Can Vista defaults for folder / dialog interfaces be changed?

[DudeBoyz]

Under Windows XP, if I open up My Computer, I can go to the View
menu, Select the Toolbars option and toggle on or off the key
elements:

Standard Buttons
Address Bar
Links

I can't seem to find a way to do that in Vista.

Also, the order of elements is changed in Vista and I can't find
a way to alter that.

Is there any way to accomplish these tasks so that I can make the
interface closer to that of Windows XP?

Vista has the address bar at the top of dialogs / folders. It
also has a different "green stripe" type of button bar just below
that. It has listed items like these: "Organized, Views, System
Properties", etc.

I'd like to be able to enable the File Menu (I know how to do
that) and then Toggle Off the Address bar that resides at the
very top and that "Green Stripe Button Bar" as well.

I would also like to be able to change the location / order of
all of these elements if possible.

Are there any settings in Vista that can give me the look I'm
after? Registry edits? Third party "Tweak" tools?

I found one tip that lets you move the address bar for IE 7 so it
is below the File menu, but that's about it. I can't seem to
find a way to relocate the Command Bar in IE 7 so it isn't on the
same line as the Tabs. I'd like to be able to move the Links bar
just above the Tabs bar.

So, I guess I'm asking for some help in trying to alter the Vista
defaults in order to make it look and function more like XP, at
least for a while as I learn the Vista interface.

I'd appreciate any helpful tips you can provide.

Thank you.


I do not like the Address Bar on top, and I don't like the
changing look and functionality of items in the "button bar"
(that green stripe with things like "Organized, Views, System
Properties", etc.

The address bar at the top serves more than one function - It's
almost like a directory tree but horizontal in that address bar
space instead of an explorer like "Expand / Collapse" tree on the
left side of the dialog.

I really do wish that the interface was more customizable. I
would like to be able to set the order of elements in that
interface, and toggle any of those elements on or off as I wish.

Having these changes in place and then realizing that you lost a
lot of the customizability that you had in XP - well, it gets
kind of annoying.

Anyway, thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Standard Buttons

No longer exists in Vista's Windows Explorer

Address Bar

Not configurable, it will always be there

Links

Only in Internet Explorer.

I would also like to be able to change the location / order of all of
these elements if possible.

Also locked down now.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[DudeBoyz]

I'm bummed about the answers, but I'm very grateful for your
clear, concise and helpful reply.

Now I won't have to spend tons of times "Googling" for solutions
that do not exist.

Thanks again for your Rock Solid reply. Looks like I'll need to
suck it up and get used to the new interface whether I like it or
not.

I have been led to believe that I will be able to install Maxthon
1.6.5.18 in Vista and it will allow me to use the IE7 engine but
with the Maxthon 1.6.5.18 interface, so that is of some
consolation.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Don't use it myself, but those I know that do use it prefer Maxthon for
similar reasons and yes, it should work.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[DudeBoyz]

Don't use it myself, but those I know that do use it prefer

Maxthon for similar reasons and yes, it should work.

Is it possible that Maxthon 1.6.5.18 (latest classic version)
will work with all 3 versions:

XP + IE 6
Vista + IE 7
Windows 7 + IE 8

without having to alter the Maxthon program?

The stock Maxthon 1.6.5.18, as is, should be able to function
fully with all 3 of those browsers and operating systems?

Thanks

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Is it possible that Maxthon 1.6.5.18 (latest classic version)
will work with all 3 versions:

XP + IE 6
Vista + IE 7
Windows 7 + IE 8

without having to alter the Maxthon program?

The stock Maxthon 1.6.5.18, as is, should be able to function
fully with all 3 of those browsers and operating systems?

I run Maxthon 2.1.4.443 with IE7 under Vista here, with no problems at
all. Before Maxthon 2 came out, I ran Maxthon 1 with IE7 under Vista
without a problem. I'm sorry that I can't remember the specific
version of Maxthon that I ran, but if 1.6.5.15 is newer than what I
ran, it's highly unlikely that it wouldn't run under Vista.

What will happen with Maxthon using Windows 7 or IE8 when they are
released, I don't know.

 

[DudeBoyz]

I run Maxthon 2.1.4.443 with IE7 under Vista here, with no

problems at all. Before Maxthon 2 came out, I ran Maxthon 1
with IE7 under Vista without a problem. I'm sorry that I can't
remember the specific version of Maxthon that I ran, but if
1.6.5.15 is newer than what I ran, it's highly unlikely that
it wouldn't run under Vista.

What will happen with Maxthon using Windows 7 or IE8
when they are released, I don't know.

Great news, at least on the Vista / IE 7 front.

Thanks for the post. I appreciate it much.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Great news, at least on the Vista / IE 7 front.

Thanks for the post. I appreciate it much.

You're welcome. Glad to help.