Windows 10 File Explorer Folder History

[corsair91]

EDIT:

Ths started as a Windows 10 File Explorer Folder History post,
but has as time passed become a blog of Windows 10 woes.


Windows 10 File Explorer Folder History

One of the many new Features Updates Microsoft have inflicted on Windows 10 is the File Explorer Folder History and is the single biggest Windows 10 annoyance and a problem since day 1 of Windows 10.

As a result Windows 10 File Explorer can be very sluggish Copying or moving files or folders and creating new files or folders seems to take an eternity.

You can wait quite a while for creating a New file or folder to finish.
Moving or Copying files will reach 99% complete and sort of stall,
and only eventually complete some significant time later.


The only solution is to regularly clear the File Explorer history
as outlined here:

https://winaero.com/blog/clear-file-explorer-history-windows-10/


This is also described below:

In any Windows 10 Folder Window with the Menu Icons displayed

View Tab - Options - Change folder and Search Options

Folder Options - General Tab

https://winaero.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/clear-file-explorer-history-Windows-10.png
Shows defaults which need to be changed


Change
Open file Explorer - To This PC
(Default maybe quick access)

Browse folders
Change to open each folder in its own windows


Suggest also change in Folder Options

Click items as Follows
Double-Click to open (single click to select)


Privacy - uncheck both
Show recently used Files in Quick Access
Show Frequently used Folders in Quick Access

Clear File Explorer History - Clear button

Regularly Clear the file Explorer History via the clear button
as the only way to get any File Explorer speed back

the slightest hint of a file Explorer slow-down moving or copying or creating files, a visit to to the clear button should be your very first response, which you will have to do regularly if you have a system with frequent file churn.

(If you frequently archive to an external Hard disk or Memory Sticks or Burn to DVDs, in which case a System File History of content no longer on your system is completely useless and cripples your File Explorer speed).


Also

Folder Options - View Tab

Hidden Files and folders
Check
Show hidden files, folders and drives
Launch folder windows in a separate process


The Folder Options - Apply to Folder Button at the top

If you have a folder view
and want to set this as a Default for All Folders

Once the Folder layout is as you want it then
use the Apply to Folder Button
(Just don't expect Microsoft updates to pay any attention to this)


Another windows 10 recommendation is if you stash stuff in folders
at your Browser Downloads folder location.
Stop doing that, and move all this content asap to another folder.
(say c:\mystuff and not in your user profile to keep the system speed up)

Windows 10 has been known to assume The Browser download folder
location is sort of like a temp folder and it can do what it wants with it
including deleting all the folders and files content and this has happened
quite frequently.


Windows 10 Rule of thumb:
Never leave anything important in your Browser Downloads folder
and absolute never use it as a long term storage location,
as content is subject to deletion especially by Feature Cummulative Updates

EDIT
My documents folder is also at risk, make sure you stash a backup
somewhere as you may need it

[corsair91]

The last two Windows 10 Feature Cummulative updates 1809 and 1903
(2018 Sept and 2019 March)
have been extremely raw and an obvious lack of any proper testing,
as too many basic things simply didn't either work properly or at all.
Ship first, fix later attitude.

1809 was very troublesome and the initial released delayed as Intel managed to mess up the Intel Integrated Graphics Drivers. Some systems may even now have not yet updated from 1803 as may require manually updating the Intel Integrated Graphics Drivers first.

For instance 1903 initial faults included:
downloading a file in your browser to the normal browser downloads folder - Hung the browser or unable to access the downloads folder
at all in File explorer - numerous crashed Folder threads.

3 seconds of testing would have shown this was a show stopper issue,
and still not completely fixed.
Workaround is to use a different folder location for downloads.
Browser and windows updates have resolved most Browser issues.
General Windows 10 File Explorer instability issues remain.

Another windows 10 Rule of thumb:
Wait as long as you can before Applying any Feature Cummulative updates.
Update in Haste, Regret at your leisure.
check Internet to see how other users are not getting on first.

Microsoft have announce they are switching to a Single Yearly Feature
Cummulative update schedule in response to Windows 10 Users howling
about the lack of any testing.

An Actual working File Explorer that doesn't act like a crash test dummy
wolud be a good start.
You may want to explorer the use of alternate File Explorers for Windows 10.

I found the best version of Windows previously was 8.1
with an alternate shell such as open shell (formerly classic shell),
Better than 7 or XP generally except for gaming, because of Microsoft trying to cripple it. Microsoft went Tablet overboard with 8.

Windows 7 is simply better for games as most experienced gamer users simply didn't bother trying Windows 8, so not the same gaming knowledge pool with Windows 8 as there is with 7 and most issues were solved with 7.

Windows 10 is slowly getting better,
but too much new stuff, buggy as hell with every new update.
Still not comparable with 8.1 as regards a solid reliable OS
which is should be by now but isn't.

Windows 7 Users migrating to windows 10 after the Jan 2020
Windows 7 end of support have lots to look forward too,
just not all of it good.

There are some major differences or irritations
now between an ugraded Windows 10 from a previous OS
and a new fresh install.

For a fresh new windows 10 install,
the old Windows XP or 7 style Windows Image view has been effectively crippled so problems getting this to work as the default viewer.
Microsoft inflict a tablet style image viewer app as the default.
Infranview Freeware is a good alternative Image viewer.
VLC Freeware Media player also recommended.

New 1903 installs also now reserve an additional 7GB of HD space for Windows Updates.

EDIT:

1903 also introducted a sorting of the Browser downloads folder by file type categories.

To disable - right click in the Folder - Group by - Set to None
(option will disappear once set)

[corsair91]

Article explaining

How Windows 10 Bugs have increased as Microsoft have laid off almost the entire Software Bug testing Teams

effectively there is NO Microsoft pre-release Software Testing anymore

https://www.ghacks.net/2019/09/23/former-microsoft-employee-explains-why-bugs-in-windows-updates-increased/

It all virtual hardware and not actual hardware now and looking at actual user system crash reports.

Which is the Stuff everybody disabled because of Win10 Privacy concerns

Edit

latest Microsoft Office update Joke Thread
http://www.hookedonpirates.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7816

includes some Windows 10 General recommendations


Windows 10 1909 update Due Early Nov 2019 Features
https://www.howtogeek.com/437112/whats-new-in-windows-10s-19h2-update-arriving-fall-2019/

ETA Nov 12 2019

[corsair91]

All the Useless Windows 10 Features Microsoft Should Remove
https://www.howtogeek.com/437942/all-the-useless-windows-10-features-microsoft-should-remove/

August 29, 2019



What Is the “God Mode” Folder in Windows 10, and How Do I Enable It?
https://www.howtogeek.com/402458/enable-god-mode-in-windows-10/

January 24, 2019

It’s simply a special folder you can enable that exposes most of Windows’ admin, management, settings, and Control Panel tools in a single, easy-to-scroll-through interface.

EDIT:

This is the Windows 7 version

Stupid Geek Tricks: Enable the Secret "How-To Geek" Mode in Windows 7

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/8711/stupid-geek-tricks-enable-the-secret-how-to-geek-mode-in-windows/

[Roland]

The things that annoy me most about Windows 10:

Whenever you try to do anything, no matter how simple and basic - e.g., opening or closing a file, or right-clicking on an icon to bring up the menu - the system stalls for 3 to 5 second before it starts to think about executing the task.

The title bar of the active window has black print, while inactive windows have gray print. You can change the background color, but there is a limit to how light you can make it - i.e., white is prohibited. As far as I can tell, it is impossible to choose a color that will make both the black print and the gray print legible.

The task-bar pop-up previews are not only useless but also annoying.

Even when it is possible to fix these things, you need administrator rights to carry out the fix. Almost everything requires administrator rights. Since this stuff is not a priority for my IT staff, it means they won't get fixed. (Criticizing Microsoft is treated like blasphemy here.)

[Pirate]

Easiest way I found to fix Windows 10 issues and it doesn't seem to matter what the problem is, just throw a beer bottle at the monitor as hard as you can and it usually takes care of everything. I don't work for Microsoft but I did stay at the Holiday Express Inn last night.

[corsair91]

REF: Criticizing Microsoft is treated like blasphemy here

Sound like a typical "Microsoft software shop" company response.

See nothing but only Microsoft software and can't handle any valid points of view (not adult enough to see it's not a personal attack on them but a statement of fact) and boy does Windows 10 generate lots of problems,
as Microsoft have really dropped the ball on testing.

Your IT Dept probably recommended a Microsoft OS rather than say Linux in the first place and they do have to sort the problems somehow,
while probably praying Microsoft will actually fix something anytime soon,
with Windows 10 File explorer fixes top of the wish list.

I am guessing IT Dept didn't do any prior application test research as how your software mix would behave with Windows 10 prior to rollout which is definately not good. Rolling out any new OS, especially a Microsoft OS, without first test, test, testing is almost suicidal.

Microrsoft do like to change things, just because it may have worked before doesn't mean it will still work as microsoft do like to avail of
any chargeable development billing opportunities or for new sales

as far as blasphemy goes

Old Tech Support proverb -
Microsoft is something you swear at and not by!

For an Easy Tech Support Life -
keep the number of Microsoft applications to an absolute minimum and
preferrably a non-Microsoft OS as well.

Linux has typically a more active developer headcount than Windows in Microsoft.


Remember Microsoft Minimum software specs are written by marketters.
The Recommended specs are the actual minimums.

Symantec software can be a pain as well especially interacting with other software.

Freeware or open source software may not have all the bells and whistles but chances are it has been thoroughly tested or will be rapidly fixed if there is an obvious issue.


If your Hard Drive is badly Fragmented or you have frequent File churn
(frequently create or delete or move/copy files or folders) disabling the Win 10 File History is an Absolute MUST, unless you want to wait anything up to 30 secs or so waiting to create a new file or folder.
Response speed is absolutely crippled with this File history enabled or not regularly cleared.
It can make the difference between Win10 just bleeh! to absolutely unuseable.

Not to say that Windows 10 can't be sluggish anyway
as you as going to hate that blue wait circle.

Modern Internet Browsers memory managment absolutely sucks now.
Use Browser Tabs rather than additional windows.
Less is more - mimimise running apps to get best performance

If you are running say Databases or other frequently accessed data files
consider getting an Anti-Virus Scanning folder exclusion set for that folder location or specific files.

It really tough If you don't have local system admin rights.
Never personally saw the sense of not giving users full local control
on their allocated personal system, Just IT creating more work for themselves, but each to their own.

Last resort park an IT guy in front of your Laptop and tell him to do what you you normally do in as polite but insistent way as possible,
and point out the obvious issues and see where that gets you.

You can't be the only person in the company with current Win 10 issues.
IT Dept is probably now in rush to get Win10 deployed before Jan 2020
and sort of ship first fix later as no time for anything else.

EDIT:

In Win10 settings app

Windows updates - advanced options - delivery optimisation -
allow downloads from other PCs - set to off

Stop microsoft stealing your bandwith to distribue any windows updates
you have downloaded to the rest of the world without ever asking

[corsair91]

Currently on

Win10 version 1903
Build 18362.449

latest updates

October 24, 2019—KB4522355 (OS Build 18362.449)
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4522355/windows-10-update-kb4522355


October 24, 2019-KB4522741 Cumulative Update for .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8 for Windows 10 Version 1903 and Windows Server 1903 RTM
Applies to: .NET Framework
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4522741/oct-24-2019-kb4522741-cumulative-update-for-net-framework

For those of a nervous disposition, do not read the lists of included fixes
in the links as could give nightmares!

This maybe tempting fate but for once windows 10 is almost as good
once again as the old version 1803 Gold standard.

EDIT: Seem Other Users rate Win 10 1709 as the Gold Standard


All you can say about 1809 and 1903 (being exceedingly kind) is epic fails.
Bad enough no testing but to ignore actual user test and fail reports
and still ship anyway - not good.

[Roland]

IT stalled for years in forcing the "upgrade" to Windows 10 because they realized Windows 7 is better for business-oriented uses. But Microsoft has announced it will stop supporting Windows 7 next year.

In fact, Microsoft already stopped supporting Internet Explorer, so I was having more and more trouble with IE this past year. (IT responded to that problem by installing Chrome on all our machines.) Edge has alleviated those problems, but, like most current Microsoft software, it is dumbed down. I especially hate that printing gives you almost no control - you can no longer print selected text or tinker with the margins, for example. Unfortunately, Chrome is no better than Edge when it comes to printing.

I have a theory that Microsoft is invested in the local timber economy of the Pacific Northwest, and therefore they rig their software to use more paper than necessary.

[corsair91]

Corporates ignored Windows 8 as didn't want have to retrain
everybody to use essentially a touch Screen interface on Keyboard & mouse PC systems, so stayed with Windows 7 which people could actually
use as is.
Avoiding the FUD Factor - Fear, Uncertainty and Distress of Microsoft efforts at mental masturbation
(programmers goofing off simply because they could, to not much apparent purpose)

windows 8.1 which was more keyboard & Mouse friendly and
was fine with a replacement shell such as openshell.
Most stable windows version I ever used (apart from gaming)
as underneath it all was Win 7.

But that would mean rolling a new shell out to every single PC
and something Corporates hate doing.
They Like all-in one as much as possible as standard,
when you have fleets of PCs to upgrade you can't blame them.

Windows 7 extended support is still available after Jan 2020
but Corporates have to pay a yearly fee.
Microsoft could make already paid for Win 7 fixes available free
to home users but simply don't want too.

Paperless office is a complete myth probably invented by bulk paper sellers.

Hghly unlikely Microsoft would have a lock on the timber industry
as probably beyond their capabilities given their present pitiful efforts with windows 10,
Doubt they could presently arrange an orgy in a brothel.

But could well believe it with some of the other companies like google or Apple or some of the other FANGs companies.
(Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, Google).

Netflix would probably stream the orgy and Amazon would sell the Box set with facebook likes and google search orgy adverts & google drive hosting downloads!


Personally abandoned IE Browser eons ago, but it still has its uses now and then. The Ability to access the Browser cache is always good.

Tried Chrome and instant hatred at first sight, keep retrying it now and then and still loath it.

Never thought the supposed gain in Chrome security was worth the loss in functionality, especially since its a Firefox knockoff anyway.
Also not keen on giving google access to all my browser bits.

Anyway, that leaves Firefox with lots of plugins.
(There are a few others such as opera with a Proxy Feature etc)


Printing a web page especially with lots of adverts seldom works well
regardless of what Browser you have.

Any problem with printing a web page

Have a look at Browser print preview first to get an idea of the printing result.

I tend to either use a Browser
screen capture plugin - save web page or portions as an image
or use a save as PDF file plugin
(only problem is you can't set where to throw a new page)

If it is only text I want - notepad & Clipboard to the rescue

Ifranview has some nice image printing options
as should any decent image viewer or paint program.

Some versions of windows 10 builds do have a paint 3d program Tablet style app but not something I tend to use much.

and most PDF apps can print a PDF file okay.

Last resort you can paste or import an image
into a wordprocessor and print using scale to page option

[corsair91]

Tablacus Explorer

Haven't gotten around to trying this yet
Seen this suggested as a Replacement for Windows 10 File explorer

Windows 10 1903 File Explorer previously was one sick puppy!
EDIT: and still is intermittantly

Tablacus Explorer

https://tablacus.github.io/explorer_en.html

A tabbed file manager with Add-on support.

See web page for screenshots and further Info


Tablacus Explorer

Version 19.9.29

Download (578.2KB)
https://github.com/tablacus/TablacusExplorer/releases/download/19.9.29/te190929.zip

Release date: Sun, 29 Sep 2019



Tablacus Explorer features and highlights:

Tablacus Explorer is a tabbed file manager with Add-on support.

Tabbed interface
Add-on support
Completely portable, No installation required
Multiple language and Unicode support
Columns: Total file size, Label
Customizable association, menus, keys, mouse gestures, alias
Open source
64-bit(TE64.exe/x64 Edition) and 32-bit(TE32.exe/x86 Edition) versions are available

OS: Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP/ 32-bit(x86 Edition)/64-bit(x64 Edition)

[corsair91]

One of the best inside microsoft articles I ever read was this one.
It a little outdated now but really nails microsoft.


August 2012
Microsoft’s Lost Decade

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/business/2012/08/microsoft-lost-mojo-steve-ballmer

By Kurt Eichenwald
July 24, 2012


some feeedback on the above article


Microsoft’s ‘Lost Decade’? Vanity Fair piece is epic, accurate and not entirely fair

by Todd Bishop on July 3, 2012

https://www.geekwire.com/2012/microsofts-lost-decade-vanity-fair-piece-accurate-incomplete/

some of the reader comments are also worth a read


One of the best things Steve Ballmer reportedly did when head of Microsoft was take a friend 's system into Microsoft, plant it in on a desk and show the amount of viruses, crapware & spyware and stuff a real life system can have in the real world and how Microsoft back then did nothing to help the situation.

[corsair91]

Okay

Windows 10 1903 latest

posted previously too soon

After a day of working perfectly , and no further windows updates
or software changes. Its exactly as before apart from some Browser usage.

Browser download folder is now completely off limits yet again.
Crashed file explorer thread every single time and gave up after about 12.

Explorer hits 100% memory and disk useage, crippling the System.
Tried a few system shutdowns and still no joy.

Can use any other folder
but not the default Browser download folder
located here
c:\users\myprofile\downloads

Can still download to folder fine as save file dialog browses the folder fine


2 things I wish would happen

somebody kick whoever made the 1903 File explorer changes in the nuts!
and put back 1803 or 1809 Explorer code asap, whichever works.
Forget about this 1903 File Explorer history crap and Group category sorting of downloads as its simply not working yet again.

1903 has been on my system since the Middle of June and its now almost November and yes I do actually expect a consistently working File Explorer.


Anyway

Will wait a couple days as suprising how much Win10 stuff seems to mysteriously start working again
If you didn't know better - microsoft seem to be looking at the amount of Windows ooops have crashed telemetry and well that didn't work
switch back again

Can always try an alternate file explorer
and also an alternate downloads folder location
but do need to know how the default file explorer is misbehaving.

A File Explorer has simply got to work, no if buts or candied nuts about it!

This is not my first rodeo with this and live in hope it will get Fixed,
Tomorrow would be good! as works for me.


One Firefox Browser tip
Enter this in the browser url bar
about:memory

memory cleaner feature, may help for a while
but eventually a Browser shutdown and restart will be required.


EDIT:
cleared the file history and retried the Browser Download folder
This time actually got to see the blue circle of inifinite pain
which had not happened before but still not working!

File Explorer is living up to more a File Exploder name


2nd EDIT:
Shutdown the Browser and gave downloads Folder another last try
before shutting down the PC
Can now access the download folder once again after failing too all day,
and no changes made to the system, exactly the same as before when not working.

Probably going to go again and come back and rinse & repeat again

3rd EDIT:
Still working for now and still no changes made
Expect severe turbulence with the next Windows cummlative Update
if not sooner.

4th EDIT:
Frefox browser updated to 70.0.1
and can still access the Browser downloads folders

[corsair91]

Microsoft are mandatory rolling out Windows updates - 1903
as required for the imminent release of the next disaster epic - 1909
ETA Nov 12 2019

So you have a Microsoft rollout of a known bugged Feature Pack
just as last Minute corporates are trying to get Win10 rolled out
before Win 7 support expires in Jan 2020
And also Win10 1803 support coming to it's end.

A recipe for a perfect storm.


Had a fun morning on the phone in the middle of a diner
talking through a distraut User with a forced 1903 upgrade Blue Screen issues and various software not working properly.
Managed to get it going somehow over the phone.
(which translates as haven't a clue if it could be repeated ever again)


My tip of the Day
is have your installation files for Your Anti-Virus and Firewall to hand
if necessary.
Update both before launching a 1903 upgrade as things can get a little interesting if you do it afterwards.

EDIT:
Windows will incorrectly still try to Manage your 3rd Party Anti-Virus even when Windows is set to Managed by your Anti-Virus and not Windows.
Windows Secuity Shield Icon in System tray will frequently have a red cross on the Icon.
If you look at your Anti-Virus console everything is fine.
It just one of those ongoing irritations.

[corsair91]

One possible way around a Windows systems being locked down
with a lack of local system admin rights

Is portable apps
(assuming there is a portable app with the functionality you want)

This depends on how restrictive the group policy profile applied to the System actually is.

It may be something you have to simply try.

Also of concern is how much trouble you will get into if IT have something like a System log reporting management tool or software Audit tool in use.
This could be considered grounds for termination, so be exceedingly careful and think it through fully first.

https://portableapps.com/
https://portableapps.com/apps

Run from a cloud folder, external drive such as a USB memory stick , or local folder without installing into Windows.

EDIT: maybe better to sound out your IT Dept first before proceeding
Also the IT Dept may want to have a copy of any License Agreement files
shoud they agree for their Software Licensing records.