How to open Web Folder in Windows 7?

Question

Original Title: Opening websites with Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer)

Allow me to illustrate why I want to open a website with Windows Explorer and not Internet Explorer.

My office uses a network scanner that stores generated scans to a website address. We could get to the folder by typing in something likehttp://123.456.1.789/file_share in Windows Explorer. But now that everyone in my office switched to Windows 7, no one can access the files because attempting to open a website address automatically launches Internet Explorer, which is without the files list, and has fancy interface and customization and blocks any access to the files!

My question is simple. How can I open a website address in Windows Explorer without needlessly opening it with the Internet Explorer?

Answer 1

Hi Efreet,

You’re facing this problem due to the fact that “Open as Web Folder” option is not available in Internet Explorer 8.However, there is a workaround available in Windows 7 to open web folders in explorer.

Here are the steps. 

                   a.    Click Start.

                   b.    Click Computer.

                   c.    In the following dialog click Map Network Drive.

d.    On the Map Network Drive dialog, click "Connect to a Web site that you can use to store your documents and Pictures" this will pop up the "Welcome to the Add Network Location Wizard".

e.    Click on Next.

f.     Click on “Choose a custom network location”.

g.    Click on Next.

h.    Now type the web folder address that you want to access. For instance: http://123.456.1.789/file\_share 

i.     Enter a name to help you identify the web folder and click Next.

j.     Place a checkmark on “Open this network location when I click finish”.

k.    Click Finish.

l.     To open the web folder next time, just double click on the one you want to open from the My Network Places list.

That should be it.

---

Regards,

Shinmila H - Microsoft Support

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

Thanks for your kind reply

The method didn't work for me sadly, but I think the problem could be related to some security issues.

My coworker got to the files through a downgrade imitation software, if this helps anyone

Thanks for trying though. At least we learned we cannot get the files with Win7.

This method didn't work for me either - it created a folder, but not a link to the corporate web site.  The folder is blank.

(Same thing happens when I right click on my computer name in Windows Explorer and select Add a network Location which skips some of the steps in Map a Network Drive)

The other web folders I have (most of which were migrated from an XP machine using USMT) appear as network folders and when clicked on open in Windows Explorer.

I have been able to create new web folders by installing an old version of Microsoft FrontPage 2003, opening the web site in Internet Explorer and using Page to select Edit in Front page.  Creating a new document on the web site creates the desired web folder on the computer in Windows Explorer.

Answer 3

This worked perfectly on our Windows 7 64-bit machine.

Thank you.

Answer 4

Thanks for your kind reply

The method didn't work for me sadly, but I think the problem could be related to some security issues.

My coworker got to the files through a downgrade imitation software, if this helps anyone

Thanks for trying though. At least we learned we cannot get the files with Win7.