Windows 7: Windows Explorer questions

I have to confess after a year I still don't understand the changes in Windows Explorer in Windows 7. This is partly because my company uses an older version of Windows, so most of my time is spent in XP. The main things I don't get are:

• Why sorting by date modified often gives the wrong results for folders. Folders in which nothing has changed in years typically sort above a folder I changed yesterday, which ends up in the middle.
• Why folders (even old ones) always sort above brand new files (not folders) when sorted by date modified.
• Why Recent Places still has nothing in it after over a year.
• Why searches take so long with the interminable blue bar moving across the top, and why even viewing folders sometimes sets off this bar.

Welcome to the Seven Forums.

I do not see the first 3 things that you mentioned:
...Folders sort by date as expected
...New files are top most in the list
...Recent Places populate as expected
Can you please post a screenshot of what you are seeing and maybe some steps to duplicate your results.
(Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums)

If I click one time on the column labeled "Date Modified", I get a triangle pointing down & the newest file is on top:

Clicking once more on the column labeled "Date Modified" yields a triangle pointing up and this sort:


The bar is there when the system is busy gathering the info requested... pretty much like the flashlight in XP.

Suobs those are some great questions and I have no answers. I will be watching because I would like to know the answers. I also have nothing in resent places and never did.

here is some of what I see: