I caused Windows Explorer to disappear

[Weston]

I have had great difficulty understanding and finding things with Windows 7 Explorer; I've longed for the XP Explorer instead.

This morning I found and followed the instructions here: Fix Windows Explorer Annoyances with Classic Shell | 7 Tutorials

I installed Classic Shell (?) and selected Classic XP.

I now have nothing in my Windows Explorer except Desktop files and Wordperfect files. There's no tree whatsoever -- no Program Files, no anything.

Can I somehow get back the Windows 7 layout I had before I did this? or will I only be able to default back to the original layout without all of my additions? if at all.

Please help.

 

[indianacarnie]

Have you tried a system restore to before you did this? Or a system image?

 

[Weston]

How have I missed that perfect Nietzsche quote??? This Explorer problem comes on the heels of almost a week of struggling to get Dragon 12 to work with my Windows 7 laptop and trying to get my Windows 7 laptop to print on my old HP Laserjet 4+ printer that's connected to my XP desktop. It all involves many hours of terror without end and eventual giving up.

I haven't done a system restore to a previous time, because I fear it will only take me back to the original default. How would a system image help?

 

[indianacarnie]

Well, if you had a system image of your machine at a point before this happened you could set your machine exactly as it was at that point in time.
If no restore points you could try running a sfc /scannow

I'm assuming you've updated your drivers for the printer.

 

[Weston]

I've tried to update my drivers. I have the HP Universal Print Driver, but I don't know where to put the file.

 

[indianacarnie]

http://www8.hp.com/us/en/support-topics/printer-installation/install-download-printer-drivers.html

 

[thebudman]

Uninstall classic shell and that should put everything back.