Replacing Windows Explorer With Third Party Tool

How would I go about replacing Windows Explorer with a third party tool such as TotalCommander, explorer++, etc?

I would like to have one of those load instead of win explorer when I type "C:\directoryName" into the run window. Is this possible?

From stackoverflow Ryan Lanciaux

• Thank you for the links but I don't see anywhere on the site that mentions how to setup windows so it will use the tool instead of explorer when typing into the run window.

  From Ryan Lanciaux

• From a comment on the first LifeHacker link,

  How to make x² your default folder application

  As part of the installation process, x² adds "open with xplorer2" in the context menu for filesystem folders.

  If you want to have this the default action (so that folders always open in x2 when you click on them) then make sure this is the default verb, either using Folder Options ("file folder" type) or editing the registry:

  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell] @="open_x2"

  If you want some slightly different command line options, you can add any of the supported options by editing the following registry key:

  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\open\command] @="C:\Program files\zabkat\xplorer2\xplorer2_UC.exe" /T /1 "%1"

  Notes: 1. Please check your installation folder first: Your installation path may be different. Secondly, your executable may be called xplorer2.exe, if it is the non-Unicode version.

  1. Note that "%1" is required (including the quotation marks), and is replaced by the folder path you are trying to open.

  2. The /T switch causes no tabs to be restored and the /1 switch puts x2 in single pane mode. (You do not have to use these switches, but they make sense).

  (The above are from xplorer2 user manual)

  Ryan Lanciaux : Thanks Judah. I guess I thought the directions for the replacement were on the lifehacker article :)
  From Judah Himango

• If you go to Control Panel -> Folder Options And go to the File Types tab. You can go to the "Folder" file type (with "(NONE)" as the extension). Go to Advanced, create a new action that uses your program (I tried it with FreeCommander). Make sure you set it as default.

  That should do it.

  From Howler