The Explorer process runs a lot of important things in Windows, and when it crashes, it can really slow you down. It turns out, however, that you can sandbox Explorer windows so if one crashes, it doesn’t drag your whole system down.
Windows tip: If you need to quickly switch views in a folder, you can easily click through the different view options in the Explorer toolbar. Or, as reader creeront points out, you can simply hold the Ctrl key and spin your mouse wheel.
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Earlier this week we shared a handy file-renaming shortcut that works in Windows 7 and Vista (see video). Reader derilium put together a script that brings the same functionality to XP.
Need to rename a lot of files in a folder and looking for the fastest way possible to do it? Lifehacker reader Platypus Man offers this quick, new-to-us Windows shortcut.
The familiar “up” arrow from previous versions of Windows is missing from Windows 7. You can still head up to a higher directory with the Alt+Up keyboard shortcut, but if you’d like the actual button back, you can restore it with Classic Shell
Windows only: Free plug-in IconViewer adds a new tab to Windows Explorer’s properties screen that views, copies and saves the icons hidden inside Windows applications and libraries.
Windows 7: Windows Explorer’s sidebar comes with a few entries in it that not everyone uses, such as Homegroup or Libraries. If you’d rather keep your sidebar clean (or populate it with more useful items), here’s how to hide the defaults.
Windows only: Portable system tweaking utility ShellMenuNew displays a list of all the items in the Windows Explorer “New” menu, and allows you to disable them easily.
