How To Get Windows 7 Explorer Pane In Vista?
Posted November 11, 2008 – 5:55 pm in: Vista Tweaks, Windows 7, Windows 7 TweaksLike all other Windows 7 feature, Windows 7 explore has a new left pane which has new options like Libraries and Recent Places by default. The left looks good compared to Vista. So, here I have tried to revamp Vista explorer (left) pane into Windows 7. I hope this will help you.
However, note that, we can’t get the exact working libraries in Vista .We can give a close Windows 7 Explorer left pane look to Vista by using this guide. Below is the screenshot of Windows 7 and Vista Explorer, which was taken after applying this guide to Vista.
The method is bit simple. You need to add all the shortcut links to Links directory of Vista. Below is the procedure:
1. Go to Tools > Folder Options>View > Enable “Show hidden files”.
2. Click “Appy” and go back to “C” drive.
3. Navigate to C:\Users\Username\Links( where C is your Vista drive)
4. Add the shortcuts of the below folders to Links folder using “How to add folders to Favorite links” guide.
*Favorite
*Desktop
*Recent Places ( This folder will not work actually.Just for the Widnows 7 look)
*Libraries
*Picture
*Downloads
*Music
*Pictures
*My computer
*Your drive
*Your drive
5. Download Windows 7 icon pack and extract the “Icons” folder to Desktop.
6. Browse the folder for the appropriate icon for your shortcuts. Use the above image to get the idea.
7. Right click on each of the shortcut item in the C:\Users\Username\Links folder >Properties>Customize.
8. Browse for the exact icon from the downloaded icon folder.
If you have followed all the above steps, you will close the look. Note that, you need to get the space between the folders (between, desktop & Libraries) to get the exact look. Here is how:
A. Create a new folder in C:\Users\Username\Links folder.
B. Right-click, select rename.
C. Press 0160 from the numeric pad with holding [Alt] key.
D. It will create a folder with no name.
E. Right click on the folder > Properties>customize> select the blank icon (look below image).
To get the space between “My Computer” icon and Pictures follow the below guide:
1. Create a new folder in C:\Users\Username\Links folder.
2. Right click, select rename.
3. Press ~ key.
4. It will create a folder with ~ name.
5. Right click on the folder > Properties>customize> select the blank icon (look above image).
This will give you the exact look of Windows 7 left pane in Vista explorer. I know the procedure is bit time consuming and confusing. If you have any doubt please let me know in the form of comment.
Tags: explorer, Vista, Windows 7
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15 Comments
This is pretty neat, but how do you make a shortcut to “my computer”?
^To create My computer shortcut:
*Right click on “My Computer”,select “Create shortcut”.
*Now,paste this new shortcut in the Links folder.
“Press 0160 from the numeric pad with holding [Alt] key” hello, how to delete that folder back …
Switch to Details View to see the folder.Actually you will the modified date of the folder.Just select
it and hit delete.That’s all!
How do you set it so that the “Folders” section is minimized automatically when you open Explorer?
Can you be more specific, please?
In XP there was a Status option in Windows explorer which gave you the remianing size in the bottom of the Explorer Window. I cannot find that in Win 7. Can anyone?
Hi..
nice guide but how do I make a shortcut to ‘libraries’ please as I can’t seem to find the folder anywhere??
Thanks..
Dude
Why? What is so wrong with vista? You want to make a functional windows explorer less functional? Just close the left pane. That would be the easiest method.
I fail to understand why so many people bad mouth vista and seem to love 7 or else are switching to Mac. Windows 7 is just continuing Microsoft’s trend of trying to look more like the less functional Mac OS.
People are idiots.
Hey neat trick! but how do you change the icon of the shortcut in the links? When you right click > properties, there is no “customize” option(unless you have that stardock app). You can change the icon but you need either a dll, ico, icl, exe file and not a png as it is the file type your link for the win7 icons. Please help thanks.Ü
@John
Go to %Windir%\username\links and then change the icons.
yes tried that but no customize option comes out. Any other advice?
Very nice trick and usefull tutorial.
No problems at all.
So Great, Thanks..
On top of that guys, Windows 7 is mostly changes to the interface. You can basically change setting in Vista, and install a few things and you have 7 except for the slightly easier driver installation system-which you only have to deal with less than 15 times, depending on how many printer/cameras etc you get. And I’m guessing high.
So you really are practically getting 7, minus a few things lol-once you follow a few tutorials.
Umm deleting these blank named folders is tricker that appears!
Try using the cmd command. cd to the links folder. Then type ren “ALT+0160″ “Test” then deleted the Test folder. Type the ALT+0160 as you did when you created the folder, i.e hold ALT, type 0160, release ALT – a blank is created.