Windows 7: How to configure Windows 7 Explorer

I moved my store of files contained in the My Documents folder from a Windows XP Home to a Windows 7 Home Premium computer.

The resulting settings of the Windows Explorer on the two computers now produce very different results for My Documents as follows



Opens a split screen: on each side is displayed the folder tree of files contained in My Documents. The left window has a small + next to each of the contained folders, indicating the presence of sub folders.

By repeatedly clicking on the plus signs I can drill down to display the entire contained tree of subfolders, which are sometimes four layers deep.

This permits a quick and easy way to get to a specific desired file in one of the sub-folders.






Opens a split screen: on the left is a top down tree of the entire computer, with “Computer highlighted, and the tree of contained folders in My Documents on the right pane. However there’s no indication that any of these folders includes sub-folders. Moreover, if I click on one of these folders, while it takes me down a level, all higher level folders are no longer visible.

The Windows XP Folder options include “Windows Classic Folders”. I'm hoping there’s an easy way to configure Windows 7 Explorer so that it behaves as earlier.

It all depends which part of the Explorer window has focus. In Seven, the + sign to tell a folder has subfolders is replaced with a small arrowhead symbols. They are visible only when mouse is hovered over the folder tree, or focus is on it.
Pics show it better:

Focus on the right pane, subfolder arrowhead symbols not shown:



Focus on the left pane, subfolder arrowhead symbols are shown:



Kari

I believe the only way to configure Windows 7 Explorer to look like XP's Explorer is to use the program "Classic Shell"

Welcome to Classic Shell

With this program you have a choice to install Classic Explorer, Classic Start Menu, or both. If you do not need the Classic Start Menu, like myself, just install Classic Explorer when installing the program. This will give Windows 7 Explorer the XP Explorer behavior you desire.

Steve

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Explorer view setting
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By default, Windows Explorer opens showing the My
Documents folder. To change the default setting so
that all top-level drives and folders are shown,
follow these steps:
Click Start, point to Programs, then Accessories, then
right-click Windows Explorer, and click Properties.
Under Target field, which reads
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe, add to make the line read
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, /select, C:\
Click OK.
I love that little trick. Now when you open Windows
Explorer you get to choose from all the folders and
drives, not just My Documents.

Just installed it, looks great so far!

Interesting except for 2 things; -1- In my case I see absolutely no difference at all and -2- I see no entry that says, "%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe," but rather what it says in my case is: %windir%\explorer.exe. I guess not all windows are built alike (I don't know if it makes a difference but mine is 64 bit)