Start a new explorer.exe process from C#

Question

If I run this command:

C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe "::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}"

from the Windows shell (via Windows+R), my printer and faxes open in a new explorer.exe process. (So I have 2 running explorer.exe processes.)

If i execute:

Process.Start(@"C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe", @"::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\" + 
                                          @"::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\" + 
                                          @"::{2227A280-3AEA-1069-A2DE-08002B30309D}");

from a C# program, my printer and faxes open too, but as an child process of the main explorer.exe process (the one running the Windows shell, including the taskbar, etc.).

What can I do to start a second explorer.exe process with the printer and faxes window from C#?

Well, for one thing, you have a few unescaped `\\` in your second string. — 3Dave, Feb 17 '12 at 15:59
ohu, your right.. but that's only because I wrote this on the fly, in my real code its escaped. — cyptus, Feb 17 '12 at 16:07

score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

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Initial thoughts - check your "Launch folder windows in a separate process" in Folder Options (Organize -> Folder & Search Options -> View tab). This is unchecked by default, hence "Check" this and try your C# code again.

I know this setting affects the ShellExecute function but I am not sure if .NET's Diagnostic namespace uses the same route.

ShellExecute(handle, "explore", , NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

Second thoughts - a similar issue has been already discussed in stackoverflow and this post might give you some idea.

Start new process, without being a child of the spawning process

edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

Community

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answered Feb 17 '12 at 16:10

Kash

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Just as an FYI, `Process.Start` does use `ShellExecute` by default, though it can be made to use `CreateProcess` instead if you use one of the overloads that takes a `ProcessStartInfo`. – Sven Feb 17 '12 at 16:14
Thats true. By default the ProcessStartInfo.UseShellExecute is set to true. – Kash Feb 17 '12 at 16:18

Start a new explorer.exe process from C#

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