165 replies to this topic 12 votes

[Tihiy]

Windows 7 explorer.exe for Windows 8
Long story short, i made a wrapper to Windows 7 explorer.exe to run on Windows 8. You can try it now in order to have native Windows 7 desktop experience.

You need to have Windows 8 Release Preview 32-bit installed. Most likely won't work for other builds.

Installation: grab c:\windows\explorer.exe and c:\windows\en-us\explorer.exe.mui from windows 7 system or installation CD (with 7-zip). It must be 32-bit version (if it's 64-bit, grab files from SysWOW64 dir). You can use Windows 7 files from same language build or en-US build.

Extract them to directory like "c:\explorer7". Extact attached archive to that directory too. It should look like this:
C:\explorer7\explorer.exe
C:\explorer7\en-US\explorer.exe.mui
C:\explorer7\patchex7.exe
C:\explorer7\wrp32.dll


Launch patchex7.exe. It will patch windows 7 explorer.exe. Then choose "7" to set it as default shell in registry, terminate current explorer.exe and log you off.
After log-on you should see Windows 7 desktop.
To uninstall, launch patchex7.exe again, choose "8" to reset shell to default explorer.exe in registry.

Download:  patchex7-b0.zip   57.37K   1587 downloads

PLEASE READ:
THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS" AND I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING

Issues
- Start menu pin list and MFU list doesn't work. Instead, Start menu always shows "All programs" list.
- Trying to pin app to start menu by drag&drop will pin it to taskbar instead.
- Choosing "Pin to Start" menu item will add item to Start menu All programs list.

No Metro:
- Metro programs won't run.
- Autoplay popups won't show.
- "You have new program to handle this stuff" popups won't show. You need to use Default programs to change associations.
- Network icon popups don't show since Metro UI isn't started. You can't manage Wi-Fi networks. Use third-party program for that.
- "Choose default program to open this file type" is still Metro UI and works.

No new explorer goodies:
- No language input indicator. Use third-party program for that.
- No multi-monitor taskbars. Maybe more multimon issues.

Beta0 issues:
- Customize dialog for tray icons don't work. "Customize system icons" works though (Clock->Properties).
- Alt-tab switcher is legacy one (you can replace alttab.dll/.mui in system32 to windows 7 ones to get it to work).
- Start menu all programs sometimes don't show.
- Some debug messages are going in background.

[+articuno1au]

Yeah, I'd be EXTREMELY careful using this..

Also, kinda defies the point of having Windows 8 tbh.

[Detection]

If this is real and doesn't send my pron collection to my mum, I have a feeling it will become very popular

[Tihiy]

Detection, on 13 July 2012 - 15:12, said:

If this is real and doesn't send my pron collection to my mum, I have a feeling it will become very popular

Dunno, seems like nobody cares. Run it in VM if you're scared.

[DKAngel]

serously wish people would stop trying to change windows 8 into windows 7

[Detection]

Tihiy, on 13 July 2012 - 15:56, said:

Dunno, seems like nobody cares. Run it in VM if you're scared.

Don't worry about the haters here, Metro has become some peoples god it seems, post it around the net a bit, it will become popular, there are plenty of Metro haters out there

Try MDL forums, you should get some good reviews from there

http://forums.mydigitallife.info

[FunkyMike]

Tihiy, on 13 July 2012 - 15:56, said:

Dunno, seems like nobody cares. Run it in VM if you're scared.

Have you tried exporting the explorer.exe from an earlier build of Windows 8 that still had it?

[Dot Matrix]

Detection, on 13 July 2012 - 15:12, said:

If this is real and doesn't send my pron collection to my mum, I have a feeling it will become very popular

You're going to limit yourself to a 32 bit OS?

[Tihiy]

Quote

Have you tried exporting the explorer.exe from an earlier build of Windows 8 that still had it?

You mean using DP instead of Win7? That could be nice idea, if explorer from there is more functional (i don't recall).

Quote

You're going to limit yourself to a 32 bit OS?

There will be 64-bit version ofc... It's the earliest public beta. I just need to acquire full MSVC instead of express.

[Detection]

Dot Matrix, on 13 July 2012 - 16:22, said:

You're going to limit yourself to a 32 bit OS?

Who! what! where!? Huh ? !

I don't run Win 8 on here, I do however have the 32bit flavour on my laptop and with only 2GB RAM it makes no odds whether I run 32bit or 64bit on it really

[FunkyMike]

Tihiy, on 13 July 2012 - 16:22, said:

You mean using DP instead of Win7? That could be nice idea, if explorer from there is more functional (i don't recall).

Yup, I think it was the DP or maybe even a build that leaked afterwards?!

I honestly haven't tried Windows 8 yet since it is so close to release. I want to approach it with a "clear" perspective, if thats even possible seeing as how I am in a Start button thread .

Good job btw!

[Javik]

If a 64 bit version becomes available this will interest me.

Also, have you tried hacking the Windows 8 explorer exe to make it boot to desktop without removing all the other goodies like the ribbon?

[firey]

Nice job man, if you continue with this and make it 64bit, and work out some of the kinks, this alone may be my reason to go to 8. I hate metro, I hate the start screen, I hate the dropping of eye-candy. This will fix most of it.

[Tihiy]

Can't edit my topic... here is beta 1 version:

• Improved Start Menu appearance
  
• Customize tray icons dialog works
  
• 64-bit support!

You can view updated instructions here.

Attached Files

•  patchex7-b1.zip   65.52K   359 downloads

[+Anarkii]

Exactly what Windows 8 needs. Thank you!