Explorer's Details Pane

Gornot

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A fairly simple question:

Has anyone tried to (or found a third party app) that can put the details pane back to the bottom of the File Explorer windows, like it was in 7. It was of great use to me when reading tags and other information. In 8, it just takes needless width space from the windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M
Shell32.dll but modifyng it crashes windows 8 (at least in CP/RP), havent tried in RTM yet.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Kala Computer Labs (built myself)
    CPU
    Celeron G440, 1core, 1.6ghz, Sandy Bridge
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-H61-S2V-B3
    Memory
    4GB Corsair Value series
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD1000
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron W2242T
    Screen Resolution
    1680X1050
    Hard Drives
    160GB TOSHIBA 5400RPM
    PSU
    FSP 350W
    Case
    Codegen....
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech Internet Keyboard 350
    Mouse
    Logitech...
    Internet Speed
    Not dial up
So I'll have to wait a while before it becomes available... And I always hated modifying system files, even for third party themes. Somehow I always mess it up xD
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Kala Computer Labs (built myself)
    CPU
    Celeron G440, 1core, 1.6ghz, Sandy Bridge
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-H61-S2V-B3
    Memory
    4GB Corsair Value series
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD1000
    Sound Card
    Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron W2242T
    Screen Resolution
    1680X1050
    Hard Drives
    160GB TOSHIBA 5400RPM
    PSU
    FSP 350W
    Case
    Codegen....
    Cooling
    Stock
    Keyboard
    Logitech Internet Keyboard 350
    Mouse
    Logitech...
    Internet Speed
    Not dial up
If anyone is having trouble moving the details pane to the bottom, I have written instructions (on Super User and below):
Does Windows 8 have a Status Bar to display details of a file? - Super User

---

On Windows 8, in file explorer, how do I display the details pane at the bottom instead of on the right?

How do I display both the details pane and preview pane simultaneously?

---

You need to edit system files.

After you modify the system files, you may have the details pane at the bottom and the preview pane on the right simultaneously.



Instructions

  • Copy `%WinDir%\System32\shell32.dll` and `%WinDir%\SysWOW64\shell32.dll` to the desktop or to temporary directories.
  • Take ownership of and rename the original `shell32.dll` files.
    • Save `Rename shell32.dll.bat`:
      Code:
      takeown /f "%WinDir%\System32\shell32.dll"
      icacls "%WinDir%\System32\shell32.dll" /grant Administrators:F
      ren "%WinDir%\System32\shell32.dll" "shell32.dll.bak"
      
      takeown /f "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\shell32.dll"
      icacls "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\shell32.dll" /grant Administrators:F
      ren "%WinDir%\SysWOW64\shell32.dll" "shell32.dll.bak"
    • Right click on `Rename shell32.dll.bat` > Run as administrator > Yes.
  • Repeat the following steps for each `shell32.dll` on the desktop or in temporary directories:
    • Right click on `shell32.dll` > Properties > For "Attributes", disable "Read-only" > OK.
    • You will need either Resource Hacker, Anolis Resourcer, or Restorator.
    • Resource Hacker
      • File > Open ... > Select the `shell32.dll` file.
      • UIFILE
        • 3 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="genericlayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="53rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.OfflineStatus;*System.OfflineAvailability" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" FramePersistType="2" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layout="borderlayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()" layoutpos="client">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
        • 4 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="musiclayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="53rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.OfflineStatus;*System.OfflineAvailability" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" FramePersistType="2" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="musiclayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layout="borderlayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()" layoutpos="client">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
        • 5 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="photolayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="53rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.OfflineStatus;*System.OfflineAvailability" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" FramePersistType="2" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="photolayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layout="borderlayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()" layoutpos="client">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
        • 6 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="documentslayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="90rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.OfflineStatus;*System.OfflineAvailability" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" FramePersistType="2" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layout="borderlayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()" layoutpos="client">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
        • 19 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="documentslayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="53rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.OfflineStatus;*System.OfflineAvailability" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" FramePersistType="2" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layout="borderlayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()" layoutpos="client">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
        • 20 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="documentslayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="53rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.OfflineStatus;*System.OfflineAvailability" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" FramePersistType="2" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layout="borderlayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()" layoutpos="client">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
        • 21 > 1033 > Replace text > Compile Script:
          Code:
          <duixml>
          <Element resid="FolderLayout" layout="shellborderlayout()" sheet="genericlayoutstyle">
          <StatusBarModule ModuleID="StatusBarModule" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()"/>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewContainer)" height="53rp" layoutpos="bottom" layout="filllayout()">
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(PreviewShineLayer)"/>
          <PreviewBackground id="atom(BackgroundClear)" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)" layout="borderlayout()">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="PreviewThumbnailModule" MaxThumbSize="256" layoutpos="Left"/>
          <Element layoutpos="Client" layout="filllayout()">
          <PreviewMetadata ModuleID="PreviewMetadataModule" NullSelectTitlePropertyString="prop:System.Computer.SimpleName;*System.Computer.Description" NullSelectPropertyString="prop:*System.Computer.DomainName;*System.Computer.Workgroup;*System.Computer.Processor;System.Computer.Memory" layoutpos="Client"/>
          </Element>
          </PreviewBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(PreviewPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(PreviewContainer)" SlidesUpAndDown="true" layoutpos="top" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <TemplateBackground id="atom(ReadingPane)" layout="filllayout()" layoutpos="right">
          <PreviewThumbnail ModuleID="ReadingPaneThumbnailModule" HideProperty="PreviewHandlerRunning" Vertical="true" layoutpos="client" background="ARGB(0, 0, 0, 0)"/>
          <ReadingPaneModule ModuleID="ReadingPaneModule" layoutpos="none"/>
          </TemplateBackground>
          <Sizer id="atom(ReadingPaneSizer)" sizingtarget="atom(ReadingPane)" GrowTargetFirst="true" SlidesUpAndDown="false" PrioritySizer="atom(PageSpaceControlSizer)" DownOrRightGrowsTarget="false" FramePersistType="2" layoutpos="Right"/>
          <ProperTreeModule id="atom(ProperTree)" ModuleID="ProperTreeModule" sheet="documentslayoutstyle" layoutpos="Left" RootMgrClsid="{93319CCC-B277-48FF-95BD-6CDCCAFCBD31}"/>
          <Element id="atom(ViewHostContainer)" layoutpos="Client" sheet="genericlayoutstyle" layout="filllayout()">
          <ViewHost id="atom(clientviewhost)" layout="borderlayout()">
          </ViewHost>
          </Element>
          </Element>
          </duixml>
      • File > Save.
      • File > Exit.
  • Copy the modified `shell32.dll` to its system directory.
    • Right click on the Start corner > Command Prompt (Admin) > Yes.
      • Type:
        Code:
        cd %SystemDirectory%
        copy %DllPath%
        • While typing, replace `%SystemDirectory%` with `shell32.dll`'s system directory and `%DllPath%` with the path of the `shell32.dll` file.
    • Verify that `shell32.dll` exists in its system directory.
      • Type:
        Code:
        dir "shell32.dll"
    • Close the command prompt.
  • Charms bar > Settings > Power > Restart.

Sources


Disadvantages

The downside that I have noticed so far is that explorer operations that require elevation will prompt user account control (UAC) dialogs with "unknown publisher". However, this is not a big deal for me because I do not need to edit protected files so often, and the benefit of having the details pane outweighs the disadvantage.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    *
I tried the method XP1 posted and it did work! Glorious details pane on the bottom. However there's one unrelated disadvantage they failed to mention/notice: When trying to open any metro app it immediately closes and returns to the start screen. I don't really use the metro apps much but...when I do I'd like them to actually function.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2500K 3.3GHz (Stock)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68X-UD3-B3
    Memory
    G.Skill PC3-12800 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon HD3870 512MB
I tried the method XP1 posted and it did work! Glorious details pane on the bottom. However there's one unrelated disadvantage they failed to mention/notice: When trying to open any metro app it immediately closes and returns to the start screen. I don't really use the metro apps much but...when I do I'd like them to actually function.
The Metro apps work for me. I tried this on a Windows 8 Pro x86 (unactivated) virtual machine.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    *
Hm. That's really odd. I created a system restore point before modifying the system files and once I resorted to that the metro apps worked like before. I tried modifying them a second time paying more close attention that the first. Still problems with the metro apps. The only thing I can think of is the metro apps crash with 64-bit. Let me know if you're able to successfully do this with Windows 8 Pro 64-bit. Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 2500K 3.3GHz (Stock)
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z68X-UD3-B3
    Memory
    G.Skill PC3-12800 8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI Radeon HD3870 512MB
I tried the method XP1 posted and it did work! Glorious details pane on the bottom. However there's one unrelated disadvantage they failed to mention/notice: When trying to open any metro app it immediately closes and returns to the start screen. I don't really use the metro apps much but...when I do I'd like them to actually function.

I'm on x86, but I had an issue with my Metro apps out of the blue the other week (haven't tried this details pane trick yet). I had to manually uninstall and re-install each metro app in order to get them to work. No idea what caused it, but that was the only thing which made them work again (luckily for me whilst every other metro app was malfunctioning the Store app did not).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
As I am on x86, exactly which steps do I need to take?
I have written the guide to work with both x86 and x64. I have tested the steps on x86 in a virtual machine, but I have not tested on x64 yet personally.

Since we are editing system files here is there a risk of a future Windows Update making us unable to boot into Windows, such as with this theme patch?
When the "shell32.dll" file is missing, Windows will boot to the login screen, but the user cannot login to desktop until "shell32.dll" is restored. I suspect that if something were to go wrong with "shell32.dll", this is what would happen.

The theme patcher patches 3 DLLs, including "uxtheme.dll". The Windows Update failure may not be related to "shell32.dll", so I cannot say that it will happen with the details pane modification.

It is probably best to disable Windows Update when you have modified system files on a mission critical computer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    *
How strange... At first I thought I was going to be all over this patch. But after re/enabling the File Explorer status bar, I now find that I no longer need the details pane because the status bar shows the number of items I have selected and the total file size of them all. Still a cool fix for those that want it though.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hi all, I tried the trick on Win8 Pro 64-bit, the details pane does show up at the bottom but yes, metro apps do not work at all, even the store app.

Firefox and IE won't open as well, Chrome does open. I have to restore it back :( Really love to have it at bottom but the downside is unbearable. Hopefully got a more stable hack later.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro 64-Bit
How strange... At first I thought I was going to be all over this patch. But after re/enabling the File Explorer status bar, I now find that I no longer need the details pane because the status bar shows the number of items I have selected and the total file size of them all. Still a cool fix for those that want it though.
The status bar can only show the file size if your selection is less than 100 files. If you select at least 100 files, then it will not show the total file size.

The details pane shows the image and video resolutions as well as other details that are not in the status bar.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    *
When the "shell32.dll" file is missing, Windows will boot to the login screen, but the user cannot login to desktop until "shell32.dll" is restored. I suspect that if something were to go wrong with "shell32.dll", this is what would happen.

This is actually what just happened to me. After a while of using Win8 without the details pane on the bottom I kept running into instances where I required it back, and attempted to follow the steps on the first page. It seemed to go well until it came time to move the edited shell32.dll back into it's original directory. Despite getting a warning popup about confirming the file move to a system folder, and the file moving out of the temporary folder, it simply wouldn't be visible back in the directory folder. Simillarly I couldn't re-name shell32.dll.bak back into shell32.dll.

Rebooting and attempting to log on gave me the error that the User Profile could not initialize and I couldn't get into windows. I had to make the drive into an external drive using my a SATA-to-USB wire I have, and view the hardrive in File Explorer via my laptop. Even then it wouldn't let me view the user files until I changed renamed the 'shell32.dll.bak' file back to shell32.dll.

I guess there's no details pane on the bottom for me, lol.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Would anyone be able to upload an edited file for me to use? So that it's idiot proof?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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