Annoying behavior of Windows Explorer

[John]

When using Windows Explorer to copy and/or move files, I find it very
annoying that when I drag the file icon from the present location in the
right pane to the desired new location in the left pane, as the icon
approaches the desired location in the left pane the contents of the
left pane starts moving, either left-right or up-down. This occasionally
causes me to drop the icon in the wrong location, and it always slows
down the process of positioning it in the right location. Is there a
setting somewhere that will prevent the contents of the left pane from
moving around like this? If so, are there any possible negative
consequences? (This is a Windows XP Pro SP3 system.) Thanks!

John

 

[Alister]

When using Windows Explorer to copy and/or move files, I find it very
annoying that when I drag the file icon from the present location in the
right pane to the desired new location in the left pane, as the icon
approaches the desired location in the left pane the contents of the left
pane starts moving, either left-right or up-down. This occasionally causes
me to drop the icon in the wrong location, and it always slows down the
process of positioning it in the right location. Is there a setting
somewhere that will prevent the contents of the left pane from moving
around like this? If so, are there any possible negative consequences?
(This is a Windows XP Pro SP3 system.) Thanks!

John

To my knowledge there is no "setting" that will stop this, however there are
a number of ways to improve matters.

Make sure your Left column is wide enough so that the horizontal scroll bar
disappears, this will stop it scrolling backwards and forwards.
Make sure, before you start dragging from the right pane, that your desired
destinaton is somewhere visible in the middle of the left pane, and try to
drag "across the border" at the same level. This should stop it dodging up
and down.

To be honest, If I want to drag and drop, I usually open one My Computer
window at the Source directory and another one at the Destination directory,
size them so I can see both and then drag and drop between the two windows.
I find this far easier.

Alister