4

We all know that Windows is not really functional as it's supposed to be and from time to time one will experience unnecessary freezing and hitching. When this happens to me it seems that 'Explorer.exe' is the problem.

Is there an alternative way to browse your PC (not using Command Prompt - CMD)?

Improve this question
2
  • Do you want to replace the explorer.exe as in "file browser", or as in "shell"?
    – Bobby
    Commented Aug 2, 2010 at 15:17
  • 1
    As far as file browsers go, I have heard great things about Directory Opus - it's been around for years, Shareware.
    – MrWhite
    Commented Aug 2, 2010 at 20:04

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
6

There are lots of software alternatives to Explorer, such as Nomad.net.

Here's a shakedown of some other options.

Improve this answer
1
  • Nomad.net crashed within mins for me.
    – Kells
    Commented Aug 3, 2010 at 17:03
3

What you are looking for is an alternative shell.

Here is a list from wikipedia.

Bear in mind this will involve some registry edits and such and can also cause other issues with program compatibility.

Improve this answer
2

I use FAR Manager, which is free and open source. It's a native 32-bit/64-bit text-mode (no graphics, just text) file manager that is based on Norton Commander for DOS.

  FAR Manager
  http://www.farmanager.com/

enter image description here

Improve this answer
1
  • Looks very much like Total Commmander which I have been using ever since Norton was no longer practical. 32- and 64-bit versions at ghisler.com Tons of features like directory/file compare, FTP etc. Lifetime registration or nag screen on startup.
    – Jan Doggen
    Commented May 29, 2013 at 14:15
1

Have you attempted to check your explorer.exe version/size vs a working version of explorer.exe.

My SP3 explorer.exe Version: 6.0.2900.5512 Size: 0.98 MB (1,033,728 bytes)

Checked yours see if it matches.

Improve this answer
3
  • Is the Windows 7 explorer the same size?
    – Dwayne Samuels
    Commented Aug 2, 2010 at 15:10
  • The Win7 explorer is 2.801 mb
    – Dwayne Samuels
    Commented Aug 2, 2010 at 15:12
  • different size assumed xp, but I would check that against another windows install. Keep in mind that other programs will cause explorer to crash along with bad disks also.
    – jer.salamon
    Commented Aug 2, 2010 at 15:23
0

You can use WinXShell instead, and use that. If you want, you can delete explorer, rename winxshell as explorer, and that'll boot up instead.For a file manager take your pick. It's not a feature oriented as explorer yet but that day may come. And its open source.

Improve this answer
-1

You CANNOT supplant the real MS Explorer.exe. It must ALWAYS be present on your PC. You can, however, use an alternative File Manager for search/copy/move/delete files and folders.

The real MS Explorer.exe was created with an inextricably woven-in connection with too many things vital to your operating system. Without the real Explorer.exe, your computer simply will not boot up .. period.

Improve this answer
1
  • It will probably boot up fine, but user login will fail because explorer.exe also takes care of showing the taskbar and desktop.
    – Henno Vermeulen
    Commented Sep 17, 2015 at 9:11

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .