I hate the "Libraries" bring back "My Computer"

[Mitsubishiman]

I hate the "Libraries" bring back "My Computer"

Am I the only one whom dislikes the windows 7 windows explorer, I have ceased using the original "My" Folders years ago, all of my data is on NAS Servers, is there a replacement program that will allow me to customize file access more like XP My computer, All I want to do is access the data, I did not lose anything, I do not need to search for anything and I will organize my data the way I want to - not the way windows thinks I should

Also - I see colors quicker than I can read text - so in previous OS (XP) I would change the folders to icons, really weird that they retained the icons from the original info after I copied my icon folder to the C drive, however it appears as though i cannot change a folder to an icon in W7

 

[peterlonz]

Win 7 Explorer

Me too,
I hate the win explorer forced on me in Win 7.
I hate the wishy-washy baby blue colour, the line spacing, the icons & yes the (can't delete) intrusive Libraries.
Does it not occur to MS that some of us depend upon Explorer & we want greater freedom & functionality?
Amazing to find myself saying the explorer layout in XP was superior, good work MS!

 

[Brink]

Me too,
I hate the win explorer forced on me in Win 7.
I hate the wishy-washy baby blue colour, the line spacing, the icons & yes the (can't delete) intrusive Libraries.
Does it not occur to MS that some of us depend upon Explorer & we want greater freedom & functionality?
Amazing to find myself saying the explorer layout in XP was superior, good work MS!

Hello Peter,

If you really want Libraries gone, then you can use the tutorials below to do so.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/35627-libraries-folder-add-remove-navigation-pane.html

and

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/938-libraries-desktop-icon-add-remove.html


However, if you truly want "greater freedom & functionality", then you might consider trying them out for a bit first. Libraries let you access and arrange items from one or more folders quickly without moving them from their original location. Libraries themselves don't store your files or folders. Instead, they point to different folders on your hard disk, or on an external drive attached to your computer. This gives you easy access to a category of files no matter where they are stored. For instance, if you have music files on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files from the Music library.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[seekermeister]

You still have essentially the same interface available as before by selecting Computer from the right side of the Start Menu...if you have it enabled in the Start Menu's Properties.

 

[win7clutz]

I personally don't accept change very well. But after investing a little time in libraries I wouldn't dream of giving them up!

I see little difference between windows explorer in Win7 and explorer in Vista or XP except libraries, and they provide immediate access to the data important to me.

So to each his own, but I recommend spending a little time learning what they can do for you...

Regards-

 

[win7clutz]

Example:

 

[Tommyd]

I don't use them, since there is only one partition on my HDD, and I am the only using my PC, but I agree it is a bit annoying if you click the task bar icon, then can't get into another folder on your user account, say, the downloads folder.

 

[smarteyeball]

I don't use them, since there is only one partition on my HDD, and I am the only using my PC, but I agree it is a bit annoying if you click the task bar icon, then can't get into another folder on your user account, say, the downloads folder.

If you change the target of the Taskbars Explorer Icon properties to:

%windir%\explorer.exe /n,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

View attachment 42206

It will open on "computer" instead of the libraries.

(Copy the existing target command if you wish to revert back to libraries)

 

[severedsolo]

whats wrong with Libraries? you have everything you normally access in one easy location! and if YOU really want my computer, then just click start>Computer, let me ask you whats easier? click the taskbar>music or click start>computer>c:\>Users>*your username*>My Music? i know which one i prefer.....

 

[smarteyeball]

whats wrong with Libraries?

Nothing. Except I personally don't want everything in a library.

i know which one i prefer.....

So do I

I find that it takes less clicks to find something when I open explorer this way:



As opposed to this way:




It all comes down to a users personal preference.

 

[antt]

Nothing. Except I personally don't want everything in a library.

sounds like a good idea for a service pack feature; an exclusion option in the library locations, that will include a folder but have the option of excluding certain folder that are contained within.

 

[chev65]

You can exclude or include any folder you want from library's. It's the best thing since sliced bread in my book.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/585-library-include-folder.html

 

[JusticeAA]

I like the libraries, It is about time that I can store pictures and music on a seperate HD and have windows know where they are.

If you don't like them, don't use them.

 

[antt]

You can exclude or include any folder you want from library's. It's the best thing since sliced bread in my book.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/585-library-include-folder.html

But you can't include a folder but exclude a folder that is contained within that folder. Say I wanted to include all of the 'Pictures' folder, but exclude a folder contained within that pictures folder. Windows does not allow for that behaviour.
I think that is the behaviour that the OP was asking for, when he said 'Nothing. Except I personally don't want everything in a library.'

 

[Boastree]

So you right click on Computer in start menu and put it on desk top wow that was hard

 

[win7clutz]

You can exclude or include any folder you want from library's. It's the best thing since sliced bread in my book.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/585-library-include-folder.html

But you can't include a folder but exclude a folder that is contained within that folder. Say I wanted to include all of the 'Pictures' folder, but exclude a folder contained within that pictures folder. Windows does not allow for that behaviour.
I think that is the behaviour that the OP was asking for, when he said 'Nothing. Except I personally don't want everything in a library.'

Brink has already posted the link: "Add or Remove from Navigation Pane". Sounds like those that don't like libraries should use it.

 

[Mitsubishiman]

I read all of the responses and although the idea of being able to find items scattered throughout a computer is probably a serious advantage to some people, however I refuse to store files of any kind on a C drive or any partition of the primary drive, all of my data is very well organized on external NAS Drives, I have 4 PCs networked together in my house, I have used M$ Windows since V 3.1, I have had and have seen far too many hard drives fail and along with the failure - so goes your data, IMHO the C drive is strictly the OS and data is best stored on a RAID system, that is if you value your data, it has been discussed that the next gen of PCs will in fact have individual drives for the OS and for the programs and data will be on its own system, the last 2TB NAS only cost me $330, my 64GB Thumb Drive cost me half of that, within 1 year the 2TB NAS will be below $100 and with all of your data stored neatly in organized folders I can access the data because I know exactly where it is, it appears as though libraries were set up for people who think differently than I do, Thanks for the tutorial on the removal of the libraries, I will be implementing it quite soon, it is a shame that M$ assumed everyone would approve when it appears that a simple switch on-off like a use “Classic My Computer” or “Use Libraries” would have been a nice function.

 

[Frostmourne]

Unless your NAS mysteriously dies and your USB suddenly needs formattings. Use the C:\ hard drive.

 

[Capella]

I read all of the responses and although the idea of being able to find items scattered throughout a computer is probably a serious advantage to some people, however I refuse to store files of any kind on a C drive or any partition of the primary drive, all of my data is very well organized on external NAS Drives, I have 4 PCs networked together in my house, I have used M$ Windows since V 3.1, I have had and have seen far too many hard drives fail and along with the failure - so goes your data, IMHO the C drive is strictly the OS and data is best stored on a RAID system, that is if you value your data, it has been discussed that the next gen of PCs will in fact have individual drives for the OS and for the programs and data will be on its own system, the last 2TB NAS only cost me $330, my 64GB Thumb Drive cost me half of that, within 1 year the 2TB NAS will be below $100 and with all of your data stored neatly in organized folders I can access the data because I know exactly where it is, it appears as though libraries were set up for people who think differently than I do, Thanks for the tutorial on the removal of the libraries, I will be implementing it quite soon, it is a shame that M$ assumed everyone would approve when it appears that a simple switch on-off like a use “Classic My Computer” or “Use Libraries” would have been a nice function.

Meh, I can completely understand why you wouldn't trust or use that new feature. even though, you can add folders from other locations (besides your local hdd) into your library. Hard drives made these days are much less prone to errors than those made in the 1990 XD.
"M$ assumed everyone would approve when it appears that a simple switch on-off like a use “Classic My Computer” or “Use Libraries” would have been a nice function."
If microsoft included a switch for every single feature, windows would be a bloated penguin (not linux XD). They are already doing a good job making sure backwards compatibility is achieved. However, think about the pressure between innovation and compatibility with earlier interfaces XD.

btw smarteyeball, your computer's hard drive space is AWESOME XD thatslike 4 terabyte or something :shock:

 

[noobvious]

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btw smarteyeball, your computer's hard drive space is AWESOME XD thatslike 4 terabyte or something :shock:

I thought the same thing!

And I was a little skeptical on the library feature at first, but I have grown to appreciate them.