How to make Total Commander the default explorer for ALL programs (including PotPlayer and Slack)?

[Jorge24]

I have used the the registry file use Total Commander as the default explorer that programs use when they try to open a folder.
It works with most programs, however, some programs like PotPlayer and Slack still open Windows File Explorer.

For example, after I download a file in Slack, I click on "open containing folder" but it opens in Windows File Explorer.
For PotPlayer (a video player program), I right-click a file in the Playlist section and then choose "Add & Edit > Open file location of selected item".

Could there be something I'm missing in my .reg file?

Code: Select all

 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell]
 @="open"
 
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\open]
 
 ; Adding "/T" opens the folder in a new tab instead of overriding the last active tab.
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell\open\command]
 @="c:\\Program Files\\totalcmd\\TOTALCMD64.EXE /O /T \"%1\""
 
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell]
 @="open"
 
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open]
 
 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open\command]
 @="c:\\Program Files\\totalcmd\\TOTALCMD64.EXE /O /T \"%1\""

[beb]

1. To begin with, isn't it a bad idea to use 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT' at all?
By design and definition, HKCR is not saved to a file like HKCU or HKLM, but is created in memory by combining entries found under HKCU\Software\Classes and HKLM\Software\Classses.
Moreover,

...If you write keys to a key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, the system stores the information under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes. If you write values to a key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, and the key already exists under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes, the system will store the information there instead of under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes.
Processes running in a security context other than that of the interactive user should not use the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key with the registry functions...

See: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/sysinfo/hkey-classes-root-key

2. 'Common Item Dialog' is intended to be used to open or save a file for a classic application. If a developer hard-coded the dialog in one way or another, nothing you can do about it.
See: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/common-file-dialog

[Jorge24]

1. To begin with, isn't it a bad idea to use 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT' at all?

I'm not sure to be honest. All the posts I saw about making Total Commander the default explorer used ROOT:
viewtopic.php?t=78468
viewtopic.php?t=76915

Where do you recommend to create the registry key?

[Dalai]

1. To begin with, isn't it a bad idea to use 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT' at all?

No, not necessarily. However, users should be aware that writing to HKCR doesn't mean that changes are made for all users. Depending on the rights to write to that key, the values will either be written to HKLM\Software\Classes or HKCU\Software\Classes.

2. 'Common Item Dialog' is intended

This isn't about Common Dialogs because they can't be replaced by the user no matter what. Programmers can change or maybe even replace them, but that requires some work.

But you brought up an important point: If the call to Explorer is hard-coded in a program, there's nothing the user can do about it. Well, contacting the developer to change this is an option, but it doesn't guarantee any change.

[beb]

2Dalai
Thank you a lot for the detailed clarification.

[Jorge24]

I see, I guess that PotPlayer and Slack must have hard coded explorer.exe in their command? Is there a way I can verify that's the case before contacting the developers?

[Dalai]

I see, I guess that PotPlayer and Slack must have hard coded explorer.exe in their command?

That's my assumption, yes.

Is there a way I can verify that's the case before contacting the developers?

Two ways come to mind:

• Inspect the executables in (Sysinternals) Process Monitor to see what they're doing when using the function to open a folder. It's not quite easy to see through its output though.
• Use TC's search function on the executables. Put the "explorer.exe" in the "Find text" field and enable the "ANSI charset (Windows)" and "Unicode UTF16" options. If the string is present, it's an indication for a hard-coded call, but it's not a guarantee because there may be other reasons for the string to be present.

You can just ask the developers how the call to open a folder is implemented. It's up to them if they disclose this kind of information.

[Jorge24]

thanks!