How to open folder in simple separate window?

I'm a low-income, disabled, senior, so I end up using other folks hand-me-down computers.

Last August I was given a PC running Windows 7, and to this day I can't figure out the first thing about that version of Windows.

For example, in the Windows Explorer in Win 2K and Windows XP, if I right click on a folder name, and then select "Open" what happens is a separate window showing just the contents of that folder opens up.

But in Windows 7 when I perform the same steps, instead of that simple clean little window, I end up with what looks like a second instance of the entire Windows Explorer GUI, complete with those three vertical panes, with the directory tree in the left pane and "Select a file to preview" in the right pane.

(I've checked the Organize > Folder and search options > Open each folder in its own window check box)

I'm hoping there's a way to configure the Windows 7 command in Windows Explorer "Open in new window" so that it will open a window similar to that simple window that Win 2K and Windows XP would display.

Can that be done? If so, I'd sure be grateful to anyone who could show me how to do it.

If not, then would it be possible to replace the Windows Explorer in Windows 7 with one of the earlier versions, such as the one in Windows XP.

Or might there be a third party replacement for Windows Explorer that would do the same thing?

Will in Seattle
a.k.a. "Clueless"