I am missing my old Win2K Explorer view. The old explorer used to use part
of the right hand pane to display properties.
For instance, if "My Computer" is highlighted in the left hand pane, I
could highlight a drive in the right hand pane and see a pie-chart
indicating how much of the drive was being used, the amount of free space,
etc. If I was in a folder that had pictures in it, I could highlight a
picture and a thumbnail of the pic would appear.
I've tried but cannot find out how to get this view in the XP Explorer.
Does anyone know how to achieve this?
Brian
The info is still available in XP's task pane when in folder view mode. If
you prefer tree view (aka explorer view), you can add the "Folders" button
to the standard toolbar. One click puts you into Folder view where the task
pane is visible. Another brings you back to folder view.
If you do not have a Folders button in your standard toolbar, add one.
Right click the toolbar, uncheck "Lock toolbar." Then right click again to
customize. Using the Customize screen, add "Folders" and anything else that
looks useful to you (I also add the Move To, Copy To buttons on my
systems). OK your way out of those screens and lock the taskbar again.
Enable the task pane (Folder Options> General).
You won't get a pie chart or bar graph of drive properties but you will see
a "Details" description of any highlighted drive.
In folders such as picture folders, click the Folders button to switch to
folder view. The taskpane will appear since it's been enabled and show a
preview of any selected picture in the Details category. This area,
Details, is usually collapsed the first time you access it so it's easy to
miss the fact that a preview is available.
I use "remember each folders settings" in Folder Options> View. I don't
know if that what makes the expanded Details stay open on subsequent
accesses or if Explorer just does that on its own. If you find that you're
having to expand details every time, try enabling that setting too.
Swapping back and forth from tree view to folder view is not as neat and
seamless as the "all in one" view in Win2000 or other versions of Windows.
At least it's do-able and available when needed.
