Disappearing folders bar in Windows Explorer

[Ronin]

I don't have this problem, presumably due to my using Classic view in
Windows Explorer. But a lady whose machine I help with has a behavior that I
find infuriating. I think she has a default setup except she uses the
single-click setting. The behavior is that I start Windows Explorer, in
"explorer view", naturally. But when I click on a drive or folder in the
left-hand "folders" column, the folder opens but the left-hand column
disappears! Of course, I'm sure you all know that in Vista, in the View menu
of Windows Explorer, in the "Explorer bar" sub-menu, there is no longer any
"Folders" item to select like there has been for a few previous versions of
Windows. Is there some replacement mechanism I can use to restore the
column, some mechanism that is so well hidden that this seasoned Windows
user can't find it? And is there some way to prevent the column from
disappearing? I'd like as many answers as you have. Pleeeease?

 

[Larry]

I don't have this problem, presumably due to my using Classic view in
Windows Explorer. But a lady whose machine I help with has a behavior that I
find infuriating. I think she has a default setup except she uses the
single-click setting. The behavior is that I start Windows Explorer, in
"explorer view", naturally. But when I click on a drive or folder in the
left-hand "folders" column, the folder opens but the left-hand column
disappears! Of course, I'm sure you all know that in Vista, in the View menu
of Windows Explorer, in the "Explorer bar" sub-menu, there is no longer any
"Folders" item to select like there has been for a few previous versions of
Windows. Is there some replacement mechanism I can use to restore the
column, some mechanism that is so well hidden that this seasoned Windows
user can't find it? And is there some way to prevent the column from
disappearing? I'd like as many answers as you have. Pleeeease?

Ronin, have you tried tinkering with the Organize, Layout menu on the
toolbar?

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I don't have this problem, presumably due to my using Classic view in
Windows Explorer. But a lady whose machine I help with has a behavior that I
find infuriating. I think she has a default setup except she uses the
single-click setting. The behavior is that I start Windows Explorer, in
"explorer view", naturally. But when I click on a drive or folder in the
left-hand "folders" column, the folder opens but the left-hand column
disappears! Of course, I'm sure you all know that in Vista, in the View menu
of Windows Explorer, in the "Explorer bar" sub-menu, there is no longer any
"Folders" item to select like there has been for a few previous versions of
Windows. Is there some replacement mechanism I can use to restore the
column, some mechanism that is so well hidden that this seasoned Windows
user can't find it? And is there some way to prevent the column from
disappearing? I'd like as many answers as you have. Pleeeease?

Partial response.
1. If I set the single-click option, I don't have the above problem. That
makes it more subtle than I might like and it makes it hard to experiment
:-(

2. If the Navigation pane (the left pane) is gone, try Organize > Layout
and click on "Navigation pane".

3. Press and release Alt and the old menu bar reappears for a while.

 

[Ronin]

That's the switch I was looking for. Call it a senior moment, but I couldn't
for the life of me find that thing! Thanks! This will make my life easier.
Now I just have to figure out the disappearing column.

 

[Ronin]

That #2 is the one I was looking for. Thanks! Now to delve into the deeper
mystery.

 

[Ronin]

Thanks!