According to nicepersonality, who has done tech support for the past forever:
1) Not from within IE. There may be some third-party toolbar or something that offers that option, but I don't know which one (if any). The closest I can find is a setting in Tools > Internet Options > Advanced to force shortcut icons on the desktop open in their own window instead of an existing one (uncheck "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts"). I usually just right-click and choose "Open in New Window."
2) Not that I can find, in either IE or Windows Explorer. Huh.
no subject
1) Not from within IE. There may be some third-party toolbar or something that offers that option, but I don't know which one (if any). The closest I can find is a setting in Tools > Internet Options > Advanced to force shortcut icons on the desktop open in their own window instead of an existing one (uncheck "Reuse windows for launching shortcuts"). I usually just right-click and choose "Open in New Window."
2) Not that I can find, in either IE or Windows Explorer. Huh.