A Better File Manager than Windows Explorer for Microsoft Windows 7

[Bamboo Baits]

Regarding the Microsoft Windows 7 file manager utility - Windows Explorer - the better alternatives (free and otherwise) are ...?

 

[TanyaC]

Hi Welcome to Seven Forums

Regarding the Microsoft Windows 7 file manager utility - Windows Explorer - the better alternatives (free and otherwise) are ...?

"Better" is subjective. What suits your needs best is the better alternative. And there are a few..

Here's 6 to get you started..

Five free replacements for Windows Explorer - TechRepublic
Multi Commander | Multi Commander

Tanya

 

[Bamboo Baits]

Is there a way to make the Windows 7, Windows Explorer behave exactly like the Windows Explorer in Windows XP?

 

[LMiller7]

Is there a way to make the Windows 7, Windows Explorer behave exactly like the Windows Explorer in Windows XP?

No

There are programs like Classic Shell that can do some things, but exactly like XP, No.
Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

Personally I have never liked Windows Explorer, going all the way back to Windows 95. I have never found a replacement I was entirely satisfied with but MultiCommander (link in post #2) comes closest. Years ago I became used to a dual pane display and am too set in my ways to change.

One of the most advanced file managers on the market is Directory Opus:
Directory Opus

It is expensive but has a 60 day trial.
I used the trial years ago.

There is also
XYplorer - A Windows File Manager and Explorer Replacement (Commercial)
FreeCommander - freeware file manager (Free)
Total Commander - home

 

[andrew129260]

I know this does not fully relate to your windows explorer replacement question, but I think this might help you since you like the look and way of xp better then 7.

Making 7 look and act more like XP:

Windows Explorer:

Click start rb: type folder options. Click the top result. In the folder options window, choose the view tab.

Choose the following options:
-Checkmark Always show menus
-Uncheck hide empty drives in the computer folder
-Uncheck Hide extensions for known file types

Click apply, then click the general tab. Under navigation pane, check show all folders and automatically expand to current folder.

Click ok.


Taskbar:

Right click the taskbar on a blank area. Choose properties. Under taskbar, choose use small icons. Under taskbar buttons, choose never combine. Click ok.

Bring quick launch back to windows 7:

Guided Help: Enable the Quick Launch bar in Windows 7


There are other ways to customize your pc. See here: Personalizing your computer - Microsoft Windows Help



Also read up on the help and support option in the start menu. It is actually quite good now and is great to get more information on windows 7 and all the new features. You can also read up on UAC and how it protects your pc.



You may also be interested in this:

(This option will cause a slight drop in performance-results may vary)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/77626-convert-windows-xp-style.html

 

[Bamboo Baits]

andrew129260,

Thank you. However, the less desirable behavior is associated with Windows Explorer in particular.

For example, when the focus is on a folder in Windows Explorer's left pane, and the keyboard's up or down key is pressed, XP's Windows Explorer will - in the right pane - show the files within the folder, and immediately change the right pane's contents accordingly as the keyboard's up or down key is pressed to move the focus to other folders in Windows Explorer's left pane. In this specific scenario, Windows 7's Windows Explorer does not change the contents of its right pane as the keyboard's up or down key is pressed.

This behavior is one of several productivity differences between the Windows Explorer in XP and Windows 7.

 

[Ztruker]

In Folder Options, General tab, do you have Automatically expand to current folder checked?

Never mind, that doesn't cause the right pane to expand as you traverse the left pane.

But you can press the Space bar which causes the right pane to expand.

 

[Callender]

Alternatives to Explorer

Personally I stick with Explorer but find other file managers useful at times.

Suggestions for alternatives based on my own experience include:

Explorer++

Will do what you ask regarding changing focus

Advantages include:

Can be run without installation.
Can replace Explorer.
Fully customizable view settings.

Q-Dir

Advantages include:

Can be run without installation.
Fully customizable view settings.
Ideal for when you need to move or copy multiple files between several locations.

I use both of the above on a regular basis.

Other file managers that I've tried but don't use include:

Just Manager
Classic Shell
XYplorer
Total Commander

There's a good list of file managers to browse through here:

http://www.softpedia.com/get/File-managers/

 

[jadinolf]

XYplorer - Download

 

[dsperber]

Free Commander has been mentioned, which is what I have used for the past 5 years ever since migrating from WinXP to Win7. That original version of Free Commander (referred to as FC 2009.02b) is still available and still works perfectly.

In the past year, a new version named Free Commander XE has become available. It is still "in development", though it's original initial beta version has been available for free to beta users (as FreeCommander XE 2014 (release 650)) for at least 6 months. Newer and very up-to-date beta versions with recent fixes are also available to "donor beta users" who contribute at least 10 euros toward the ongoing development project.


Anyway, Free Commander is a TERRIFIC "multi-pane" alternative to Windows Explorer. Can't recommend it highly enough.

 

[plugger]

Multi-panel tabbed managers?

I know of Just Manager, and am about to try it.

Does anyone know of other file managers that can handle more than two tabbed panels?

 

[MilesAhead]

+1 on FreeCommander esp. if you have a 32 bit OS. I especially like the rename utility(more powerful than Explorer but less complicated than Bulk Rename Utility for those in between jobs) and the Folder Sync utility is awesome.

 

[Ztruker]

Take a look at Q-Dir.

 

[lehnerus2000]

FreeCommander

I use FreeCommander when I need to do any tricky operations like mass renaming.

I also use it when I need easy access to multiple folders simultaneously.

For example, when I'm working with video I use a separate tab for the:

1. Source video
2. Source audio
3. Source subtitles
4. Assembled video

The folder compare function is handy too.