The folder tree sits at the bottom left of the Explorer window, filled with a
list of unfamiliar folders, such as Contacts, Downloads, and Saved Games.
The little plus [+] and minus [??“] boxes, once used to identify expandable
branches in the folder tree, are now microscopic arrows: a right-pointing
arrow signifies a collapsed branch, and a downward arrow signifies an
expanded branch.
Across the bottom of the Explorer window is the preview
pane; it??™s resizable, so you can enlarge it to show more information,
or shrink it out of the way. If you lose the preview
pane and want to get it back, open the Organize drop-down
and select Layout??? Preview Pane.
Fortunately, the basic premise of the Explorer window remains the same:
click a location (i.e., folder) on the left side to see the folder??™s contents on
the right. To make Explorer look more like earlier versions, expand the
Figure 2-1. Windows Explorer may have been gussied up for Windows Vista, but
everything you need is still within reach
24 | Chapter 2: Shell Tweaks
Folders pane by dragging the upper edge of the Folders title strip to the top
of the window, covering Favorite Links. Use the Views drop-down to
choose Details, or any other view more useful than Tiles. And if you want
your menu bar back, just press the Alt key, or open the Organize dropdown
and select Layout ??? Menu Bar. See Figure 2-2 for a visual rundown of
everything you can do in Windows Explorer.
Now, with improved security (covered in Chapter 8), included backup software
at long last (Chapter 6), and a handy-dandy new Search tool (later in
this chapter), Vista takes your stuff more seriously than any previous version
of Windows.
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