Windows 7: Window Explorer Toolbar - Remove

   Information

In windows 7 Microsoft implemented a new toolbar in Windows Explorer. It has options like: Organize, Share with, Burn, New Folder. Do you want to get rid of this for good? This is how.

   Note

If you do this you will not be able to access any of the features that are on this bar, that includes changing which panes are up. You can however use these tutorials registry edits to turn them on or off:

• Navigation pane turn on or off
• Details pane turn on or off
• Preview pane turn on or off

To use custom themes after removing the explorer toolbar, you will have to extract the file to:

C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\"Custom Theme"\Shell\NormalColor

OPTION ONE

To Remove Windows Explorer Toolbar

1. Click on the Download button below to download the Remove Explorer Bar.zip file.

2. Disable Aero.

1. Right click on the Desktop, select "Personalize"
2. Select "Windows Classic" theme:
   
   

3. Download and install "Add_Take_Ownership.reg".

1. Extract: "Add_Take_Ownership.reg"
2. Run: "Add_Take_Ownership.reg"
3. If prompted by User Access Control, then select "Yes".
4. "Registry Editor" will ask something like:
   
   
5. Select "Yes"
6. "Registry Editor" will say something like:
   
   
7. Select "OK"

4. Determine whether your operating system is 64 bit or 32 bit.

1. Right Click on "Computer", select "Properties"
2. Look next to "System type:", it will say one of these: "64-bit Operating System" or "32-bit Operating System":
   
   

5. Taking control of necessary files.

   Warning

You MUST back up the following files if you ever wish to revert back. One way you might backup a file is by copying the original file and then renaming the copy "shellstyle - Original.dll" or "shellstyle - Backup.dll". Make sure you do a backup file for each file that you are going to change.

1. Navigate to the folder:
   Code:

   C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Aero\Shell\NormalColor

2. Right click on the file: "shellstyle.dll", select "Take Ownership":
   
   
3. If prompted by User Access Control, then select "Yes".
4. The following Steps 5-7 are for "64-bit Operating System" only.
5. Navigate to the folder: "C:\Windows\SysWOW64"
6. Right click on the file: "shellstyle.dll", select "Take Ownership":
   
   
7. If prompted by User Access Control, then select "Yes".

6. If your system is a "64-bit Operating System" perform steps 1-2.

1. Extract and run the following files: "Shellstyle Extract x64.exe", "Shellstyle Extract x64_2.exe".
2. If prompted by User Access Control, then select "Yes".

7. If your system is a "32-bit Operating System" perform steps 1-2.

1. Extract and run the following file: "Shellstyle Extract x86.exe"
2. If prompted by User Access Control, then select "Yes".

8. Re enable your original theme.

1. Right click on your Desktop, click "Personalize"
2. Enable your desired theme

9. You are Done!

OPTION TWO

To Restore Windows Explorer Toolbar

1. Disable Aero.

1. Right click on your desktop, click "Personalize"
2. Select "Windows Classic" theme

2. Restore Backups.

1. Navigate to the folder:
   Code:

   C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\Aero\Shell\NormalColor

2. Change the file "shellstyle.dll" to another name I.E. "shellstyle - NEW.dll"
3. Put the original file back in this folder and name it "shellstyle.dll"

1. Navigate to the folder: "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" (Note this folder is only on 64 bit versions of windows 7)
2. Change the file "shellstyle.dll" to another name I.E. "shellstyle - NEW.dll"
3. Put the original file back in this folder and name it "shellstyle.dll"

3. Re enable your original theme.

1. Right click on your Desktop, click "Personalize"
2. Enable your desired theme

4. You are Done!