 

cnm -
Send to->Any folder?? Sounds handy. Where did that option come from? Not familiar with it.

 

It's part of Powertoys package.
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Not all the Powertoys have the Send To x. I think I got mine with TweakUI 1.33. (Works fine on Win XP Pro).

 

Thanks, cnm. I'll definately check it out.

Here's the tweaker I've been using - Xteq X-Setup. You might like it.
http://www.xteq.com/downloads/