The Evolution of Windows File Explorer

Windows Explorer and File Explorer have a rich history that can be traced back to the earliest versions of the Windows operating system. This journey explores the transformation of the iconic user interface features that many of us use daily.

Origins in Windows 3.1 and Previous Versions

The legacy of File Explorer began in the early days of Windows, long before the ubiquitous File Explorer we know today. In Windows 3.1 and earlier, the primary user interface was through a shell called Program Manager. Program Manager was more than just a file explorer; it provided a way to launch applications, manage settings, and organize files.

Program Manager presented standard icons that represented various objects, such as applications and control panels. These objects were displayed in groups, and the organization was saved in .grp files. File Manager, which was an application, was often used as a secondary shell due to its flexibility and ease of launching applications directly from it.

Transition to Windows 95

One of the most significant changes came with the release of Windows 95. The merging of File Manager into Program Manager marked a new era for the operating system. The updated shell was renamed Explorer and became the default interface. The old “group” concept was replaced with the all-familiar Start menu, an organizational method that showed objects via shortcut files or directly placed EXE files from the menu.

Importantly, the Start menu is not a file manager. Instead, secondary instances of running Explorer recognized the existing process as the shell and presented a File Manager view. While the window title may say “File Explorer,” it is essentially the same functionality.

Behind the Scenes

Windows 95 was designed to be more efficient, particularly in terms of RAM usage. By default, it only ran one process for both the shell and the “file explorer” views to conserve memory. However, there was an option buried deep in the settings that allowed users to run separate processes if they had enough RAM. This change significantly reduced the risk of a crash affecting the entire shell.

It is worth noting that the open-source world has also embraced some of the early Windows shells. The original File Manager is available on GitHub, originating from the NT source code tree. This means it is a 32-bit application and capable of handling Long File Names (LFN).

Conclusion

The evolution of Windows Explorer and File Explorer has been shaped by user needs and technological advancements over the years. From the days of Program Manager to the present, these interfaces have continually adapted to provide a more intuitive and efficient user experience. Understanding the history behind these changes offers valuable insight into the ongoing development of Windows and its user interfaces.

For more information on the evolution of Windows and its user interfaces, visit the official Microsoft developer documentation and explore the GitHub repositories containing the source code for these applications.

Keywords: Windows Explorer, File Explorer, Windows 95, Program Manager, Windows Shell