File Explorer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This article is about the Windows file system browser. For file browsers and file managers in general, see file manager. File Explorer, previously known as Windows Explorer, is a file manager application that is included with releases of the Microsoft Windowsoperating system from Windows 9. It provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems. It is also the component of the operating system that presents many user interface items on the monitor such as the taskbar and desktop. Controlling the computer is possible without Windows Explorer running (for example, the File | Run command in Task Manager on NT- derived versions of Windows will function without it, as will commands typed in a command prompt window).
Located in the C: \Windows directory, it is sometimes referred to as the Windows shell, explorer. Explorer". Overview[edit]Windows Explorer was first included with Windows 9.
File Manager, which came with all versions of Windows 3. Explorer could be accessed by double- clicking the new My Computer desktop icon, or launched from the new Start Menu that replaced the earlier Program Manager.
There is also a shortcut key combination: Windows key + E. Successive versions of Windows (and in some cases, Internet Explorer) introduced new features and capabilities, removed other features, and generally progressed from being a simple file system navigation tool into a task- based file management system. While "Windows Explorer" or "File Explorer" is a term most commonly used to describe the file management aspect of the operating system, the Explorer process also houses the operating system’s search functionality and File Type associations (based on filename extensions), and is responsible for displaying the desktopicons, the Start Menu, the Taskbar, and the Control Panel. Collectively, these features are known as the Windows shell. After a user logs in, the explorer process is created by userinit process. Userinit performs some initialization of the user environment (such as running the login script and applying group policies) and then looks in the registry at the Shell value and creates a process to run the system- defined shell – by default, Explorer.
Microsoft Windows software applications and platforms index list. I’ve always wanted to write a resource article on how to open files with different file extensions such as.wps.prn.mpp.mdi.rar.psd.pps.sit.nrg and lots more! I’ve come across this issue myself many times.
The World’s Leading Desktop File Viewing Program. Quick View Plus 13 Standard Edition lets you view virtually any file or email attachment you need instantly, without purchasing numerous software programs. Slash your. The list of programs developed by Microsoft Corporation with file extensions asociations. Table of Contents. Introduction; How to view file name extensions in Windows XP; How to view file name extensions in Windows Vista and Windows 7; How to view file name extensions in Windows 8. Introduction. The default. Windows Explorer is the fundamental file and folder management and navigation system for the Windows GUI, and has evolved over the many iterations of the Windows operating system. While many users are fine with Explorer's. A selection of good, free shell extensions for Windows XP and Windows Vista, to rename files, resize images, manage hardlinks, and more!
Then Userinit exits. This is why Explorer.
History[edit]In 1. Microsoft first released test versions of a shell refresh, named the Shell Technology Preview, and often referred to informally as "New. Shell".[1] The update was designed to replace the Windows 3. Program Manager/File Manager based shell with Windows Explorer. The release provided capabilities quite similar to that of the Windows "Chicago" (codename for Windows 9.
There were two public releases of the Shell Technology Preview, made available to MSDN and Compu. Serve users: 2. 6 May 1. August 1. 99. 5. Both held Windows Explorer builds of 3. The Shell Technology Preview program never saw a final release under NT 3. The entire program was moved across to the Cairo development group who finally integrated the new shell design into the NT code with the release of NT 4. July 1. 99. 6. Windows 9.
Windows Desktop Update[edit]With the release of the Windows Desktop Update (packaged with Internet Explorer 4. Windows 9. 8), Windows Explorer became "integrated" with Internet Explorer, most notably with the addition of navigation arrows (back and forward) for moving between recently visited directories, as well as Internet Explorer’s Favorites menu. At the time these changes raised antitrust concerns about the incorporation of what was seen as an application feature, but this feature has since been emulated by most other file browsers. An address bar was also added to Windows Explorer, which a user could type in directory paths directly, and be taken to that folder.
It also operated as a URL bar for Internet addresses; web pages would open in the main portion of the window. Another feature that was based on Internet Explorer technology was customized folders. Such folders contained a hidden web page that controlled the way the Windows Explorer displayed the contents of the folder. This feature proved to have security vulnerabilities due to its reliance on Active.
X objects and scripting, and was removed with the introduction of Windows XP. Other new features: The ability to add other toolbars to the task bar, the most visible of these being Quick Launch. Active Desktop, which made it possible to turn the desktop background itself into a web page. Single- click activation of icons in Windows Explorer, adhering to a web page paradigm. Desktop Channels. New virtual folders for Scheduled Tasks and Web Folders.
Windows Me and Windows 2. The integrated media player in Windows Explorer playing a MIDI sequence. The "Web- style" folders view, with the left Explorer pane displaying details for the object currently selected, is turned on by default. For certain file types, such as pictures and media files, a preview is also displayed in the left pane.[3] The Windows 2. Explorer featured an interactive media player as the previewer for sound and video files. However, such a previewer can be enabled in Windows Me through the use of folder customization templates.[4] Windows Explorer in Windows 2. Windows Me allows for custom thumbnail previewers and tooltip handlers.
The default file tooltip displays file title, author, subject and comments; [5] this metadata may be read from a special NTFS stream, if the file is on an NTFS volume, or from an COM Structured Storage stream, if the file is a structured storage document. All Microsoft Office documents since Office 9. Windows 2. 00. 0 Explorer default tooltip.
File shortcuts can also store comments which are displayed as a tooltip when the mouse hovers over the shortcut. The right- hand pane, which usually just lists files and folders, can also be customized. For example, the contents of the system folders aren't displayed by default, instead showing in the right pane a warning to the user that modifying the contents of the system folders could harm their computer. It's possible to define additional Explorer panes by using DIV elements in folder template files.[7] This feature was abused by computer viruses that employed malicious scripts, Java applets, or Active.
X controls in folder template files as their infection vector. Two such viruses are VBS/Roor- C[8] and VBS. Redlof. a.[9]Other Explorer UI elements that can be customized include columns in "Details" view, icon overlays, and search providers: the new DHTML- based search pane is integrated into Windows 2. Explorer, unlike the separate search dialog found in all previous Explorer versions.[1. Search capabilities were added, offering full- text searches of documents, with options to filter by date (including arbitrary ranges like "modified within the last week"), size, and file type. The Indexing Service has also been integrated into the operating system and the search pane built into Explorer allows searching files indexed by its database.[1.
The ability to customize the standard buttons was also added. Windows XP and Windows Server 2. There were significant changes made to Windows Explorer in Windows XP, both visually and functionally. Microsoft focused especially on making Explorer more discoverable and task- based, as well as adding a number of features to reflect the growing use of a computer as a digital hub. Windows Explorer in Windows Server 2. Windows XP, but the task panes and search companion are disabled by default. Task 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 actions and destinations that are relevant to the current directory or file(s) selected. For instance, when in a directory containing mostly pictures, a set of "Picture tasks" is shown, offering the options to display these pictures as a slide show, to print them out, or to go online to order 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 but it was removed with SP1. The Media Bar was only available with Windows XP RTM. Every folder also has "File and Folder Tasks", offering options to create new folders, share a folder on the local network, publish files or folders to a web site, and other common tasks like copying, renaming, moving, and deleting files or folders. File types that have identified themselves as being printable also have an option listed to print the file. Underneath "File and Folder Tasks" is "Other Places", with links to other common locations such as "My Computer", "Control Panel", and "My Documents". These also change depending on what folder the user was in, leading to some criticism of Microsoft for not being consistent in displaying navigation choices.
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" button on the Windows Explorer toolbar toggles between the traditional tree view of folders, and the task pane. Users can get rid of the task 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.
Microsoft introduced animated "Search Companions" in an attempt to make searching more 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) also available. These search companions use the same technology as Microsoft Office’s Office Assistants, even incorporating "tricks" and sound effects, and they can be used as Office Assistants if their files are copied into the C: /Windows/msagent/chars folder.[1.