removing ambiguity

That's an interesting observation, but does not address my issue. I want to open My Computer by means of a macro - and the most reliable way to do that is with a keystroke - Win E. Is there some way of ensuring that WIN E will only ever open My Computer in the view that includes (or excludes) the Folders pane on the left.

Since the default actions on My Computer, C: are not consistent across machines, it looks like the old fashioned method for you.

Then again I have pitchforks and torches aplenty for the the entire forum.
Bob

Do you mean by that, to give up trying to use a macro ?

and why do you need it to open "My Computer" specifically?

You mentioned ChkDsk, but not in what context.

For example, I can force Explorer to open at whatever location I wish by using the target;
%windir%\explorer.exe /e, c:\Work

where 'Work" is some folder I use.

I can just as easily use; %windir%\explorer.exe /e, c:\ which would open Explorer directly with the C drive highlighted.

So, what is this macro intended to do?

Mark

<<What is the purpose of this macro?>> as stated in my first post, "macro to automate the launching of a checkdisk"
<<why do you need it to open "My Computer" specifically?>> To get access to the properties of the hard drive(s), which gives access to the (full) checkdisk command - C:\WINDOWS\system32\chkdsk.exe does not do all 5 phases.
<<%windir%\explorer.exe /e, c:\Work>> That looks to me like a DOS command in a batch file. My first preference is for batch files, but it is too complex for me to achieve a checkdisk in a batchfile, so I have used Macro Express to write a macro.
<<what is this macro intended to do>> Since I have answered that above, I want to add that I do a checkdisk every week, and that involves some 10 or more steps. All that is repetitious - the thing that computers are best at - repetitious tasks.

If the full 5 phases of checkdisk are not needed, then obviously the batch file, triggering chkdsk.exe, would be the way to go. Thank you for that hint - I don't want to do unnecessary work. With one proviso - you talk about modern disks. I am using 40Gb HDDs - they are probably not so very modern, although SMART has been around for a while.

The batch file, when you add the /R switch to the command, does the full 5 passes the link said. Did you try from the command prompt?

Then you can make 2 batch files. A quick one, without surface check, and a slower one, with. I'd run the first more often than the second.

Kees

<<Did you try from the command prompt?>>
No, the whole idea is to reduce the number of 'actions' - but I did try from batch-file and it works fine. I agree, two slightly different batchfiles would do the trick .