When I right click on the "Start" button, and then go to "Explore", I see many folders that are already open.  So many, in fact, that I can only see the last "er" in the words "My Computer".  I would like, when I open Explore, to see only the following folders:  Desktop, My Documents, My Network Places, and Recycle Bin. 

I don't want to see any sub-folders, or subfolders of subfolders. 
And when I open one of the four folders I mentioned, I only want to see the subfolders (and files) directly beneath the folder I click on, not sub-folders of the sub-folders. 

I basically want to be in charge of which folders are open, rather than my computer automatically deciding which sub-folders I want to go to right off the bat.

Can anyone help please?

kc

[Saving disk space -  old attachment deleted by admin]If you move the mouse CURSOR over the line that seperates the left and right panes til it TURNS to a 4 sided arrow you can re-SIZE the pane on the left so everything is viewable.Thanks for replying.  I guess I want my cake and eat it, too.  I Tried your idea, and it works, however, I was hoping that only the minimum number of folders would show.  I don't mind not being able to see the right hand side of the names of some of the longer titled sub-folders as I open the main folders.  I like the left window small, so I don't want to increase it's size.  The main thing, though, is that I don't want the folders to be uncollapsed when I open up Explore.

Do you or anyone else have any more ideas?

kcCreate a second shortcut to Explorer on your desktop as we are going to edit this one for test purposes...

After creating it right click the shortcut and select Properties.

Under Target copy and paste the following :
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /e, C:\

Then copy and paste the following into the Start In line :
%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%C:\%

This will open Explorer at the root of C: and also show all folders in the left pane as collapsed...
If this is what you are after simply delete your other Windows Explorer shortcut.I tried to make a shortcut to "Explore" by (1) right-clicking on the Start button, (2) left-click and hold the "Explore" button, and (3) drag it to the desktop and release. 

It did not APPEAR on the desktop.  Is there another way to get a shortcut of it? 

kcLocate the file at c:\windows\explorer.exe
Right click the file and select send to/desktop as shortcut