Is it possible to use Windows XP's explorer.exe in Windows 7?

By WinClassicFan
in Tips, Tweaks & Customization

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rodkelly

Posted
Posted

In previous versions of windows your could get the shell/file manager from ReactOS to run as the Windows Shell. Might still work, haven't tried to replace the shell in Win 7 yet.

http://www.foxplanet.de/explorer/index.html

Grand Master

Subject Delta

Posted
Posted
ok well my mother witch is computer illiterate and has only used XP for 3 years now has windows 7 on her machine her used machin with 1.5gb of ram AMD athlon XP 2200+ and a 17" CRT screen and she did not have to ask me what to do in 7 she very quickly understood how things worked .

Now as far as your 2x 1024 screens go i understand i dont have the cnage myself but you can get now days but it always hits the wrong time of month for me 20" screens 20" wides for 140 or less way way less a friend of mine just got a 23" Asus for $99 on -sale it was a 2 day thing not sure where he got it but he got it fast and it is 1920x1080 rez.

I don't mean to be offensive or anything, but reading that gave me a headache, I really wish people wouldn't use text speak on message boards

Proficient

Madoshi

Posted
Posted
ok well my mother witch is computer illiterate and has only used XP for 3 years now has windows 7 on her machine her used machin with 1.5gb of ram AMD athlon XP 2200+ and a 17" CRT screen and she did not have to ask me what to do in 7 she very quickly understood how things worked .

well thats good for yer mother

my sister is in a similar setup, Windows Vista on a 2.4GHz Pentium 4, 1GB DDR266, onboard i845 video with an i865 driver loaded, CD-RW, 40GB IDE. it works very well enough for her, but i couldn't use the machine for longer than it took me to set it up that way.

Now as far as your 2x 1024 screens go i understand i dont have the cnage myself but you can get now days but it always hits the wrong time of month for me 20" screens 20" wides for 140 or less way way less a friend of mine just got a 23" Asus for $99 on -sale it was a 2 day thing not sure where he got it but he got it fast and it is 1920x1080 rez.

both my screens were free for the taking, and one of them has television video hookups as an added bonus.

i have considered buying a larger screen before, and i used to use a 19 inch CRT at 1600x1200 up to a couple months ago.

really, i am not up to buying monitors. i just put brakes and a lil front end work into my minivan for about the same amount as a pair of $140 monitors. clearly my priorities are elsewhere, and i am satisfied with Windows XP on a pair of 15 inch XGA LCD screens.

In previous versions of windows your could get the shell/file manager from ReactOS to run as the Windows Shell. Might still work, haven't tried to replace the shell in Win 7 yet.

http://www.foxplanet.de/explorer/index.html

that would be pretty interesting thing to get going :)

  • 1 month later...
Neowinian

Decryphe

Posted
Posted

I just joined here to see, if there's been any progress or new info on this topic, since I'd really like to keep on using the Explorer UI from Windows XP. It's just somewhat slower to use in Win7 than in XP. Too many clicks on that Superbar to do what I want to do.

What I wish for, is that I could have the exact same thing I had with Windows XP, because that's what I have optimized for my useage scenario (nLite just rocks... otherwise I'd be gone from Windows a long long time ago)... I only want to have DirectX 10 and 11 to put my graphics card to good use and the TRIM functionality of the Win7 kernel.

Anyways, I at least finally got my hands on a rather useable version of Windows 7 (free Windows Embedded 7 RC from MS Connect), but I still think it's rather bloated (hell, it's more than 2gig after installing it with only WMP and IE... I do fit in XP, WMP, Firefox, Pidgin, Office and Visual Studio in that!).

Oh, and my XP looks better... I'm using the Advance4[xp]/pro msstyle on it. I'll try to get at least that one working on Win7 now.

Greetings

Decryphe

Neowinian

Decryphe

Posted
Posted

Well, since Explorer.exe from XP doesn't seem to work at all in Win7 (WinDbg supposes it crashes in RegSetValueW... just wtf?), is there any way to get the "old" task bar and start menu to Win7?

And what about using an old MSSTYLE with Win7? And no, I don't account it worthwile to get WindowBlinds, it's too expensive for what it would do for me (i.e. enabling what I already use with XP).

Getting the best of both worlds would be the optimum for me...

Greetings

Decryphe

Grand Master

zhangm Supervisor

Posted
  • Supervisor
Posted

Well, since Explorer.exe from XP doesn't seem to work at all in Win7 (WinDbg supposes it crashes in RegSetValueW... just wtf?), is there any way to get the "old" task bar and start menu to Win7?

And what about using an old MSSTYLE with Win7? And no, I don't account it worthwile to get WindowBlinds, it's too expensive for what it would do for me (i.e. enabling what I already use with XP).

Getting the best of both worlds would be the optimum for me...

Greetings

Decryphe

So you want it to look like Windows XP and function like Windows XP... Why don't you just stick with Windows XP and save us all a headache?

Collaborator

Saburac

Posted
Posted

So you want it to look like Windows XP and function like Windows XP... Why don't you just stick with Windows XP and save us all a headache?

How is it giving you a headache? You didn't have to reply or even read this thread, and honestly if you have nothing helpful to contribute why bother? I hate the people that love to s**t all over other people's choices because they don't share the same opinion, as if the universe revolves around them and what they like.

Also for the morons saying "Well why don't you just stick with XP" did you ever stop to think that maybe someone that likes the appearance of XP would still like to have the latest kernel, security updates and other features? Personally if there was a way to get the XP classic shell to run on 7 I'd jump on it in a heartbeat, because to me Aero is fugly and the new Windows Explorer sucks.

Now to the original poster, I was able to get the shell from ReactOS working in Vista so it should work in 7 I think, and there are some nice alternative file managers out there as others have pointed out. I haven't tried the Classic Shell mod yet but it looks very interesting. :)

Neowinian

Decryphe

Posted
Posted

So you want it to look like Windows XP and function like Windows XP... Why don't you just stick with Windows XP and save us all a headache?

Because I still would rather like some improvements from Win7 over what XP can do. I already named two examples.

  • 2 weeks later...
Grand Master

LiquidSolstice

Posted
Posted

This is quite possibly the most stupidest and ridiculous thing I've ever heard of anyone doing.

You really need to man up and accept the new Win7 explorer.

How is it giving you a headache? You didn't have to reply or even read this thread, and honestly if you have nothing helpful to contribute why bother? I hate the people that love to s**t all over other people's choices because they don't share the same opinion, as if the universe revolves around them and what they like.

Also for the morons saying "Well why don't you just stick with XP" did you ever stop to think that maybe someone that likes the appearance of XP would still like to have the latest kernel, security updates and other features? Personally if there was a way to get the XP classic shell to run on 7 I'd jump on it in a heartbeat, because to me Aero is fugly and the new Windows Explorer sucks.

Now to the original poster, I was able to get the shell from ReactOS working in Vista so it should work in 7 I think, and there are some nice alternative file managers out there as others have pointed out. I haven't tried the Classic Shell mod yet but it looks very interesting. :)

Because we're talking about the bigger picture here, and what's essentially better for the operating system. If you don't want Windows 7, you simply don't use it. There's no point in Frankensteining it like this. If it really ****es him off, there are so many damn alternative shells.

Grand Master

Quillz

Posted
Posted

This is quite possibly the most stupidest and ridiculous thing I've ever heard of anyone doing.

You really need to man up and accept the new Win7 explorer.

Because we're talking about the bigger picture here, and what's essentially better for the operating system. If you don't want Windows 7, you simply don't use it. There's no point in Frankensteining it like this. If it really ****es him off, there are so many damn alternative shells.

I wouldn't have put it so strongly, but I have to agree with your point.

If you don't like the way Windows 7 does certain things, such as present Windows Explorer, then don't use it. Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows XP and Windows Vista still exist and still work, and many, many people still use them. (I have an aunt who still uses Windows 95 full-time to this day). Not only is trying to shoehorn XP's Explorer into 7 going to be a tough task, it probably won't even work in the first place.

Thus, I must agree... If you want to use Windows 7, then accept that it works differently from what you're used to. And that's what you'll often find with software... What we perceive as better/worse is really just different. People often forget how radically different XP was compared to 98, and what horror stories we heard about it when it was first released. But then people got used to it, and then liked it.

Proficient

soumyasch

Posted
Posted

Windows 7 != Windows 7 Explorer? Why is it so hard for some people to accept that there may be someone who like the rest of Win 7 save for Windows Explorer? And rather than looking for alternatives they should ditch Windows 7 altogether? If you don't like an application (say, IE, for example) do you ditch the entire OS or simply move to a replacement? And what if none of the third party replacements were suited to your taste but an older version of the application was?

Going back to the problem, how about sharing all the drives from Windows 7 with read/write permissions and running XP Mode or VBox in seamless mode. Then use the Windows Explorer from XP to browse the shared folders instead. Accessing shares from W7 will need a password, so being careful while handing the passwords out and not giving XP access to the Internet (using VBox host-only networking) would keep you quite safe as well.

Grand Master

DeusProto

Posted
Posted

I'm too lazy to check for sure, but Explorer.exe is probably tied to Winlogon.exe and even low level stuff like Ntoskrnl.exe in each respective Windows version. As such, all those things would have to be emulated properly and a pretty hefty wrapper would be needed to successfully port it. I wouldn't say it's impossible, but it's extremely unlikely that anyone will take up that task.

I would suggest searching for an alternate file manager.

  • 2 weeks later...
Mentor

Jen Smith

Posted
Posted

Just to chime in, Explorer is not only a file manager, but it also handles your start menu, desktop, and a bunch of other things as well. It's not going to happen. Ever.

To be honest though, I'm using the classic shell extension and a couple other tweaks, my explorer is actually rather similar to XP's now, but still retains all the good things that Win7 adds. Very similar to my old Explorer + FindeXer + a few other shell extension combo's, including the old file menu and bottom status bar. Also use Hidden Files Toggle, HashTab and a few others.

post-225934-12685215030938_thumb.png

  • 3 months later...
Enthusiast

Nostromov

Posted
Posted (edited)
Also for the morons saying "Well why don't you just stick with XP" did you ever stop to think that maybe someone that likes the appearance of XP would still like to have the latest kernel, security updates and other features? Personally if there was a way to get the XP classic shell to run on 7 I'd jump on it in a heartbeat, because to me Aero is fugly and the new Windows Explorer sucks.

Whoa, fire!..:) Anyway, The new Windows Explorer can be configured.. just a few options + stuff like this:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8955/make-backspace-in-windows-7-or-vista-explorer-go-up-like-xp-did/

.. prolly this ****'ll get fixed with Service Pack 1; besides Windows 7 Windows Explorer has in-line search and just that is the reason to have Windows 7. Best thing would be to run the Windows 7 explorer.exe shell on Windows XP actually.

[.]] I'm using the classic shell extension and [..]

^^ How's that the classic shell? o.0

Edited by Colin-uk
please dont bypass the swear filter - thanks.
Grand Master

Rudy

Posted
Posted

Why on earth would you use classic theme in Windows 7 ? That is the most retarded thing ever, as it looks insanely terrible. Just get used to Aero already.

Some people like the look of classic better? Not everyone is like you :rolleyes:

Experienced

Lazure

Posted
Posted

Some people like the look of classic better? Not everyone is like you :rolleyes:

It's not meant to be used in Windows 7. The UI was not designed with it in mind. Note how ugly the start menu, start button, explorer windows, etc are in it. Nevermind the fact that calculator and other windows 7 programs don't look proper in it either. Also, classic is 15 years old, FIFTEEN YEARS, you realize how old that is in tech years? No other OS still carries around such an old look!

How many people in MacOSX make it look like system7 ? How many Ubuntu users make it look like old X11 with the extremely basic square buttons and stuff? So why are people in 2010 using a 2009 version of windows with an awesome, GPU-accelerated and much smoother GUI, gimp it down to cpu-driven non-composited ugly windows 95 rubbish that looks way out of place with windows 7's design?

If someone can't stand the way windows 7 looks and feels, then they should keep using an ancient OS that matches their ancient way of thinking. People who cannot adapt to new things, or accept change, only hold the rest of the world back from advancing. Look at the people in the dark ages afraid of discovering any technology, because they were afraid of change.. kept humanity back for centuries. The reason XP is STILL around in such high numbers is because so many people are afraid to adapt to change (to windows 7). Why is it when Windows 3.1 upgraded to 95, not so many people had this problem? However, XP to 7 is like.. OMG CANT ADAPT! MUST KEEP OLD WAY!

I know not all change is good, but in Windows 7 case.. change is definitely, definitely good.

Grand Master

Rudy

Posted
Posted

It's not meant to be used in Windows 7. The UI was not designed with it in mind. Note how ugly the start menu, start button, explorer windows, etc are in it. Nevermind the fact that calculator and other windows 7 programs don't look proper in it either. Also, classic is 15 years old, FIFTEEN YEARS, you realize how old that is in tech years? No other OS still carries around such an old look!

It's not because it's old and ugly to YOU that it doesn't work for other people

How many people in MacOSX make it look like system7 ? How many Ubuntu users make it look like old X11 with the extremely basic square buttons and stuff? So why are people in 2010 using a 2009 version of windows with an awesome, GPU-accelerated and much smoother GUI, gimp it down to cpu-driven non-composited ugly windows 95 rubbish that looks way out of place with windows 7's design?

Windows still gives you the option to have the classic look, OSX doesn't let you make the OS look like system7 and Ubuntu can have ANY window manager you want so you can make it look as old as you want (see xubuntu etc)

If someone can't stand the way windows 7 looks and feels, then they should keep using an ancient OS that matches their ancient way of thinking. People who cannot adapt to new things, or accept change, only hold the rest of the world back from advancing. Look at the people in the dark ages afraid of discovering any technology, because they were afraid of change.. kept humanity back for centuries. The reason XP is STILL around in such high numbers is because so many people are afraid to adapt to change (to windows 7). Why is it when Windows 3.1 upgraded to 95, not so many people had this problem? However, XP to 7 is like.. OMG CANT ADAPT! MUST KEEP OLD WAY!

I know not all change is good, but in Windows 7 case.. change is definitely, definitely good.

You're always the first one to moan when you see people still using XP so I would have expected you to be happier about people using 7 and the classic look :shifty:

I think you care a little too much about the way the OS look and not enough about the functionality behind it. To be honest with you a corporation running ~1000 workstations used solely for email and basic internet browsing will be more than fine running XP, there's no reason for them at the moment to upgrade to 7. When support for XP is pulled off then it will make sense for security purposes but right now Win7 won't make anything better for them

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