The following command line argument / switches are available for Windows Explorer (explorer.exe):

• /n

• Opens a new single-pane Window for the default selection. This is usually the root of the drive on which Windows is installed.

• /e

• Starts Windows Explorer using its default view.

• /e, <object>

• Starts Windows Explorer using its default view with the focus on the specified folder.

• /root, <object>

• Opens a window view of the specified object.

• /select, <object>

• Opens a window view with the specified folder, file or program selected.

Right click an existing shortcut to Windows Explorer, and select 'Properties'. Go to the 'Shortcut' tab, and take a look at the 'Target:' edit box. Add the desired switches at the end of this command line.

If you want Windows Explorer to start in its default view (a double-pane view which shows the folder list on the left and the file list on the right), with the C: drive as the default focus. You can accomplish this by changing my Windows Explorer shortcut to this command line:

%SystemRoot%/explorer.exe /e,C:

Do not use the /root switch, as this would not let you to navigate higher up than the C: drive, you would not have access to any other drive with configuration. But this switch could be useful if you never had to access another drive, as it will save some screen space. You can of course always create more than one shortcut to Windows Explorer with each having their own settings.

You can quickly create a shortcut and add it to your Quick Launch on the Taskbar by right clicking on the desktop and choose New / Shortcut. The program will prompt you to browse for a path but just enter your desired path, such as:
%SystemRoot%explorer.exe /e,C:
Once you have the shortcut completed you can drag and drop it onto your Taskbar. Note: Hold the Shift ket down while you drag tyhe icon to the Taskbar and you will move instead of copy (unless you want two copies).