The Windows Explorer in Windows 7 has been revamped a bit by Microsoft to display helpful shortcut links in a sidebar by default. The libraries are displayed there for instance as well as the user’s favorite folders and the drives that are connected to the PC.
It is possible to customize that display either by adding a new favorite location to the sidebar listing (by dragging and dropping the folder there) or by adding a new library.
There is also a third option that does not become apparent to most Windows 7 users. It is possible to change the configuration so that additional links are displayed in that sidebar in Windows Explorer.
The two prominent additions of this configuration change are links to the control panel and recycle bin.
The left image shows the standard display of Windows Explorer with the categories favorites, libraries, homegroup, computer and network while the right screenshots shows the extended display with all folders shown.
The right folder structure has also changed if you look closely as the Desktop now makes up the root of nearly every other folder in that display except the favorite links.
It is really simply to display the control panel and recycle bin in Windows Explorer. All that needs to be done is to open an explorer window, click on Tools > Folder Options and check the Show all folders box under Navigation Pane.
The new display mode is automatically visible after leaving the configuration window.
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You can also right-click any white space of the navigation pane to quickly check or uncheck the Show all folders option.