Alternate for Windows 7 Explorer? Cause I can't stand it!!! LOL!

[Brent94Z]

I figured most you guys here are into computers a bit so this would be a good place to ask this question

I upgraded to Windows 7 on my regular PC (not HTPC) a couple months ago. So far so good... with one exception...

I HATE the new Windows Explorer and navigating through folders. What a moronic "feature" to click something then have to scroll to find the thing you just clicked!!! (IMHO of course )

I've done a bit of research on this and while the Windows devs are calling this a "feature" it seems that everyone else is screaming that is sucks and is a bug that Microsoft doesn't want to admit to. Either way, I absolutely hate it, can't stand it, and want something different. I've tried all the settings and I've got it "better" but nothing is making it like the Windows XP Windows Explorer. This "functionality" in Windows 7 also isn't limited to just Windows Explorer... even when using a program like CloneDVD2 and selecting a folder or creating a new one, I have to keep scrolling all over the place when expanding folders. And I know the different tricks about clicking the triangle instead of the folder but this is inconsistent and is still no good for me

I know there are a couple shells out there to bring back the same behavior of Window XP Windows Explorer to Windows 7 but these are major integrations into the OS so wanted to see if anybody has tried any of them and can provide some opinions?

Can anybody else relate to my frustrations and have you tried an alternative shell that you are happy with? Thanks!!!

Edit: I didn't explain the issue I was having very well but there is a video posted later in thread that shows it.

[Fuzzy]

I'm not sure I even know what you are complaining about... I've been using every version of windows for years, and haven't noticed any major changes wit the way it works...

[gplasky]

Not exactly sure of your issue either. But you know in Explorer if you go to Organize-Folder and search options-you can check the boxes for Navigation Pane to Show All Folders or Automatically Expand to Current Folder. I'm not sure if that helps. And in your Explorer window go to Organize-Layout. Do you have both Details pane and Navigation pane checked?

Gerry

[Brent94Z]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

I'm not sure I even know what you are complaining about... I've been using every version of windows for years, and haven't noticed any major changes wit the way it works...

Wow! I noticed this within minutes of using Windows 7. There are complaints all over about it but no solutions other than using a different shell.

There are a lot of topics out there about this. I haven't researched this in about a month or so but just did a quick search and I think this is one that i was reading previously that will help describe better what I'm talking about...

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...d-55ffbbd0e998

Several complaints here too...

http://boardreader.com/thread/Bug_Wi...fbbd0e998.html

You seem like a savvy computer user who probably does a lot of folder navigation, etc. I can't believe you didn't notice this difference when you went to Windows 7 LOL!

[Brent94Z]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Not exactly sure of your issue either. But you know in Explorer if you go to Organize-Folder and search options-you can check the boxes for Navigation Pane to Show All Folders or Automatically Expand to Current Folder. I'm not sure if that helps. And in your Explorer window go to Organize-Layout. Do you have both Details pane and Navigation pane checked?

Gerry

I'm at work now on Windows XP but will see if this makes a difference when I get home. Based on what I've been reading, it doesn't seem like there is a fix for this though so I'm not going to get my hopes up of that working... but will give it a try!

Thanks!

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by Brent94Z

Wow! I noticed this within minutes of using Windows 7. There are complaints all over about it but no solutions other than using a different shell.

There are a lot of topics out there about this. I haven't researched this in about a month or so but just did a quick search and I think this is one that i was reading previously that will help describe better what I'm talking about...

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/...d-55ffbbd0e998

Several complaints here too...

http://boardreader.com/thread/Bug_Wi...fbbd0e998.html

You seem like a savvy computer user who probably does a lot of folder navigation, etc. I can't believe you didn't notice this difference when you went to Windows 7 LOL!

Okay, it took reading that first thread for me to even understand what you were complaining about. I never use the navigation pane, which is why I've never seen this. I'm very keyboard centric, and find it faster for me to simply type in a path than to actually browse through a 'tree' of folders. I actually don't even really do that much fie moving/manipulation, but when I do, it's far easier to simply open up two windows.

[Brent94Z]

Originally Posted by Fuzzy

Okay, it took reading that first thread for me to even understand what you were complaining about. I never use the navigation pane, which is why I've never seen this. I'm very keyboard centric, and find it faster for me to simply type in a path than to actually browse through a 'tree' of folders. I actually don't even really do that much fie moving/manipulation, but when I do, it's far easier to simply open up two windows.

LOL! Yep, that would explain it then... so much of a computer guy you primarily use the keyboard! Hahaha

And, yes, this is something that is very difficult to explain unless you have actually experienced it and been frustrated by it. I didn't really go into the explanation too much because figured people would immediately know what I was talking about

I do a lot of file moving/manipulation/creation, etc. so this so called "feature" is something I'd like to not have anymore.

[Skirge01]

I also had to read that first thread you linked to in order to understand what you were talking about. However, once I did, I realized that I was also quite frustrated by this moronic design. What I've done to work around it is to use the PIN feature for the folders I frequently access. This way, I right-click the Explorer icon in the task bar and I can quickly open up the folders I use regularly. I rarely use the tree method anymore and simply open up two windows to copy & paste.

[ke6guj]

Originally Posted by gplasky

Not exactly sure of your issue either. But you know in Explorer if you go to Organize-Folder and search options-you can check the boxes for Navigation Pane to Show All Folders or Automatically Expand to Current Folder. I'm not sure if that helps. And in your Explorer window go to Organize-Layout. Do you have both Details pane and Navigation pane checked?

Gerry

yes, just do this and it should be the way you want it.

[darcilicious]

Originally Posted by ke6guj

yes, just do this and it should be the way you want it.

No, that doesn't help.

Here's a video of the bug:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGdGoO7Anis

Double-clicking on a folder in the left pane to expand it (for the first time) will cause the left pane to jump/scroll vertically, which IS annoying. But then I use the right pane to navigate more often than not

[ke6guj]

gotcha. now I know what you mean. that video in the OP would have helped with the "huh?" posts that followed.

[korben_dallas]

While the double-click prior to expanding jump is a bit of a bug, is it really that labor-intensive to just expand the tree?

[Brent94Z]

Originally Posted by ke6guj

gotcha. now I know what you mean. that video in the OP would have helped with the "huh?" posts that followed.

Yeah, sorry about that I didn't even know the video existed and incorrectly took the leap that this bugged the hell out of probably nearly everyone so my simple description of clicking then having to scroll to get back where you were would have people saying "Yep, know exactly what you are talking about" LOL!

Originally Posted by korben_dallas

While the double-click prior to expanding jump is a bit of a bug, is it really that labor-intensive to just expand the tree?

Do you mean clicking the triangle instead of clicking the folder name? If so, that doesn't work either

Edit: It appears to work better in the video but if your folder list size exceeds the height of your window (his didn't I don't think in the video) then it still goes all crazy. This does work better and what I've been doing (clicking the triangle) since about day 2 of my use of Windows 7 but I still see the problem even doing this.

I do some graphics work and work with a lot of files and folders so maybe I see it more than some but it is very annoying and from everything I've read, there are ways to make it a little better but no actual fix unless you use an add on shell/program. The add on program is where I'm at and was just wondering if anybody had tried any of the several available. Thanks!

[PLUCKYHD]

Wow never noticed that until now. I use the pin method as well and also have shortcuts on the desktop to my most used folders and always use 2 monitors, but yes that would be annoying if I used WE that way.

[gplasky]

This always worked well. Just install and use. Total Commander

Gerry

[Brent94Z]

Originally Posted by gplasky

This always worked well. Just install and use. Total Commander

Gerry

Thanks, Gerry! That looks like a good program for even more than just Windows Explorer type stuff. I'll give it a shot. Still looking for something to completely replace the current way this works in other things too... like when saving a file or, for example, opening a file in Word or any other program. I think some of the shell replacements do "fix" the problem in all these areas.

[teedublu]

this seems to address most gripes.
I haven't tried it yet though -- too busy fighting sagebrush fires.

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

TW

[Brent94Z]

Originally Posted by teedublu

this seems to address most gripes.
I haven't tried it yet though -- too busy fighting sagebrush fires.

http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

TW

Thanks, teedublu. That is a program that I had read about previously and one that I was leaning towards. If I don't hear about any "real world" experience any of these add on shells, I'll likely just dive in and give this one a shot. I'll report back on what I find. Thanks!