WINDOWS 11 FILE EXPLORER

I have now started to use a new machine with the latest Win 11. I do not feel confident in using the latest "file explorer"
Is there a way of installing the good old fashioned verion of "FILE MANAGER" or something similar?

I understand your pain. Just started using a W11 laptop and File Explorer does not make it at all clear if you are referencing the local drive version of a directory or the version in the OneDrive cloud.

Honestly, you'd be best just learning the new file explorer. Watch a few youtube videos or whatever. It's not a good use of time trying to resist that change and go back to the past.

In reply to a post by Brunel:

Is there a way of installing the good old fashioned verion of "FILE MANAGER" or something similar?

If you can find a NT4 installation CD, you can extract WINFILE.EXE and it will run.

But I would not bother, try customising the File Explorer:
1) Turn on file extensions: View->Show->File name extensions
2) If you don't have a touch screen, turn on compact view: View -> Show-> Compact View
3) Set the default to "This PC" - click the ... button and choose Options and set "This PC" in top drop down

I turn on the "This PC" icon on the desktop, in the Themes settings, or when I press Winkey+E then "This PC" opens, so I can navigate from C: or any other drive letter.

If you haven't set up your free OneDrive allocation, do this, it stops the nags, and is a free (small) backup. I pay ofr 365 so have a lot more space.

Thanks, I take your point. As I age, finding it a bit difficult to absorb new procedures.

The trick is to not stop, or go backwards. Just keep trying to keep up. I have friends in their late 70s who have stopped learning and cannot cope with any technological change, even to a Sky TV box, and others in their 80s who have no problem at all. (I'm 51, and very much identify with the difference from my 20s !)

Edited by jchamier (Mon 04-May-26 17:25:15)

Thanks, will "attempt" some of your recomendations.

In reply to a post by Brunel:

Thanks, I take your point. As I age, finding it a bit difficult to absorb new procedures.

Tell me about it.

I have not really used Windows 11 for a while, so I am surprised when you say about using is different. Is it that different to file explorer on 10?

Yes, I find Win11 version of File Explorer totally confusing. Probably because the same files continually show, under different headings.

I am having to learn a new way of working, which is difficult.

I have been using computers since the days of Win 3

Open-Shell will restore W11 to a more sane state. You might need to play with the options to get it how you like but it should be a lot better than the default enviroment. I've been using it on W10 forever and it will probably be a life saver on W11, if I ever switch. Linux might be calling instead.

@Brunel,

I remember Win 3.xx! I even used MS-DOS 6.11! Remember those days, when Windows was a "bolt-on" to DOS??? Now things have reversed and DOS ( or Command Prompt as it's now known as) is the background environment that you do not notice any more!

Yours,

I've still got a set of Windows 1.0 disks.

i'm trying files, which seems to be very customiseable

https://files.community/docs/getting-started/install

Installing Windows from a set of floppies was very frustrating when done on a PC where the Disk Eject button was bang next the Hardware Reset button.

(in retrospect should have taped a plastic cap or something over the latter after the first mishap)

In reply to a post by mking90031:

I remember Win 3.xx! I even used MS-DOS 6.11! Remember those days, when Windows was a "bolt-on" to DOS??? Now things have reversed and DOS ( or Command Prompt as it's now known as) is the background environment that you do not notice any more!

Some of us remember DOS 2, and DOS 3, then DOS 4, 5 and then 6..... and things like DoubleSpace in 6.2 Also Windows 1.03, 2.0, 2.1/286, and 2.1/386, and then Windows 3.0, 3.1, 3.11/workgroups and on.

Windows XP merged the DOS and Windows 9x/ME world and the NT/2000 world into one operating system. "Command Prompt" whilst it looks like a DOS prompt is vastly more capable, and really should be called NT Console. Windows Terminal that comes built in to 11 (and installable on 10) has the ability to choose CMD or PowerShell or even an Azure Shell if you are so inclined.

Evolution over 35+ years of my life... 😁

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Windows Terminal that comes built in to 11 (and installable on 10) has the ability to choose CMD or PowerShell or even an Azure Shell if you are so inclined.

Windows Terminal also integrates perfectly with ssh.exe which I use extensively. It's completely replaced PuTTY for me.

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

Windows Terminal also integrates perfectly with ssh.exe which I use extensively. It's completely replaced PuTTY for me.

I've read reports the built in SSH and SCP are not as good as those in WSL, but I also use them. PuTTY has its own way of handling copy/paste with the mouse, and I prefer the Terminal, for my occasional SSH connections. (Most now seem to be via Azure or AWS tools).

In reply to a post by jchamier:

I've read reports the built in SSH and SCP are not as good as those in WSL, but I also use them.

I've tended to avoid WSL due to poor IPv6 support. I should probably look into the newer mirrored networking mode which apparently fixes this.

i prefer tabby over putty

In reply to a post by Oliver341:

I've tended to avoid WSL due to poor IPv6 support. I should probably look into the newer mirrored networking mode which apparently fixes this.

I've recently been connecting to a Linux GUI desktop via VNC (over a strong VPN) and using all my SSH from a lightweight xfce desktop. Kinda forgot Windows was moving on

yeah openshell is awesome.