That list on the left side of each folder

[Larry]

I've been unable to get rid of that list in each folder in Windows Vista
with stuff like Pictures, Music, etc. I see how the "Explorer"-like list
can be displayed or hidden, but the list above it with Music etc. always
remains. Does MS give the user no choice about this?

In older versions of Windows, you could have a plain, no-frills folder,
consisting of just the folder window and its contents, or you could have an
Explorer-window, consisting of a folder and the explorer tree on the left.
This was very good. There were different ways of using and navigating
through the Windows environment. But Vista doesn't seem to offer any choice
here. Vista won't allow you to have a plain folder window. I hope I'm
wrong.

 

[Franksta]

You can try the following:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/disable-favorite-links-panel-in-windows-vista-explorer/

Hope that helps.

 

[Adam Albright]

I've been unable to get rid of that list in each folder in Windows Vista
with stuff like Pictures, Music, etc. I see how the "Explorer"-like list
can be displayed or hidden, but the list above it with Music etc. always
remains. Does MS give the user no choice about this?

In older versions of Windows, you could have a plain, no-frills folder,
consisting of just the folder window and its contents, or you could have an
Explorer-window, consisting of a folder and the explorer tree on the left.
This was very good. There were different ways of using and navigating
through the Windows environment. But Vista doesn't seem to offer any choice
here. Vista won't allow you to have a plain folder window. I hope I'm
wrong.

If Explorer would always "remember" the settings you told it to use it
would be better. Still Explorer has improved a good deal over XP. You
need to try various combinations under Organize and Views to get the
look you like. If you're still not happy, there are many third party
alternatives. I can't offer any since I haven't looked for them and
think this is one area Windows has improved. Of course change is sure
to always upset some. That's life.

 

[Franksta]

Sorry didn't check it out completely, this doesn't help you ... just removes
all of it.

You can minimize the folders in there to make it smaller ... just drag the
folders out of it and that should remove them (making the favorite links
section smaller ... as a work around for now).

Hope that helps.

 

[Franksta]

Try this solution out. Appears to work ...

http://www.vista64.net/forums/vista-installation-setup/52568-removing-favorite-links-explorer.html

Just drag the top of the Folders section up to the top gets the desired
result.


Hope that helps.

 

[Larry]

I'm not at the Vista computer right now, but these steps seem to remove just
the "Favorites Bar" or "Navigation Pane." (BTW, it's confusing that the
same item has two such different and mismatching names.) Removing the
Favorites Pane apparently leaves the "Folders section" (which used to be
called Explorer--another confusing thing) in place. What's the advantage of
just removing the Favorites Links pane if the same area is just taken up
with the Folders section? The effect is still to reduce the usable area of
the folder.

What I'd like is to remove the entire left-hand pane, consisting of both the
Favorites bar and the folders section (not necessarily always, but when I
want to) in order to have a simple folder that consists of just a folder
window. In other words, like Windows 98 in the "non-Explorer" view. Is
this possible?

 

[Cal Bear '66]

Tool Bar: Organize>Layout de-select Navigation Pane

 

[Larry]

Also, I see that in Windows 98, in any folder, Ctrl+I toggles the Favorites
pane, and Ctrl+H toggles the History Pane. The Explorer pane can also be
toggled, but not with a single keystroke.

Does Vista have assigned keystrokes for the equivalent functions?

In fact, in W98, even if you open a folder in the Explorer view, you can
still return it to the (there's never been a term for this) "plain folder"
view.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I've been unable to get rid of that list in each folder in Windows Vista
with stuff like Pictures, Music, etc. I see how the "Explorer"-like list
can be displayed or hidden, but the list above it with Music etc. always
remains. Does MS give the user no choice about this?

In older versions of Windows, you could have a plain, no-frills folder,
consisting of just the folder window and its contents, or you could have
an
Explorer-window, consisting of a folder and the explorer tree on the left.
This was very good. There were different ways of using and navigating
through the Windows environment. But Vista doesn't seem to offer any
choice
here. Vista won't allow you to have a plain folder window. I hope I'm
wrong.

All I did was click on the border between those useless "shortcuts" and
the folder list and drag it up out of sight. Haven't been bothered by them
since.


--
Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[DP]

Bruce: I just answered another post on the same subject. If you want to get
rid of it completely instead of sliding it out of the way, go to
Organize>Layout and click on "Navigation pane." That is, UNclick navigation
pane.

Actually I don't mind that pane. You can customize it. So if there are
folders where you frequently move or copy files to (say, like an external
HDD) you can add that to the pane and just drag files over to it. And if you
click on that drive in the pane, it will open it. I think that's pretty
neat. I also added recycle bin to that pane. Can drag files to it to kill
them and can click on it to open the recycle bin.

But I realize people's work modes differ considerably and some would prefer
not to have it.

 

[Larry]

I just got around to trying this out. Yes, under "Organize," and then
something else on that menu, you can unselect the Navigation bar and that
dismisses both lists giving you a plain folder with no left pane.

Why this feature is in a special menu (it's not a regular menu) called
"Organize," instead of something more appropriate like View, I can't
imagine. "Organize" suggests organizing stuff inside a folder, not
controlling the basic view of the folder.

..