Best replacement for Win7 Windows Explorer

I'm searching for a good alternative for Win 7's file explorer. What could You recommend? I don't look for something different because I'm a power user (I don't really like programs like Total Commander)

I just need a program to make things done, and Windows Explorer seems like getting me in the way.

I absolutely loved the Explorer back from Windows XP - I remember having a folder list on the left side (I did it by changing default folder's action from "open" to "explore" in Folder Options, cool trick), with My Computer always on top of this list (now there's some stupid "Favorites" I can't get rid of, and "Computer" is inside "Desktop" group).

Each folder opened in XP's explorer automatically expanded in the folder list on the left, making browsing a breeze. With Win7, I need to do it manually - and there's many other different things. I'd also like to have a "Move Up" button on a Menu bar (not only Back), something Win7 Explorer totally removed. And it was so easy to use it in XP!

So, all in all, I need something more conservative than Win7 Explorer and more like XP explorer with many options. Maybe there's a way to run XP explorer in Win7?

 

Wot about the middle man - Vista? Not as good as 7, but better than XP?

Vista was (IS) great, use it before 7. Once all the oddities are ironed out of 7 then I will move on, but for now I will still use the little sister__ 'Vista'. AND it has the same kind of menus you described in the old XP.

 

I don't know.
I got used to the new way of navigation.

 

I added My Computer as a favorite. Easy to do and then its always on top.

I agree with weinter, there is no need for an up button. Each folder in your current tree is a link so you can easily move up one step or many steps with a single click.

The new explorer is quicker once you learn to use it. I think you just have not spend enough time with it and got frustrated by trying to do thinks like you learned before. Invest some times, 30 minutes should be enough to learn a few short cuts and see how you can navigate around and you will be fine.

Also look at Folder Options: Navigation pane. there are two options, Show all folders and Automatically expand to current folder.
Try them and see what you like.

 

Or you could make the current explorer window work the way you want it to....START > CONTROL PANEL > FOLDER OPTIONS

Check SHOW ALL FOLDERS in the NAVIGATION PANE section

 

That screenshot demonstrates that option.
The left panel expand all folders.
Anyway I am used to all ways of navigation from cd in command prompt/terminal to click on icons doesn't really make a difference to me.
Most importantly I remember where I put my stuff.
Lets not digress.
Anyone knows alternatives for people who don't wish to change their habits?
Personally I recommend let Windows index your stuff.
Their new search is very fast, if you remember your filename or part of it, it will definitely find it.
In fact I don't use their start menu program anymore, I just type the name of the program into the search...

 

i don't use the explorer to navigate much anymore. check pinned folders, search and other stuff out to not even need it much. and then get used to the new features to benefit the most of it. it's better than xp's explorer, once gotten used to it.