How To Reinstall Windows Explorer In Vista

File manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating organisation

This article is well-nigh the Microsoft Windows file listing browser. For exploring file system listings, meet file browser. For exploring inside files, come across file viewer.

Windows File Explorer

File Explorer on Windows 11 in Light App Mode showing special folders and drives, with the new command bar
Developer(s)	Microsoft
Initial release	August 15, 1995; 26 years agone  (1995-08-xv)
Stable release	21H2 (10.0.22000.652) (Apr 25, 2022; 4 days ago  (2022-04-25) [one]) [±]
Preview release	x.0.22598.200 (April 19, 2022; 10 days ago  (2022-04-19) [ii]) [±]
Included with	Windows 95 and later
Predecessor	Plan Manager, File Managing director
Type	Beat, file manager

Windows File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file managing director application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windows operating system from Windows 95 onwards. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems. Information technology is also the component of the operating system that presents many user interface items on the screen such as the taskbar and desktop. Decision-making the reckoner is possible without Windows Explorer running (for example, the File ▸ Run command in Task Director on NT-derived versions of Windows will part without information technology, every bit will commands typed in a command prompt window).

Overview [edit]

Windows Explorer was offset included with Windows 95 equally a replacement for File Manager, which came with all versions of Windows iii.x operating systems. Explorer could be accessed past double-clicking the new My Computer desktop icon or launched from the new Start Bill of fare that replaced the earlier Program Manager. There is also a shortcut key combination: Windows central+East. Successive versions of Windows (and in some cases, Internet Explorer) introduced new features and capabilities, removed other features, and more often than not progressed from being a simple file system navigation tool into a task-based file direction organisation.

While "Windows Explorer" or "File Explorer" is a term most normally used to describe the file management attribute of the operating organisation, the Explorer process also houses the operating organisation's search functionality and File Blazon associations (based on filename extensions), and is responsible for displaying the desktop icons, the Offset Menu, the Taskbar, and the Control Console. Collectively, these features are known as the Windows vanquish.

After a user logs in, the explorer process is created by the userinit process. Userinit performs some initialization of the user environment (such as running the login script and applying group policies) and so looks in the registry at the Crush value and creates a process to run the system-defined vanquish – by default, Explorer.exe. And then Userinit exits. This is why Explorer.exe is shown by various process explorers with no parent – its parent has exited.

History [edit]

In 1995, Microsoft first released test versions of a shell refresh, named the Shell Engineering science Preview, and often referred to informally as "NewShell".^[3] The update was designed to replace the Windows three.10 Plan Manager/File Manager based shell with Windows Explorer. The release provided capabilities quite similar to that of the Windows "Chicago" (codename for Windows 95) shell during its late beta phases, however was intended to exist nothing more than a test release.^[four] There were two public releases of the Trounce Engineering Preview, made available to MSDN and CompuServe users: May 26, 1995 and August 8, 1995. Both held Windows Explorer builds of 3.51.1053.ane. The Shell Technology Preview plan never saw a final release nether NT 3.51. The entire programme was moved across to the Cairo development grouping who finally integrated the new shell design into the NT code with the release of NT four.0 in July 1996.

Windows 98 and Windows Desktop Update [edit]

With the release of the Windows Desktop Update (packaged with Cyberspace Explorer 4 as an optional component, and included in Windows 98), Windows Explorer became "integrated" with Cyberspace Explorer, most notably with the add-on of navigation arrows (back and forrard) for moving between recently visited directories, as well as Cyberspace Explorer's Favorites carte.

An accost bar was also added to Windows Explorer, which a user could type in directory paths directly, and be taken to that binder.

Another characteristic that was based on Cyberspace Explorer technology was customized folders. Such folders independent a subconscious web page that controlled the way the Windows Explorer displayed the contents of the binder.

Windows ME and Windows 2000 [edit]

The "Web-style" folders view, with the left Explorer pane displaying details for the object currently selected, is turned on past default. For certain file types, such as pictures and media files, a preview is besides displayed in the left pane.^[5] The Windows 2000 Explorer featured an interactive media player as the previewer for sound and video files. Yet, such a previewer can be enabled in Windows ME through the utilise of folder customization templates.^[6] Windows Explorer in Windows 2000 and Windows ME allows for custom thumbnail previewers and tooltip handlers. The default file tooltip displays file title, author, subject and comments;^[7] this metadata may exist read from a special NTFS stream, if the file is on an NTFS volume, or from a COM Structured Storage stream, if the file is a structured storage document. All Microsoft Office documents since Role 95^[8] make use of structured storage, so their metadata is displayable in the Windows 2000 Explorer default tooltip. File shortcuts can also shop comments which are displayed equally a tooltip when the mouse hovers over the shortcut.

The right-paw pane, which usually only lists files and folders, tin also be customized. For instance, the contents of the system folders aren't displayed by default, instead showing in the right pane a alert to the user that modifying the contents of the system folders could harm their computer. It'south possible to define additional Explorer panes past using DIV elements in binder template files.^[9] This feature was driveling past computer viruses that employed malicious scripts, Coffee applets, or ActiveX controls in folder template files every bit their infection vector. Ii such viruses are VBS/Roor-C^[ten] and VBS.Redlof.a.^[eleven]

Other Explorer UI elements that tin be customized include columns in "Details" view, icon overlays, and search providers: the new DHTML-based search pane is integrated into Windows 2000 Explorer, unlike the separate search dialog found in all previous Explorer versions.^[12]

Search capabilities were added, offering total-text searches of documents, with options to filter by engagement (including capricious ranges similar "modified within the last week"), size, and file blazon. The Indexing Service has as well been integrated into the operating system and the search pane built into Explorer allows searching files indexed past its database.^[13] The ability to customize the standard buttons was also added.

Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows XP, showing All Users folder contents.

There were significant changes made to Windows Explorer in Windows XP, both visually and functionally. Microsoft focused specially on making Explorer more discoverable and task-based, as well equally adding several new features to reverberate the growing use of a computer equally a digital hub.

Windows Explorer in Windows Server 2003 contains all the same features every bit Windows XP, only the chore panes and search companion are disabled by default.

Job pane [edit]

The task pane is displayed on the left-hand side of the window instead of the traditional folder tree view. It presents the user with a list of common deportment and destinations that are relevant to the electric current directory or file(s) selected. For instance, when in a directory containing more often than not pictures, a prepare of "Picture show tasks" is shown, offer the options to display these pictures as a slide show, to print them out, or to become online to gild prints. Conversely, a folder containing music files would offer options to play those files in a media player or to go online to purchase music. Windows XP had a Media bar simply information technology was removed with SP1. The Media Bar was only available with Windows XP RTM.

Every folder as well has "File and Folder Tasks", offer options to create new folders, share a folder on the local network, publish files or folders to a website, and other common tasks like copying, renaming, moving, and deleting files or folders. File types that have identified themselves as existence printable likewise have an pick listed to impress the file.

Underneath "Other Places" is a "Details" pane which gives additional information – typically file size and date, but depending on the file type, a thumbnail preview, author, image dimensions, or other details.

The "Folders" push button on the Windows Explorer toolbar toggles between the traditional tree view of folders, and the task pane. Users can get rid of the chore pane or restore it using the sequence: Tools – Folder Options – General – Show Common Tasks/Use Windows Classic Folders.

Search companion [edit]

Windows Explorer's default Search Companion, Rover, in Windows XP

Microsoft introduced animated "Search Companions" in an attempt to make searching more than engaging and friendly; the default character is a puppy named Rover (previously used in Microsoft Bob), with three other characters (Merlin the magician, Earl the surfer, and Courtney) too available. These search companions utilize the same applied science as Microsoft Office'south Office Assistants, even incorporating "tricks" and sound furnishings, and they can be used as Part Administration if their files are copied into the C:\Windows\msagent\chars folder.^[14]

The search capability itself is fairly similar to Windows ME and Windows 2000, with one major addition: Search can also exist instructed to search merely files that are categorical "Documents" or "Pictures, music and video"; this feature is noteworthy largely because of how Windows determines what types of files can be classified under these categories. In society to maintain a relevant list of file types, Windows Explorer connects to Microsoft and downloads a gear up of XML files that define what these file types are. The Search Companion tin be disabled in favor of the classic search pane used in Windows 2000 by using the Tweak UI applet from Microsoft's PowerToys for Windows XP, or by manually editing the registry.

Image handling [edit]

Windows XP improves image preview in Explorer by offering a Filmstrip view. "Back" and "Previous" buttons facilitate navigation through the pictures, and a pair of "Rotate" buttons offering 90-degree clockwise and counter-clockwise (lossy)^{[ citation needed ]} rotation of images. Aside from the Filmstrip view mode, there is a 'Thumbnails' style, which displays thumbnail-sized images in the folder. A Folder containing images volition also show thumbnails of iv of the images from that binder overlaid on acme of a large folder icon.

Spider web publishing [edit]

Web sites that offer image hosting services can be plugged into Windows Explorer, which the user can employ to select images on their computer, and have them uploaded correctly without dealing with comparatively complex solutions involving FTP or web interfaces.^{[ citation needed ]}

Other changes [edit]

• Explorer gained the power to understand the metadata of a number of types of files. For example, with images from a digital camera, the Exif information can be viewed, both in the Properties pages for the photo itself, as well as via optional additional Details View columns.
• A Tile view mode was added, which displays the file's icon in a larger size (48 × 48), and places the file name, descriptive blazon, and additional information (typically the file size for data files, and the publisher name for applications) to the right.
• The Details view also presented an additional option called "Show in Groups" which allows the Explorer to carve up its contents past headings based on the field which is used to sort the items.
• The taskbar can exist locked to foreclose it from accidentally beingness moved.
• Windows Explorer also gained the power to burn down CDs and DVD-RAM discs in Windows XP.
• Ability to create and open Zippo files called "compressed folders".^{[15] [16]}
• Ability to open Cabined (.cab) files.^[17]
• If a .htm or .html file is copied or moved, the accompanying _files suffix folder is copied or moved among it automatically.^[18]

Removed and inverse features [edit]

This department needs expansion. You tin can help by adding to information technology. (December 2012)

• The sort club has changed compared to the one in Windows 2000. For file names containing numbers Windows Explorer now tries to sort based on numerical value rather than simply comparing each number digit past digit.^[19]

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows Vista, showing Public folder contents.

Search, organizing and metadata [edit]

Windows Explorer includes meaning changes from previous versions of Windows such as improved filtering, sorting, grouping and stacking. Combined with integrated desktop search, Windows Explorer allows users to find and organize their files in new ways, such equally stacks.^{[20] [21]} The new Stacks viewing manner groups files according to the criterion specified by the user.^[21] Stacks tin can be clicked to filter the files shown in Windows Explorer. There is too the ability to save searches as virtual folders or search folders.^[22] A search folder is but an XML file, which stores the query in a form that can be used by the Windows search subsystem.^[23] When accessed, the search is executed and the results are aggregated and presented every bit a virtual folder.^[22] Windows Vista includes half-dozen search folders by default: recent documents, recent e-mail, recent music, contempo pictures and videos, recent inverse, and "Shared by Me".^[24] Additionally, search operators for properties were introduced, such as kind:music. ^[25] Since at least Windows 7, comparison operators "greater than" and "less than" are supported to search for any supported attribute such as engagement ranges and file sizes, like size:>100MB to search for all files that are greater than 100MB.^[26] Attributes sortable and searchable in Windows Explorer include pictures' dimensions, Exif data such every bit discontinuity and exposure, video elapsing and framerate and width.^[27]

When sorting items, the sort order no longer remains consistently Ascending or Descending. Each property has a preferred sort management. For example, sort past date defaults to descending order, equally does size. But name and blazon default to ascending order.

Searching for files containing a given text string became problematic with Vista unless the files had been indexed. An alternative is to use the findstr control-line function.^[28] After right-clicking on a folder i tin can open up a command-line prompt in that binder.

Windows Explorer also contains modifications in the visualization of files on a computer. A new addition to Windows Explorer in Vista and Server 2008 is the details pane, which displays metadata and information relating to the currently selected file or binder. The details pane will likewise brandish a thumbnail of the file or an icon of the filetype if the file does not comprise visual information. Furthermore, different imagery is overlaid on thumbnails to give more information about the file, such as a motion picture frame around the thumbnail of an image file, or a filmstrip on a video file.

The details pane also allows for the change of some textual metadata such as author and championship in files that support them inside Windows Explorer. A new type of metadata called tags allows users to add together descriptive terms to documents for easier categorization and retrieval. Some files support open up metadata, assuasive users to ascertain new types of metadata for their files. Out-of-the-box, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 supports Microsoft Part documents and near audio and video files. Back up for other file types tin can however be added by writing specialized software to retrieve the metadata at the vanquish's request. Metadata stored in a file'southward alternate information stream only on NTFS volumes cannot be viewed and edited through the summary tab of the file'due south properties anymore. Instead, all metadata is stored inside the file, so that information technology will e'er travel with the file and non be dependent on the file system.^[29]

Layout and icons [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 likewise introduces a new layout. The job panes from Windows XP are replaced with a toolbar on summit and a navigation pane on the left. The navigation pane contains commonly accessed folders and preconfigured search folders. 8 unlike views are bachelor to view files and folders, including extra large, large, medium, pocket-sized, listing, details, tiles, and content. In addition, cavalcade headers now appear in all icon viewing modes,^[21] unlike Windows XP where they but appear in the details icon viewing style.^[xx] File and binder actions such as cut, copy, paste, undo, redo, delete, rename and backdrop are congenital into a dropdown menu which appears when the Organize button is clicked. Information technology is also possible to alter the layout of the Explorer window past using the Organize button. Users tin select whether to brandish classic menus, a search pane, a preview pane, a reading pane, and the navigation pane. The preview pane enables users to preview files (e.g., documents or media files) without opening them. If an application, such as Office 2007, installs preview handlers for file types, then these files can also be edited within the preview pane itself.^[thirty]

Windows Vista saw the introduction of the breadcrumb bar for easier navigation. As opposed to the prior address bar which displayed the current folder in a simple editable combobox, this new style structures the path into clickable levels of folder hierarchy (though falls back to the archetype edit mode when a bare area is clicked), enabling the user to skip as many levels as desired in i click rather than repeatedly clicking "Upwards". It is also possible to navigate to any subfolder of the current folder using the pointer to the right of the last particular. The menu bar is now hidden by default but reappears temporarily when the user presses Alt.

Bank check boxes in Windows Explorer allow the option of multiple files.^[31] Costless and used space on all drives is shown in horizontal indicator bars. Icons of various sizes are supported: 16 x xvi, 24 ten 24, 32 ten 32, 48 x 48, 64 x 64, 96 x 96, 128 x 128 and 256 ten 256. Windows Explorer can zoom the icons in and out using a slider or by holding downward the Ctrl key and using the mouse scrollwheel.^[32] Live icons can display the content of folders and files themselves rather than generic icons.^[33]

Other changes [edit]

With the release of Windows Vista and Server 2008 and Windows Cyberspace Explorer seven for Windows XP, Internet Explorer is no longer integrated with Windows Explorer. In Windows Vista and Server 2008 (and in Windows XP as well if IE7 or 8 is installed), Windows Explorer no longer displays web pages, and IE7 does not support employ as a file manager, although ane volition separately launch the other as necessary.

When moving or copying files from ane folder to another, if two files take the same name, an option is at present bachelor to rename the file; in previous versions of Windows, the user was prompted to cull either a replacement or cancel moving the file. Also, when renaming a file, Explorer only highlights the filename without selecting the extension. Renaming multiple files is quicker as pressing Tab automatically renames the existing file or folder and opens the file proper name text field for the adjacent file for renaming. Shift+Tab allows renaming in the same manner up.

Support for burning data on DVDs (DVD±R, DVD±R DL, DVD±R RW) in addition to CDs and DVD-RAM using version 2.0 of the Image Mastering API, too equally Alive File System back up was added.^[34]

If a file is in use by another application, Windows Explorer tells users to close the awarding and retry the file operation. Also, a new interface IFileIsInUse is introduced into the API which developers can utilize to allow other applications switch to the main window of the application that has the file open or simply close the file from the "File in Use" dialog. If the running application exposes these operations by means of the IFileIsInUse interface, Windows Explorer, upon encountering a locked file, allows the user to close the file or switch to the application from the dialog box itself.^[35]

Windows Vista introduced precluded support for the Media Transfer Protocol.^{[ citation needed ]}

Removed and changed features [edit]

The ability to customize the layout and buttons on the toolbars has been removed in Windows Vista's Explorer, equally has the ability to add a password to a zip file (compressed binder). The Toolbar push in Explorer to go upwards one binder from the current folder has been removed (the office still exists yet, one can move upwards a folder by pressing Alt + ↑). Although nonetheless fully available from the menus and keyboard shortcuts, toolbar buttons for Cut, Re-create, Paste, Undo, Delete, Backdrop and some others are no longer available. The Carte du jour Bar is too hidden past default but is still available past pressing the Alt fundamental or changing its visibility in the layout options. Several other features are removed such as showing the size on the status bar without selecting items, storing metadata in NTFS alternate data streams,^[36] the IColumnProvider interface which immune addition of custom columns to Explorer^[37] and folder background customization using desktop.ini.

The option "Managing pairs of Web pages and folders" is also removed, and the user has no manner of telling Vista that a .html file and the folder with the same name that was created when saving a complete spider web page from IE should be treated separately, that is, they cannot delete the folder without deleting the html file too.^[38]

The ability to right-click a folder and hit "Search" was removed in Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Users must open the folder they wish to search in and enter their keywords in the search field located on the top right corner of the window. Alternatively, users tin specify other search parameters through the "Advanced Search" UI, which tin be accessed past clicking on the Organize Bar and selecting Search Pane under the Layout submenu. Pressing F3 besides opens the "Advanced Search" interface.

Windows seven and Windows Server 2008 R2 [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows vii, showing Libraries.

Libraries [edit]

Windows Explorer in Windows vii and Windows Server 2008 R2 supports libraries, virtual folders described in a .library-ms file that aggregates content from various locations – including shared folders on networked systems if the shared folder has been indexed past the host system – and present them in a unified view. Searching in a library automatically federates the query to the remote systems, in addition to searching on the local system, so that files on the remote systems are likewise searched. Dissimilar search folders, Libraries are backed by a physical location which allows files to be saved in the libraries. Such files are transparently saved in the backing physical folder. The default salvage location for a library may be configured by the user, every bit tin can the default view layout for each library. Libraries are generally stored in the libraries special folder, which allows them to be displayed on the navigation pane.

Past default, a new user account in Windows seven contains four libraries, for unlike file types: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. They are configured to include the user'due south contour folders for these corresponding file types, also as the computer's corresponding Public folders.

In addition to aggregating multiple storage locations, Libraries enable Arrangement Views and Search Filter Suggestions. System Views allow users to pivot their views of the library's contents based on metadata. For example, selecting the "By Month" view in the Pictures library will display photos in stacks, where each stack represents a month of photos based on the date they were taken. In the Music library, the "Past Creative person" view will display stacks of albums from the artists in their collections, and browsing into an creative person stack volition then brandish the relevant albums.

Search Filter Suggestions are a new feature of the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Explorer's search box. When the user clicks in the search box, a menu shows upwardly below information technology showing recent searches also as suggested Advanced Query Syntax filters that the user can type. When 1 is selected (or typed in manually), the menu will update to show the possible values to filter by for that belongings, and this list is based on the current location and other parts of the query already typed. For example, selecting the "tags" filter or typing "tags:" into the search box will display the list of possible tag values which will return search results.

The metadata written within the file, implemented in Vista, is besides utilized in Windows 7. This tin can sometimes pb to long wait times displaying the contents of a folder. For example, if a binder contains many large video files totaling hundreds of gigabytes, and the Window Explorer pane is in Details view mode showing a holding contained inside the metadata (for example Date, Length, Frame Summit), Windows Explorer might have to search the contents of the whole file for the meta data. Some damaged files tin crusade a prolonged delay as well. This is due to metadata data existence able to be placed anywhere inside the file, beginning, middle, or end, necessitating a search of the whole file. Lengthy delays also occur when displaying the contents of a binder with many dissimilar types of program icons. The icon is contained in the metadata. Some programs crusade the activation of a virus browse when retrieving the icon information from the metadata, hence producing a lengthy delay.^[29]

System Views and Search Filter Suggestions are database-backed features that require that all locations in the Library be indexed by the Windows Search service. Local disk locations must exist indexed by the local indexer, and Windows Explorer volition automatically add locations to the indexing scope when they are included in a library. Remote locations tin be indexed by the indexer on some other Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 car, on a Windows machine running Windows Search 4 (such as Windows Vista or Windows Habitation Server), or on another device that implements the MS-WSP remote query protocol.^[39]

Federated search [edit]

Windows Explorer likewise supports federating search to external information sources, such as custom databases or spider web services, that are exposed over the web and described via an OpenSearch definition. The federated location description (chosen a Search Connector) is provided as a .osdx file. One time installed, the data source becomes queryable straight from Windows Explorer. Windows Explorer features, such as previews and thumbnails, work with the results of a federated search as well.

Other changes [edit]

• Windows vii and Windows Server 2008 R2 support showing icons in the context menu and creating cascaded context menus with static verbs in submenus using the Registry instead of a shell extension.^[40]
• The search box in the Explorer window and the address bar tin be resized.
• Certain folders in the navigation pane tin can be hidden to reduce ataxia.
• Progress bars and overlay icons on an awarding'southward push button on the taskbar.
• Content view which shows thumbnails and metadata.
• Buttons to toggle the preview pane and create a new folder.

Removed or changed features [edit]

In Windows 7, several features have been removed from Windows Explorer, including the collapsible binder pane, overlay icon for shared items, remembering individual folder window sizes and positions, free disk space on the status bar, icons on the command bar, ability to disable Auto Arrange and Align to Grid, sortable column headings in other views except details view, ability to disable full row selection in details view, automatic horizontal scrolling and scrollbar in the navigation pane and maintaining selection when sorting from the Edit bill of fare.

Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 [edit]

The new File Explorer with ribbon in Windows 8.

The file manager on Windows eight and Windows Server 2012 is renamed File Explorer and introduces new features such equally a redesigned interface incorporating a ribbon toolbar, and a redesigned file operation dialog that displays more than detailed progress and allows for file operations to be paused and resumed. The details pane from Windows Vista and 7 was removed and replaced with a narrower pane with no icons and fewer detail columns. Simply other details are displayed by hovering over the file'south name.^{[41] [42]}

Windows 10 and Windows Server 2016 [edit]

The icons in File Explorer have been redesigned. They are flatter and simpler in pattern. The window border padding is thinner than previous versions. Windows 10 Creators Update and after versions come up with a new Universal File Explorer (also known as the UWP File Explorer). Although subconscious, it tin can be opened by creating a shortcut pointing to "explorer beat out:AppsFolder\c5e2524a-ea46-4f67-841f-6a9465d9d515_cw5n1h2txyewy!App" ^{[43] [44]}

Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server 2019 [edit]

A "dark mode" has been added to File Explorer in Windows 10, version 1809 and Windows Server 2019.^[45] The Universal File Explorer also includes new features.^{[46] [47]}

Windows x, version 1909 [edit]

Windows Search and OneDrive take been integrated into File Explorer'south search feature in Windows 10, version 1909.^[48]

Windows 11 [edit]

In Windows 11, the File Explorer had undergone significant UI changes with the Ribbon Interface simplified into a command bar. Translucency, shadows, and rounded geometry have also been added, following the Fluent Design System.

Extensibility [edit]

File Explorer can be extended to support non-default functionality past means of Windows beat out extensions, which are COM objects that plug the extended functionality into Windows Explorer.^[49] Shell extensions can be in the form of shell extension handlers, toolbars or fifty-fifty namespace extensions that allow certain folders (or even non-filesystem objects such every bit the images scanned by a scanner) to exist presented as a special folder. File Explorer too allows metadata for files to be added as NTFS alternate information streams, separate from the data stream for the file.

Shell extension handlers are queried by the shell beforehand for modifying the action the shell takes. They can be associated on a per file type – where they will testify upwardly only when a particular activeness takes place on a particular file type – or on a global basis – which are always available. The trounce supports the following extension handlers:

Handler	Description	Can be implemented on	Required beat version
Context menu handler	Adds menu items to the context menu. It is called before the context menu is displayed.	Per file type	Windows 95 and afterwards. Windows 7 introduced IExecuteCommand
Drag-and-drop handler	Controls the action upon right-click elevate and drib and modifies the context carte that appears.	Global	Windows 95 and later
Drop target handler	Controls the action after a data object is dragged and dropped over a drop target such as a file.	Per file blazon	Windows 95 and later
Information object handler	Controls the action after a file is copied to the clipboard or dragged and dropped over a driblet target. Information technology can provide additional clipboard formats to the drop target.	Per file blazon	Windows 95 and later
Icon handler	Assigns a custom icon to an individual file amongst a class of file types. It is called before file icons are displayed.	Per file type	Windows 95 and later
Property sheet handler	Replaces or adds pages to the property sheet dialog box of an object.	Per file blazon	Windows 95 and later
Re-create hook handler	Allows running, modifying or denying the activity when a user or application tries to copy, movement, delete, or rename an object.	Not associated with a file type	Windows 95 and after
Search handler	Allows trounce integration of a custom search engine.	Non associated with a file type	Windows 95 through Windows XP
Infotip handler	Allows retrieving flags and infotip information for an item and displaying it within a popup tooltip upon mouse hover.	Per file type	Windows Desktop Update and later
Thumbnail prototype handler	Provides for a thumbnail prototype to be generated and displayed along with its alpha type when a file is selected or the thumbnail view is activated.	Per file blazon	Windows Desktop Update and afterwards. Windows Vista introduced a newer IThumbnailProvider interface that also shows thumbnails in the Details pane. The older IExtractImage is still supported but not in the Details pane.[50]
Deejay Cleanup handler	Add together a new entry to the Disk Cleanup application and allows specifying boosted disk locations or files to make clean up.	Per folder	Windows 98 and later
Column handler	Allows creating and displaying custom columns in Windows Explorer details view. It can be used to extend sorting and group.	Per folder	Windows 2000 and later
Icon overlay handler	Allows displaying an overlay icon over a shell object (a file or folder icon).	Per file type	Windows 2000 and later
Metadata handler	Allows viewing and modifying metadata stored in a file. It tin can be used to extend details view columns, infotips, holding pages, sorting and grouping.	Per file type	Windows 2000 and later
Filter handler (IFilter)	Allows file properties and its contents to exist indexed and searched past Indexing Service or Windows Search	Per file type	Windows 2000 and later
AutoPlay handler	Examines newly discovered removable media and devices and, based on content such every bit pictures, music or video files, launches an appropriate application to play or display the content.	Per file blazon category Windows XP only: per device and per file type category	Windows XP and later
Property handler	Allows viewing and modifying arrangement-divers and custom properties of a file.	Per file type	Windows Vista and later; on Windows XP if Windows Search is installed.
Preview handler	Renders enhanced previews of items without launching the default application when a file is selected. It tin can also provide file type-specific navigation such every bit browsing a document, or seeking within a media file.	Per file type	Windows Vista and afterward

Namespace extensions are used by Explorer and Mutual Dialogs to either display some data – which are not necessarily persisted equally files – in a binder-like view or to present information in a manner that is dissimilar from their organization on the file system. This feature can be exploited by a any hierarchical data source that can exist represented every bit a file arrangement like the Windows ane, including Cloud-based implementation. Special folders, such equally My Computer and Network Places in Windows Explorer are implemented this way, as are Explorer views that permit items in a mobile phone or digital camera be explored. Source-control systems that use Explorer to browse source repositories also use Namespace extensions to allow Explorer to browse the revisions. To implement a namespace extension, the IPersistFolder, IShellView, IShellFolder, IShellBrowser and IOleWindow interfaces need to be implemented and registered. The implementation needs to provide the logic for navigating the data shop likewise equally describing the presentation. Windows Explorer volition instantiate the COM objects every bit required.^[51]

While Windows Explorer natively exposes the extensibility points as COM interfaces, .NET Framework tin too be used to write some types of extensions, using the COM Interop functionality of .Cyberspace Framework.^[51] While Microsoft itself makes bachelor extensions – such every bit the photo info tool^[52] – which are authored using .NET Framework, they currently recommend confronting writing managed trounce extensions, as only i instance of the CLR (prior to version 4.0) can be loaded per-process. This beliefs will cause conflicts if multiple managed add-ins, targeting dissimilar versions of the CLR, are attempted to be run simultaneously.^{[53] [54]}

Come across also [edit]

• Comparison of file managers
• List of alternative shells for Windows

Notes and references [edit]

1. ^ "April 25, 2022—KB5012643 (Bone Build 22000.652)". Microsoft Back up. Microsoft. April 25, 2022.
2. ^ "Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22598". Windows Insider Blog. April xiii, 2022.
3. ^ Lineback, Nathan. "Misc Windows". toastytech.com. Archived from the original on July iii, 2018. Retrieved June nineteen, 2018.
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External links [edit]

• Sullivan, Kent. "The Windows 95 User Interface: A Example Report in Usability Engineering" (1996) for Association for Computing Machinery. (Sullivan was a developer on the Windows 95 UI squad)
• How To Customize the Windows Explorer Views in Windows XP
• MSDN: Creating Shell Extension Handlers, Windows Dev Center, May 31, 2018
• The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Beat out Extensions, by Michal Dunn, March 15, 2006
• Namespace extensions – the undocumented Windows Crush, by Henk Devos, November 30, 1999

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_File_Explorer

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