explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11

masterslendertr New Member 🚽 "just use windows 10 21h2 ltsc iot" Posts: 7 OS: Windows 7 Enterprise Theme: Windows Aero by Microsoft Corporation CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700x3d RAM: 48GB DDR4-3600 GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 20:39:19 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by masterslendertr on Sept 4, 2024 20:39:19 GMT -8 Nice work! I hope we can also get Vista Explorer.exe on Windows 7.

Olivia
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CPU: Intel Core i5-8350
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Computer Make/Model: Lenovo ThinkPad T480

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 20:45:10 GMT -8

Quote

Post by Olivia on Sept 4, 2024 20:45:10 GMT -8

Sept 4, 2024 16:00:10 GMT -8 Erizur said:

View Attachment

After almost two months of development, explorer7 is finally available for PUBLIC BETA TESTING!

Based on tihiy's old "Windows 7 Explorer on Windows 8" project, we have accounted for many COM objects and functions that have been removed between 8.1 and 10's development, resulting in a fixed version of this old program for newer Windows versions!

I would like to remind you that this is a GROUP EFFORT. Almost everything wouldn't have been possible without help from the Explorer7 staff.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS PROJECT IS ON A BETA PHASE. FULL FUNCTIONALITY ISN'T GUARANTEED.

Current beta aims for full Windows 8.1 support. While 10 and 11 are supported, we would like you to submit any bugs you find while using Explorer7 on Windows 8.1, as these are the top priority right now.

There are no plans for a 32-bit version, so please refrain from asking for one.

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

- Import the "Import Me.reg" file included in the zip file to the registry.

- Open up ex7forw8.exe. Locate your Windows 7 files and continue the installation.
- Choose the Windows 7 shell option and log off. Log in again to see the Windows 7 explorer.

- Enjoy!

NOTE: There are extra instructions on the README file. Please read them.

Known issues/limitations (General):

- UWP/Metro UI apps won't run. This is a limitation that we might work on fixing sometime in the future.

- There are no multi-monitor taskbars. This is because Windows 7's explorer didn't had that option, making this a limitation.

- Autoplay may not function properly.

- Context menu entries for pinning and unpinning internal start menu items are missing.

- 8.x style transparency does not work on the taskbar/start menu.

Known issues/limitations (Windows 10/11):

- All programs list functionality is inadequate and relies on a temporary hack.

- Thumbnails use inactive DWM Colorization. (Only happens on Windows 10 1809+)

- Icon badges for compression are visible.

- Changing accent color does not reflect until you restart explorer.exe.

- Notification icon settings in Control Panel are missing.

- Taskbar may have weird color behavior if your system's theme filename is "aero.msstyles".

- Searching for an executable by the name of the executable rather than shortcut name will result in the item not opening/responding correctly to user input.

CREDITS:

- wiktorwiktor12: Original Research, Lead Developer

- AM_Erizur (me!): Original Research, Developer, Beta Tester

- Ittr: Original Research, Developer, Beta Tester

- kfh83: Original Research, Beta Tester, Designer

- aubymori: Developer, Beta Tester

- rounak: Developer, Beta Tester

- amrsatrio: Contributor

- tihiy_mozg: Original ex7forw8 developer

- vaporvance, Microsoft: Built-in visual style

DOWNLOAD LINK:

Join the explorer7 Discord Server to get the latest download: discord.gg/d3yVmW4xgr
Alternatively, the GitHub releases repository can be found here: github.com/Erizur/explorer7-releases/releases/

PSA: Do not use ESU updated Windows 7 files, it will not work

KotonePopper
Freshman Member

#Sukinanda

Posts: 71
OS: Windows 7 Enterprise
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CPU: Intel Core i5-2400S
RAM: 12 GB
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explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 21:07:57 GMT -8

Quote

Post by KotonePopper on Sept 4, 2024 21:07:57 GMT -8

Sept 4, 2024 16:00:10 GMT -8 Erizur said:

View Attachment

After almost two months of development, explorer7 is finally available for PUBLIC BETA TESTING!

Based on tihiy's old "Windows 7 Explorer on Windows 8" project, we have accounted for many COM objects and functions that have been removed between 8.1 and 10's development, resulting in a fixed version of this old program for newer Windows versions!

I would like to remind you that this is a GROUP EFFORT. Almost everything wouldn't have been possible without help from the Explorer7 staff.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THIS PROJECT IS ON A BETA PHASE. FULL FUNCTIONALITY ISN'T GUARANTEED.

Current beta aims for full Windows 8.1 support. While 10 and 11 are supported, we would like you to submit any bugs you find while using Explorer7 on Windows 8.1, as these are the top priority right now.

There are no plans for a 32-bit version, so please refrain from asking for one.

INSTALL INSTRUCTIONS

- Import the "Import Me.reg" file included in the zip file to the registry.

- Open up ex7forw8.exe. Locate your Windows 7 files and continue the installation.
- Choose the Windows 7 shell option and log off. Log in again to see the Windows 7 explorer.

- Enjoy!

NOTE: There are extra instructions on the README file. Please read them.

Known issues/limitations (General):

- UWP/Metro UI apps won't run. This is a limitation that we might work on fixing sometime in the future.

- There are no multi-monitor taskbars. This is because Windows 7's explorer didn't had that option, making this a limitation.

- Autoplay may not function properly.

- Context menu entries for pinning and unpinning internal start menu items are missing.

- 8.x style transparency does not work on the taskbar/start menu.

Known issues/limitations (Windows 10/11):

- All programs list functionality is inadequate and relies on a temporary hack.

- Thumbnails use inactive DWM Colorization. (Only happens on Windows 10 1809+)

- Icon badges for compression are visible.

- Changing accent color does not reflect until you restart explorer.exe.

- Notification icon settings in Control Panel are missing.

- Taskbar may have weird color behavior if your system's theme filename is "aero.msstyles".

- Searching for an executable by the name of the executable rather than shortcut name will result in the item not opening/responding correctly to user input.

CREDITS:

- wiktorwiktor12: Original Research, Lead Developer

- AM_Erizur (me!): Original Research, Developer, Beta Tester

- Ittr: Original Research, Developer, Beta Tester

- kfh83: Original Research, Beta Tester, Designer

- aubymori: Developer, Beta Tester

- rounak: Developer, Beta Tester

- amrsatrio: Contributor

- tihiy_mozg: Original ex7forw8 developer

- vaporvance, Microsoft: Built-in visual style

DOWNLOAD LINK:

Join the explorer7 Discord Server to get the latest download: discord.gg/d3yVmW4xgr
Alternatively, the GitHub releases repository can be found here: github.com/Erizur/explorer7-releases/releases/

Note that if you have keyboard layout such as Microsoft IME, it will be disabled upon loading the Windows 7 shell.

Edit: It works via the classic keyboard layout that you can enable via language applet.

Last Edit: Sept 4, 2024 21:39:55 GMT -8 by KotonePopper

arbestriagain Sophomore Member 👅 Posts: 143 OS: Windows 11 Home 23H2 Theme: Default CPU: Intel Core i7-10700F RAM: 32GB GPU: GeForce RTX 2060 SUPER Computer Make/Model: HP OMEN 25L Desktop GT12-0xxx	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 21:15:12 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by arbestriagain on Sept 4, 2024 21:15:12 GMT -8 Sept 4, 2024 19:43:08 GMT -8 ⠀ said: why this won't work for me? it just stay at black screen until i run explorer and it reverts back to 10's Same

craft
Sophomore Member

UWP stands for unwanted pile of trash

Posts: 167
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explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 22:20:40 GMT -8 via mobile

Quote

Post by craft on Sept 4, 2024 22:20:40 GMT -8

I have been seeing progress on this wrapper for some time and it still blows my mind that we have gotten so far to the point running older explorer variants are possible. During testing I also found out you can run beta variants of explorer too (Longhorn ones might not run and 7 betas requires dui70 hex edits). But still good work and keep it up!

Certified dumbass

gravarty New Member Posts: 1	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 23:19:07 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by gravarty on Sept 4, 2024 23:19:07 GMT -8 Whoa! Amazing work! Can't wait to try this out later. The previous version of this (Ex7for8) helped me to endure Windows 8 back in the day

Legofan Sophomore Member Embrace modernity? Nah, embrace tradition. Posts: 168 OS: Windows 11 24H2 Theme: Default CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 / Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y RAM: 64GB / 8 GB GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / IGPU Computer Make/Model: Custom Built / Surface Go 2	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 4, 2024 23:57:14 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Legofan on Sept 4, 2024 23:57:14 GMT -8 Yeah, this also uncovers the Windows 10 Ribbon if you run Windows 11.

AshtyBoi New Member Posts: 7 OS: Windows 10 1903 Theme: Windows 7	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 0:03:26 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by AshtyBoi on Sept 5, 2024 0:03:26 GMT -8 I would like to mention that this also natively brings back the logoff/login sounds.

wiktorwiktor12
Freshman Member

Posts: 83

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 0:05:36 GMT -8

Quote

Post by wiktorwiktor12 on Sept 5, 2024 0:05:36 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 0:03:26 GMT -8 AshtyBoi said:

I would like to mention that this also natively brings back the logoff/login sounds.

shutdown too (pretty sure u need fast startup disabled for it)

StouakOvsky Sophomore Member Oguzok, is that you?.. Posts: 101 OS: Windows 10 Theme: Windows 7 (Aero) RAM: 4 GB	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 0:05:44 GMT -8 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by StouakOvsky on Sept 5, 2024 0:05:44 GMT -8 Sept 5, 2024 0:03:26 GMT -8 AshtyBoi said: I would like to mention that this also natively brings back the logoff/login sounds. Does this bring back the shutdown sound?
	I wrote something here for fun

urbanender
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explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 0:56:01 GMT -8

Quote

Post by urbanender on Sept 5, 2024 0:56:01 GMT -8

Sept 4, 2024 19:23:27 GMT -8 vruh2 said:

Sept 4, 2024 19:03:43 GMT -8 Sennanon said:

Understandable, thanks for all the work you guys have put in!

View Attachment

Here it is running. I don't have anything set up icons or theme wise so it kinda looks like crap but you get the point

Bro how did you do that?!

One of the former Windows Vista7 Project producers

AshtyBoi
New Member

Posts: 7
OS: Windows 10 1903
Theme: Windows 7

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 1:18:16 GMT -8

Quote

Post by AshtyBoi on Sept 5, 2024 1:18:16 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 0:05:44 GMT -8 StouakOvsky said:

Sept 5, 2024 0:03:26 GMT -8 AshtyBoi said:

I would like to mention that this also natively brings back the logoff/login sounds.

Does this bring back the shutdown sound?

yes
but you might have to turn off fast startup

urbanender Sophomore Member Posts: 133 OS: macOS Sequoia CPU: Apple M3 Max RAM: 64GB GPU: Apple M3 Max Computer Make/Model: Mac15,9	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 2:15:06 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by urbanender on Sept 5, 2024 2:15:06 GMT -8 vruh2 I did it! But it didn't have any visual styles? Was I did something wrong? Attachments:
	One of the former Windows Vista7 Project producers

StouakOvsky
Sophomore Member

Oguzok, is that you?..

Posts: 101

OS: Windows 10
Theme: Windows 7 (Aero)
RAM: 4 GB

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 2:28:51 GMT -8 via mobile

Quote

Post by StouakOvsky on Sept 5, 2024 2:28:51 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 1:18:16 GMT -8 AshtyBoi said:

Sept 5, 2024 0:05:44 GMT -8 StouakOvsky said:

Does this bring back the shutdown sound?

yes
but you might have to turn off fast startup

I disabled this when I installed the system, since it interferes with a lot of customization in my memory.

I wrote something here for fun

Windows User
Regular Member

F*** AWM for crashing DWM and causing lags and beeping sounds

Posts: 341

OS: Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 / Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2023
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Computer Make/Model: S712JA Notebook PC ASUS Laptop

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 3:47:30 GMT -8

Quote

Post by Windows User on Sept 5, 2024 3:47:30 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 2:15:06 GMT -8 urbanender said:

vruh2 I did it! But it didn't have any visual styles? Was I did something wrong?

Attachments:

View Attachment

Try deleting 7's aero.msstyles from the explorer7 folder and put Vista's aero.msstyles

School is the definition of garbage.

urbanender
Sophomore Member

Posts: 133
OS: macOS Sequoia
CPU: Apple M3 Max
RAM: 64GB
GPU: Apple M3 Max
Computer Make/Model: Mac15,9

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 4:14:43 GMT -8 via mobile

Quote

Post by urbanender on Sept 5, 2024 4:14:43 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 3:47:30 GMT -8 Windows User said:

Sept 5, 2024 2:15:06 GMT -8 urbanender said:

vruh2 I did it! But it didn't have any visual styles? Was I did something wrong?

Attachments:

View Attachment

Try deleting 7's aero.msstyles from the explorer7 folder and put Vista's aero.msstyles

I had deleted 7's msstyles and move Vista msstyles to theme folder.

One of the former Windows Vista7 Project producers

Ittr
Freshman Member

👅👅👅👅👅

Posts: 49

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explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 4:44:38 GMT -8

Quote

Post by Ittr on Sept 5, 2024 4:44:38 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 3:47:30 GMT -8 Windows User said:

Try deleting 7's aero.msstyles from the explorer7 folder and put Vista's aero.msstyles

Hello, msstyles created before Windows 8 Developer Preview cannot be loaded in any form onto modern Windows due to internal UXTheme changes. When we come around to supporting Vista we will create a theme for it based upon these requirements.

In the meantime, using explorer.exe versions that are not associated with Windows 7 remains unsupported. As such we will not be able to further assist you with this enquiry for the time being.

Windows User
Regular Member

F*** AWM for crashing DWM and causing lags and beeping sounds

Posts: 341

OS: Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 / Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2023
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Computer Make/Model: S712JA Notebook PC ASUS Laptop

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 5:34:17 GMT -8

Quote

Post by Windows User on Sept 5, 2024 5:34:17 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 4:44:38 GMT -8 Ittr said:

Sept 5, 2024 3:47:30 GMT -8 Windows User said:

Try deleting 7's aero.msstyles from the explorer7 folder and put Vista's aero.msstyles

Hello, msstyles created before Windows 8 Developer Preview cannot be loaded in any form onto modern Windows due to internal UXTheme changes. When we come around to supporting Vista we will create a theme for it based upon these requirements.

In the meantime, using explorer.exe versions that are not associated with Windows 7 remains unsupported. As such we will not be able to further assist you with this enquiry for the time being.

I might assume if Windows 7 build 7000's explorer would work on modern windows within ex7 but i will test that next time (I'm sorry for causing drama on Windhawk discord server)

School is the definition of garbage.

kamuisuki Regular Member ~ Posts: 499 OS: Windows Me Theme: 5048 CPU: Intel Pentium III-S Tualatin RAM: 2048 GPU: GeForce 3Ti 500	explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 5:46:09 GMT -8 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by kamuisuki on Sept 5, 2024 5:46:09 GMT -8 if after doing this nothing is working, how to restore? because i would like to test but i feel i will be stuck as usual with my "luck" ^^

Ittr
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explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11 Sept 5, 2024 5:50:53 GMT -8

Quote

Post by Ittr on Sept 5, 2024 5:50:53 GMT -8

Sept 5, 2024 5:46:09 GMT -8 kamuisuki said:

if after doing this nothing is working, how to restore? because i would like to test but i feel i will be stuck as usual with my "luck" ^^

To revert to default explorer shell, open the ex7forw8.exe using Task Manager and click Windows 8 Explorer. After logging off and back on it should restore your "usual" desktop

explorer7 - Windows 7 Explorer for Windows 8.1/10/11

Post by masterslendertr on Sept 4, 2024 20:39:19 GMT -8

Post by Olivia on Sept 4, 2024 20:45:10 GMT -8

Post by KotonePopper on Sept 4, 2024 21:07:57 GMT -8

Post by arbestriagain on Sept 4, 2024 21:15:12 GMT -8

Post by craft on Sept 4, 2024 22:20:40 GMT -8

Post by gravarty on Sept 4, 2024 23:19:07 GMT -8

Post by Legofan on Sept 4, 2024 23:57:14 GMT -8

Post by AshtyBoi on Sept 5, 2024 0:03:26 GMT -8

Post by wiktorwiktor12 on Sept 5, 2024 0:05:36 GMT -8

Post by StouakOvsky on Sept 5, 2024 0:05:44 GMT -8

Post by urbanender on Sept 5, 2024 0:56:01 GMT -8

Post by AshtyBoi on Sept 5, 2024 1:18:16 GMT -8

Post by urbanender on Sept 5, 2024 2:15:06 GMT -8

Post by StouakOvsky on Sept 5, 2024 2:28:51 GMT -8

Post by Windows User on Sept 5, 2024 3:47:30 GMT -8

Post by urbanender on Sept 5, 2024 4:14:43 GMT -8

Post by Ittr on Sept 5, 2024 4:44:38 GMT -8

Post by Windows User on Sept 5, 2024 5:34:17 GMT -8

Post by kamuisuki on Sept 5, 2024 5:46:09 GMT -8

Post by Ittr on Sept 5, 2024 5:50:53 GMT -8