New Version of ExplorerPatcher

LesFerch · Mar 10, 2024

@Silbian Are you using EP just to switch to the Windows 10 Explorer? If so, maybe try using SwitchExplorer instead?

Silbian · Mar 10, 2024

LesFerch said:
@Silbian Are you using EP just to switch to the Windows 10 Explorer? If so, maybe try using SwitchExplorer instead?

Sorry, I didn't fully catch your meaning, I'm using EP since Win11 upgrade from Win 10 to be able to correctly use OpenShell, that, at that time, didn't work with Win 11 and I don't like at all the messed up Win10 and 11 start menu... Another toolbar app I use is T-Clock redux, that does not work with Win11, nothing else. That's it. I never heard about SwitchExplorer, I will better check about it, thanks for your info.

LesFerch · Mar 10, 2024

Silbian said:
Sorry, I didn't fully catch your meaning, I'm using EP since Win11 upgrade from Win 10 to be able to correctly use OpenShell, that, at that time, didn't work with Win 11 and I don't like at all the messed up Win10 and 11 start menu... Another toolbar app I use is T-Clock redux, that does not work with Win11, nothing else. That's it. I never heard about SwitchExplorer, I will better check about it, thanks for your info.

SwitchExplorer is just a little tool I wrote to switch the default Explorer to the Windows 10 version on Windows 11. Once you're made the switch, you can use OldNewExplorer, but if you also want classic Start menu options, than I'm pretty sure you'd need to stick with EP + Open Shell (or StartAllBack).

spapakons · Mar 10, 2024

I use Explorer Patcher to ungroup the network, sound and power icons on the taskbar. I use custom system icons and if these three are grouped (default in Windows 11) the custom icons are ignored and it displays the original plain icons instead. After many days of use I discovered other interesting tweaks such as using the Windows 10 style in File Explorer instead of the new tabbed Windows 11 style. I use Mica for Everyone to get the good old blue color in the menus (I don't like the new gray default) and the background in tabs appears cyan instead and rather ugly. So I switched to Windows 10 style (without tabs) to see only the beautiful blue color, not cyan.

Regardless of why everyone uses Explorer Patcher keeping it updated eliminates any bugs.

hdmi · Mar 11, 2024

Silbian said:
Got it with thanks, well, I installed today the EP pre-release 63.4, just to check if the File Explorer start delay will continue and... sometimes yes, it does without any reason.
Of course it happens only with my Win11 Home version, the Pro version of the other device works perfectly with EP 62.2 and same .3235 update.
Definitely useless to struggling myself to understand the reason why, both PCs have almost the same config and startup apps, of course some device drivers are different due to different hardwares.
To be clear about this strange behavior, here below the screenshots, it tooks ( measured ) around 20 seconds to show the normal aspect.

If the green progress bar in the address bar of File Explorer is taking a long time when you open a new File Explorer window, then IMO you should first try to troubleshoot the Search Index. Reset and Rebuild Search Index in Windows 11 Tutorial
Could also be that you had the Enhanced Mode accidentally turned on in its settings. Turn On or Off Enhanced Mode for Search Indexer in Windows 11 Tutorial

If it's still sporadically slow after you already tried these suggestions, then consider to reduce the number of items to be indexed by it. Add or Remove Search Index Locations in Windows 11 Tutorial
Windows Search will probably be slow if you aren't careful with how you change these specific settings, but you could always decide to use Everything.

Silbian · Mar 11, 2024

LesFerch said:
SwitchExplorer is just a little tool I wrote to switch the default Explorer to the Windows 10 version on Windows 11. Once you're made the switch, you can use OldNewExplorer, but if you also want classic Start menu options, than I'm pretty sure you'd need to stick with EP + Open Shell (or StartAllBack).

Very interesting, great job. Can your utility coexist with EP or the risk is messing up the whole system ? My question is related on how Win11 File Explorer shows folders content, since my wife need to have some thumbnails showed, so she doesn't want to switch to Win11 and prefers to stay stuck on Win10 + Open Shell start menu instead.
To be clear, here below the difference between Explorer folders 10 vs. 11 ( Hope I'm not OT in this thread )

@hdmi noted with thanks, yeah, probably it's the reason why it shows sometimes the progress bar opening Explorer... I already disabled time ago indexing of my SSD C: but leaving the HDD indexing on the HDD (D:).
Now I excluded many folders of the HDD and I'm rebuilding the index right now. Let see... EP probably has nothing to do with this little issue.

hdmi · Mar 11, 2024

Silbian said:
Very interesting, great job. Can your utility coexist with EP or the risk is messing up the whole system ? My question is related on how Win11 File Explorer shows folders content, since my wife need to have some thumbnails showed, so she doesn't want to switch to Win11 and prefers to stay stuck on Win10 + Open Shell start menu instead.
To be clear, here below the difference between Explorer folders 10 vs. 11 ( Hope I'm not OT in this thread )

https://www.elevenforum.com/members/hdmi.3845/ noted with thanks, yeah, probably it's the reason why it shows sometimes the progress bar opening Explorer... I already disabled time ago indexing of my SSD C: but leaving the HDD indexing on the HDD (D:).
Now I excluded many folders of the HDD and I'm rebuilding the index right now. Let see...

The visual appearance/style of these folder thumbnails in File Explorer has got nothing to do with the File Explorer itself. It is determined by the protected file: C:\Windows\SystemResources\imageres.dll.mun
AFAIK it should still be possible to bring back the Windows 10 thumbnail look on Windows 11 by doing a "hack", i.e. by replacing this file with a copy sourced from a Windows 10 installation, albeit hacking Windows is not recommended of course, and requires some additional effort to bypass the protection. (Also keep in mind that Windows might change it back each time when it automatically detects that the file has been tampered with.)
IIRC, the commands below were how I managed to, from an elevated Powershell window, replace the file with the copy that I had put on my Desktop. This was several years ago, though, and, I haven't tried it again since.

Powershell:

cd $Env:windir\SystemResources
takeown /F .
takeown /F imageres.dll.mun
ren imageres.dll.mun imageres.dll.mun.backup
del imageres.dll.mun
copy $Env:UserProfile\Desktop\imageres.dll.mun
takeown /F imageres.dll.mun
icacls imageres.dll.mun /inheritance:d
icacls imageres.dll.mun /setowner "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller"
icacls . /setowner "NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller"

spapakons · Mar 11, 2024

Or simply copy the file to your desktop, modify it and then boot with Windows Setup or miniPE USB to modify. If you boot with Windows Setup USB press SHIFT+F10 to open a Command Prompt and type the relevant commands to copy-paste the modified file. Replace when asked.

starbuck · Mar 12, 2024

starbuck said:
Is explorer patcher supposed to give us the option for Sign Out and Lock when clicking the user icon in the Win Start menu? When I click the User name icon I don't get that option on my installation

This problem has resurfaced for me when using the Windows 10 style Start Menu. Clicking my Profile icon doesn't bring up the option to sign out/switch accounts. Works fine if I set EP to use Win11 Start Menu. Have uninstalled, rebooted, run sfc /scannow to be safe, and reinstall EP official release 22621.2861.62.2 and done an in-place upgrade and still doesn't work. It was ok for good long while and I was able to rectify it by doing in-place upgrade....anyone else having issues?

Stormbrain · Mar 12, 2024

Anyone noticing the taskbar is invisible post todays security patch?

starbuck · Mar 12, 2024

Stormbrain said:
Anyone noticing the taskbar is invisible post todays security patch?

Exactly which patch? Mine seems ok....just can't access the account switcher/sign-out flyaway menu

LesFerch · Mar 12, 2024

Silbian said:
Very interesting, great job. Can your utility coexist with EP or the risk is messing up the whole system ? My question is related on how Win11 File Explorer shows folders content, since my wife need to have some thumbnails showed, so she doesn't want to switch to Win11 and prefers to stay stuck on Win10 + Open Shell start menu instead.
To be clear, here below the difference between Explorer folders 10 vs. 11 ( Hope I'm not OT in this thread )

As far as I can tell, nothing would break having both installed, but it would be redundant. If you run into the issue of the Windows 10 Explorer not remembering its window size and position with EP, then I think it would be best to use the batch file I posted in #426729 rather than SwitchExplorer.

As for full-size thumbnails, one option is to replace the built-in folder masks using a tool such as CustomizerGod. Here's a tutorial. The included link in that tutorial to the custom icon masks is broken, but you can find them here.

Silbian · Mar 12, 2024

LesFerch said:
As far as I can tell, nothing would break having both installed, but it would be redundant. If you run into the issue of the Windows 10 Explorer not remembering its window size and position with EP, then I think it would be best to use the batch file I posted in #426729 rather than SwitchExplorer.

As for full-size thumbnails, one option is to replace the built-in folder masks using a tool such as CustomizerGod. Here's a tutorial. The included link in that tutorial to the custom icon masks is broken, but you can find them here.

I agree with ur statements concerning Switch Explorer... I have CustomizeGod and I will check with my PC first. BTW, solving problems for both wife and daughter PCs is definitely not simple... complaints are usual, so... it's better to be careful

Thanks everyone for the other tips received in these last posts.
Rebuilding search index, excluding some folders in my HDD seems to be okay, no delays opening File Explorer so far.
Just updated Win11 KB5035853 ( Winver .3296 ) and EP 63.4 works as usual, no problems, always talking about my Home version...

Slavic · Mar 12, 2024

Stormbrain said:
Anyone noticing the taskbar is invisible post todays security patch?

I confirm that taskbar on my system 22631.3296 is invisible. ExplorerPatcher attempted to download new symbol tables, but it was only partially successful. I think tomorrow downloads will be finished, which may fix this "issue".
But I don't think that fully transparent taskbar too bad, I found it quite funny. Functionality isn't changed, right click on empty space at the bottom where taskbar should be, opens the context menu as usual. Anyway it's an interesting experience. BTW, change of transparency effect in Settings doesn't make taskbar non-transparent, at least now.

starbuck · Mar 12, 2024

@Slavic @Stormbrain - the Win11 KB5035853 ( Winver .3296 ) just arrived on my system and I'm still using the 63.2 official release rather than pre-release version and I can confirm the taskbar is present, but the background/colour is transparent now. So it's still there and usable, but has a transparent background.

Are either of you able to confirm if your profile switcher/sign-out menu is working? Mine is not...when I click my Account name, nothing happens...no list of other accounts for switching nor is there the signout/lock option.

hdmi · Mar 12, 2024

starbuck said:
@Slavic @Stormbrain - the Win11 KB5035853 ( Winver .3296 ) just arrived on my system and I'm still using the 63.2 official release rather than pre-release version and I can confirm the taskbar is present, but the background/colour is transparent now. So it's still there and usable, but has a transparent background.

Are either of you able to confirm if your profile switcher/sign-out menu is working? Mine is not...when I click my Account name, nothing happens...no list of other accounts for switching nor is there the signout/lock option.

View attachment 89994

Running EP version 22621.3007.63.4 on Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.3296 after the new symbols failed to download. The Logoff feature of the Windows 10 Start Menu still works for me (I also verified that it actually logs off when clicked).

starbuck · Mar 12, 2024

hdmi said:
Running EP version 22621.3007.63.4 on Windows 11 version 23H2 build 22631.3296 after the new symbols failed to download. The Logoff feature of the Windows 10 Start Menu still works for me (I also verified that it actually logs off when clicked).

View attachment 89996

Thanks for confirming that it seems to be just me. I wonder how I can fix it on my system. I've tried reset to default, uninstall, reboot and been even running sfc /scannow and finding no problems....

starbuck · Mar 13, 2024

Looks like Valinet just released version 64.1 and the invisible taskbar problem has been fixed. Works fine for me except for my broken Accounts/Sign Out menu, but that appears to be just me?

Wannagofast · Mar 13, 2024

I can confirrm prerelease version 22621.3296.64.1 fixes the transparent taskbar.
The new 3296 Symbols also downloaded correctly this morning.

Big Thanks to Valinet and all the other great people involved for keeping this working!

peace
wanna