[TomGuy]

My major irritation with Win7 is Windows Explorer. I’m sure I’ll end up paying for Total Commander. I want to be able to see a damn directory tree.

I just got a new laptop with Win 7 (my first experience with 7). I agree that File Explorer is crap.

I downloaded a few 'freeware' replacements, but most were 32-bit. I did, find a few that seemed adequate, as I want one that allows double panes:

Dual Xplorer [I like it best, easy EXE, some configuration options, old -- no recent updates, but it does run.]

Xplorer2 Lite [It was okay.]

Win Double Explorer [It was okay, also.]

They are available on several 'freeware' websites.

[willieroe]

KYGeezer - I just saw this morning that Multi Commander is now available as freeware.

[Incorrigible]

You can open two panes of Windows Explorer and use Windows 7 Snap.

Like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmiPzMY4nuE

Maybe not exactly what you’re looking for but it’s something!

[roamer_1]

[KyGeezer:] My major irritation with Win7 is Windows Explorer. I’m sure I’ll end up paying for Total Commander. I want to be able to see a damn directory tree.

[TomGuy:] I downloaded a few 'freeware' replacements, but most were 32-bit. I did, find a few that seemed adequate, as I want one that allows double panes:

Y'all need to look at FreeCommander.

Though my absolute fav is A43 by BGMiller. Not as many bells and whistles, and a bit eclectic (takes some getting used to), but the features it does have are the necessary ones (built in txt editor, customizable shortcuts, a decent 'find', zip support) - and it is very simple and efficient once you figure it out. Best of all, it is wholly portable, so I use it from thumb drives all the time... Just unzip it to a directory somewhere drop a shortcut on you desktop (and another in the path somewhere if you are so inclined), and away you go.

However, that being said, let the Win7 Explorer grow on you - outside of it's irritating desire to always open to 'libraries' (a completely useless nonsensical idea), it is ather efficient once you get used to it - If I go back to XP (as a tech I am still on XP boxen all the time) I find it less intuitive than 7 - just have to get used to using the address bar instead of the sidebar.