I have tried to find the original software listed, otherwise I have tried to find replacements. Looking to make this more professional at some point.

Red links are the ones I haven’t found updates too as yet.

(Updated) Get Thumbnails (Previews) for More File Types: Text, Documents, Images, Multimedia Files Etc on Windows Explorer (XP, Vista, Windows 7...) and Some Free Tools...

" + Vista / Windows 7 Live Icon (Thumbnails) and File Metadata Info on Xp (Tag / EXIF / ID3 / Rating...) Etc "

Important Note (updated): This topic is not only written for Windows Xp and Server 2003, but also Vista, Windows 7, and perhaps other Windows versions as well (i.e. minimum Windows 98 or higher, with Internet Explorer 4/5+ or higher installed). (Although assumedly Xp has most compatibilities with all applications/tools or tweaks here). Important Note 2 (updated): For Vista and Windows 7 users, most of these thumbnail features and tools etc would also work on Vista and Windows 7 as well, even though some parts of them said that they are working on previous Windows versions only (e.g Windows 2000 and XP...), please don't worry, just still try. Since some of them are usually just shell extension-based apps (e.g like activeX library form), just make sure you're registering/running the installers, exe, batch files, dlls etc "as administrator" on Vista/ 7 (e.g right click the file/shortcut > "Run as administrator") or in other words with full administrator rights on Vista / Windows 7...(maybe some exe need XP/2000 compatibility mode too...). Again, just try...(even though maybe there are still afew incompatibility issues for only afew tools/apps/hacks etc...). One special thing is you can enhance & optimize thumbnail preview on XP for any supported file type as the good substitution of advanced preview pane feature on Vista Explorer (+ you can also get Vista-like preview pane/explorer previewer on XP Here )  Hello Everybody. In my opinion, thumbnails as Windows Explorer viewer feature (in both thumbnail view and detail pane), it can also give important contribution to Windows Xp GUI, in both look and function. (Most of them also support Windows 2000 and Windows Vista as well!). Thumbnails can make your Windows looks better, especially if they look clear and larger/bigger (like Vista) when you are using thumbnail view (you can see thumbnails on either of thumbnail view or detail pane, when some special (hidden) thumbnails such as Mp3 Album arts only can be viewed by using folder thumbnail view on Windows Explorer. If you want to get more and bigger thumbnails on Windows Explorer, you can do it by getting some free tools here (Some of them also work on other Windows Versions such as 2000, 2003, Vista, even 98 as well! Please Read This First B4 -> Important Notes!:

- Download Thumbnail Extensions 1.03:https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip[https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip](https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip) Note: By the way please notice that about two different sides of Explorer: Windows Explorer as a shell (critical part of the Windows Operating Systems here) and as a built-in File Manager/Browser from Windows itself (while IE / Internet Explorer is a built-in web browser in Windows, you can also use 3rd party apps as equal/even better (some with more features & plug ins etc) replacements for IE (e.g. Firefox, Chrome, Safari etc) and Windows Explorer too (e.g. Directory Opus, Servant Salamander, Total Commander, etc) as well nowadays). Again just FYI btw...

There is also MysticThumbs which works on win10/11, not free but they offer a 2 week trial. - Context Viewer by Schezo: A File Viewer on Context Menu in Windows Explorer for text and image file types, freeware: Originally created by same author (Schezo, credits to him) you can get Context Viewer (English version, translated from Japanese), a free and small, light, and cool file viewer on context menu that supports both image and text filetypes, highly customizable:   Download Context Viewer: https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip 2) Thumbnail Restore - It can give thumbnails of web document and email files (htm, html, mhtml, eml, nws, ect) on Windows Explorer (Windows Xp SP1 (or higher) has disabled them by default). Now you can safely restore them back. No need to install anything (just exe)- I have also included 2 Regged files to restore thumbnails of Web pages/emails and Video files on Windows Explorer in the zip package. (The text/document thumbnails will look better if you have resized the thumbnail to bigger such as 64x64 or higher by using some free tools from here) : - Download Thumbnail Restore (exe/no need to install anything only 14 KB): https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip 3) Thumbnail Resize and/or Explorer Thumbnail Size - They can resize thumbnails on Windows Explorer (32x32 by default) to bigger (48x48 like Vista Desktop, or even higher: 64x64, 128x128 etc/customizable!). Very Useful especially for thumbnails of text/document file types. No need to install anything (just exe). (if you have Microsoft PowerToy TweakUI (Freeware from MS, very useful), or TuneUp Styler from TuneUp Utilities (Shareware, but very useful) you can also do the same as well) Note: They only resize Explorer Thumbnail, not include Desktop icon as you can't see thumbnail on Xp Desktop... * Thumbnail Resize : - Download Thumbnail Resize (installer) : ThumbnailResize ** Explorer Thumbnail Size: - Download Explorer Thumbnail Size (Installer) : https://explorer-thumbnail-size.en.uptodown.com/windows/download

More Explorer Thumbnail Plug Ins- To get more thumbnails of more 3rd party file types : 1) ThumbView Lite : Add thumbnail support for .cut, .dcx, .dds, .mdl, .mng, .pcd, .pcx, .pic, .pix, .png, .pnm/.pbm/.pgm/.ppm, .psd/.pdd, .psp, .pxr, .sgi/.rgb, .tga/.vda/.icb/.vst, .tif/.tiff, .wal, and .xpm in Windows XP Explorer! Or plug in your own image formats!Windows XP Explorer. Very useful e.g To view PSD thumbnails, you dont need to install PhotoShop etc - Download Thumbview Lite-freeware: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhan...ThumbView.shtml - To get more/anything about ThumbView Development (it also supports plug in for more file types e.g your own ones), just visit: http://sourceforge.net/projects/thumbview/ 2) K-lite MegaCodec Pack : You should have some codecs installed before you can see thumbnais of some multimedia/video files (e.g. DivX, mp4 etc) or vice versa. Just download this useful freeware (you also need them to play some files by using your players, don't you?) - Download K-lite Mega Codec Pack-freeware: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Vi...odec-Pack.shtml 3) Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows Xp : provides the ability to view, organize, and print photos captured in RAW image formats from supported Canon and Nikon digital cameras. It also gives support for thumbnail, metadata info, and tooltip for RAW file in Windows Explorer! - Download Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows Xp-freeware (WGA validation required): https://www.techspot.com/downloads/downloadnowfile/909/?evp=455ac2f3436ead7bb421a87d4e8952f5&file=1056

4)Windows Image Component (WIC-Image codecs) -> Xp SP2 only: provides WIC-enabled applications to display and edit any image format for which a WIC-compliant codec is installed, and also to read and write metadata in image files (WIC has already been built in Windows Live PhotoGallery install (as prerequisite) and Windows Vista/Xp SP3). - Download Windows Imaging Component (WIC)- freeware (WGA validation required): Download: https://archive.org/details/wic_x86_enu

5) To Fix/Restore/Enable/Disable Explorer Thumbnail View (Common): Simply do the following steps:

  1. Open a command window (Start->Run, type in 'cmd' hit enter)
  2. To readd image thumbnail preview, type (or just simply copy and paste) and hit enter regsvr32 shimgvw.dll
  3. To remove image thumbnail preview, type and hit enter regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll
  4. To readd media/video thumbnail preview, type and hit enter regsvr32 shmedia.dll
  5. To remove media/video thumbnail preview, type and hit enter regsvr32 /u shmedia.dll

6) Thumbnails of Microsoft Office Files (.doc, .xls, .ppt) on Windows Explorer - There are still many people who dont know how to get thumbnails of MS Office files (.doc, .xls, .ppt) on Windows Explorer. Though it can make file size become larger, but sometimes it can be useful! To enable thumbnails of Office Files on Windows Explorer (it can make file size become larger): Navigate to MS Office Menu Bar, then File > Properties > Summary > select "Save Preview Picture" (embedded bitmap into Office files) then save your work (also the text/document thumbnails will look better if you have resized the thumbnail to bigger such as 64x64 or higher by using some free tools from here)... 7) Special: Thumbnail Handlers for "Missing" PSD Thumbnails for Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator. -> (Even you dont need Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator installed to view their thumbnails on Explorer by using these dlls! No need to install anything/installer). Well, since Adobe has disabled PSD and AI thumbnail feature in Photoshop CS/CS2/Illustrator, if you are still a loyal user of old Photoshop CS2 and illustrator or have the files without the apps installed then don't worry you can restore them back by download and apply these small files (as alternative to Thumbview Lite above). No need to install anything/just copy the dll's to: "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell" (you can change "C" to your another custom partition of default Windows installation e.g "D" so "D:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell" etc) then merge the registry. done. Even you can still get the thumbnails working without Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator softwares installed at all!: Note: If the following folders on path "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Shell" don't exist before, then you can create new folders and rename them as above on the path. Simple. https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/PS-Ai-Thumbs.shtml Just follow the instructions/guide included (easy). PS: Previous and later versions of Photoshop/Illustrator such as new CS3 (10.1) they have restored the thumbnail capability back as well... 8) SWF Live Preview. Thumbnails of .Swf (flash) files on Windows Explorer: Download (installer): http://www.softpedia.com/get/Desktop-Enhan...e-Preview.shtml 9) PSP Thumbnail Handler. Thumbnails of .pps (Paint Shop Pro Files) on Windows Explorer: Download (installer): http://www.botproductions.com/pspthumb/download.html 10) Thumbnails of Maya files on Windows Explorer (.ma, .mb etc): Download: http://www.highend3d.com/maya/downloads/to...lugin-4222.html 11) Thumbnails for DWG Files on Windows Explorer (for AutoCAD 2000-2009 .DWG files): Get .Dwg (AutoCAD File) thumbnail previews on Windows Explorer. (for AutoCAD 2000-2009 files). You can see dwg thumbnail on Windows Explorer, even without any CAD software installed. Especially i.e. for people who are still using non-AutoCAD software without DWG thumbnail feature on Windows Explorer (i.e. DWG Editor, DWG viewer, etc) but still want the thumbnail feature. It can also be used as well for users of old AutoCAD Software (i.e AutoCAD 2000) who still want at least to get newer AutoCAD 2008 / 2009 Thumbnail preview on Windows Explorer. Only 14 Kb, without installing anything (only binary and registry batch files), Even not need AutoCAD installed. Easy and simple. Sagethumbs takes care of this and dozens more image formats. 12) Thumbnails of Windows Journal Files (jnt and jtp) in Xp especially Xp Tablet PC edition. It's recommended especially if you have Xp/Vista Tablet PC and Windows Journal/Journal Viewer and you often work with Journal files (It's been included in installer of Windows Vista Journal ported to Xp here by me as you dont need it anymore if you have installed it). Original from MS Xp Tablet PC PowerToys here. But ported to All Xp and Vista now: Download only 166 Kb for Xp and Vista Ultimate/Premium (once again, you don't need it if you have installed Windows Journal app that ported to Xp Pro by me): https://download.cnet.com/microsoft-thumbnail-view/3000-18513_4-32382.html 13) Realworld Thumbnails Extractor for 3D models, icons, and cursors on Windows Explorer : It allows thumbnail extraction for all document types supported by RW tools, including several types of images (jpeg, png, psd etc), icons (ico), static and animated cursors (ico, ani), and supported 3D formats (U3D, R3I, and 3DS) on Windows Explorer that very useful for i.e both user and graphic designer and so on -> Supported thumbnails on Explorer: ico, cur, tga, pcx, ani, jp2, psd, 3ds, pcx, etc...etc: Download (installer) and more info: http://www.rw-designer.com/thumbnails.php 14) MediaPreview and Icaros (mp4 Thumbnail Handler): for displaying mp4 thumbnail in Windows Explorer (All Windows OSes: 98/ME/2000/2003/Xp/Vista/2008/Windows 7). Also other files: avi, mov, asx, asf, m1v,mpeg, mpg, mkv, mka, flv, etc.

15) Download Quickthumb.dll and Realthumb.dll for thumbnails of QuickTime and RealPlayer movie files (mov, avi, swf, flv, rv, etc) on Windows Explorer: (credits to Michael Barrientos, author): https://web.archive.org/web/20221205013605/https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~mbarrien/projects/ 16) Djvu Thumbnail on Windows Explorer: DjVu Shell Extension Pack: 17) Thumbnails of Font Files (ttf, otf...) on Windows Explorer: Get the thumbnails of Font File Types on Windows Explorer: Freeware (FontNail, credits to Parkrrr): Fontnail Shareware (Font on Explorer)

Also you can install Microsoft Powertoy "Font Properties Extension" to provide more font properties: https://download.cnet.com/download/font-properties-extension/3000-2248_4-10628961.html 18) Note : Again, as said above, when you are installing some 3rd party graphic/document apps (not all, such as Adobe Reader (pdf), Photoshop (psd), CorelDraw (cdr) , AutoCAD (dwg) etc) (-i know you all know about it, just for clarification/integration  ...) you will usually get their default OLE thumbnail handlers installed for previewing thumbnails of their associated files on Windows Explorer (already built in)... 19) Vista / 7 style Thumbnail borders/appearance for multimedia files in Windows XP Explorer (or downlevel OSes): Seems i have still no found any perfect tool yet for that, but maybe installing Microsoft Windows Live PhotoGallery and/or Captrue Thumbnailer Lite on XP can be other good options/approach AFAIK:

21) Some of Other Free Useful File Viewers on Context Menu in Windows Explorer for Windows XP and 2003 also maybe 2000/9X (Thumbnail and/or file content previews): Since they are actually Windows Explorer shell extensions, you can also use them on Explorer window, search result, desktop (i.e. useful especially since you can't set thumbnail view on XP desktop unlike Vista or 7), open save as dialog box etc.

Note: later version of PicaView (e.g. V 2.0) doesn't show mp3 album art thumbnail anymore, but only preview (play) the sound of it in Explorer context menu (as suggestion you can also use some other similar tools e.g. ContextView Pro above for playing mp3 feature as well while you still have PicaView V 1.3 installed for the mp3 thumbnail view). Btw you can also get thumbnail previews for mp3 album art etc in Windows XP Explorer by using "CoverFlow for Windows Explorer" by Vemod (using "MacOSX CoverFlow preview style"): http://www.aqua-soft.org/forum/topic/52376-explorer-cover-flow/ and http://www.4shared.com/file/tiXWSAjP/Coverflow_for_Windows_Explorer.html 22) Replace generic icon of image files with real thumbnails in Windows Explorer including XP Desktop (i.e. shows thumbnail view on XP desktop just like Vista and Windows 7 and so on) and Open Save Dialog etc: E.g. see thumbnails of image files instead of generic icon when in list and details views mode, just like thumbnail view in Windows Explorer, (would be great to i.e. preview image files e.g. .JPEG, .BMP, .PNG, etc as thumbnail on XP desktop since XP desktop can't show thumbnail view by default) just use (freewares):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.3gp\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.asf\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.avi\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.dmf\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.divx\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.flv\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mkv\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mp2\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mpv\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mpeg\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mpe\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.m1v\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.m2v\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mpg\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mp4\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mov\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.rm\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.rmvb\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.vcr\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.wmv\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.m4v\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.cbr\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.cbz\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11D1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@="{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}"

23. Some of Other Great & Well Known Image and Multimedia (audio/video) etc file Viewers for Windows (freewares and sharewares, for XP, Vista, Windows 7, All...): Although XP and Vista (Windows All) already have built in Image and Multimedia (audio/video) file Viewer (e.g. XP Picture and Fax Viewer, PhotoGallery, WMP with additional codecs etc) beside Notepad and Wordpad (as viewers for text files and some documents), it's still necessary to have additional 3rd party viewers installed for more features, file types etc:

There are some good suggestions here - IrfanView (By Irfan Skiljan): One of the best free image and multimedia (audio/video) viewer for Windows: Irfan View supports many plugins + features etc. Free for personal / non-commercial use only. My best favourite image viewer too: More info and download, plugins etc: http://www.irfanview.com/ - ACDSee (i.e. ACDSee PhotoManager): If you'd prefer to use a better shareware, just use ACDSee. Support many plugins + features etc, available as some versions/variants. The best and well-known image and multimedia (audio/video) viewer for Windows IMHO (many Windows users can't live without ACDSee e.g. OEM): More info and download, plugins etc: http://www.acdsee.com/ - MegaView: a powerful image, multimedia (audio/video), text documents, binary file viewer): http://www.xequte.com/megaview/ - Kodak Imaging for Windows (free port): Imaging for Windows (by Wang) from Windows 2000 ported to Windows XP (and also Server 2003),  Imaging for Windows is an old useful built-in application that is originally from Windows 9X/ME/NT/2000 but discontinued / not included in Windows XP or Vista anymore (Its image viewing, editing and scanning functions, while the newer version 4.0 (side by side) has become a shareware It allows users to create, annotate, view and print TIFF, BMP and Microsoft Fax (AWD) image documents and so on etc. Users can also view and print JPEG and PCX/DCX etc images with this application. People have reported it working in Win7 and above with these instructions. - Adsen Thumbnailer: Speeds up the process of thumbnailing pictures within an entire folder in Windows Explorer, allows you to rename these images (if selected) during the thumbnailing process. It also enables you to add a prefix to the thumbnails if you choose to do so. Maybe you can give it a try too... Download Adsen Thumbnailer 1.2 (last version) and more info etc (freeware): 24. AutoCAD .3DS thumbnail and infotip metadata properties add on for Windows Explorer (All):

=============================================================

Thanks and visit Pallab.net - Enable Thumbnail for More Generic Video Files on Windows Explorer : Open Note pad and paste the following text :

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.EXT\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@=”{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}”

Please replace above .EXT with the desired extensions (e.g. flv). For Example:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.flv\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@=”{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}”[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mov\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@=”{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}”[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\.mp4\\ShellEx\\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]@=”{c5a40261-cd64-4ccf-84cb-c394da41d590}”

=========================================================

Special Added Here: A VERY WORTH PLUGIN FOR WINDOWS XP FAX AND PICTURE VIEWER AND XP EXPLORER THUMBNAILS/PREVIEWS: (Thanks to Raymond): Windows Picture and Fax Viewer is an image viewer that is a part of the Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems. It is based on GDI+ and is capable of viewing images format supported by GDI+: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF (including animated GIFs), ICO, WMF, EMF and TIFF format files. it can still be improved to have more for 200+ image support such as .msp, .gem, .cals and .dpx. and so on etc (sounds rare, right?) and also .pdf, .psd, .emf, .dxf, .crw, .cur, and so on etc (yea more familiar/well-known file types!) by Installing imageXtender (very recommended):

ImageXtender is a unique free application that teaches your Windows XP image viewer to understand more than 200 image formats, including some really rare and old ones. Also, ImageXtender allows viewing nonstandard formats produced by digital cameras or mobile phones. ImageXtender builds itself into your operating system. Once it is installed, you can view images of most formats in 3 standard Windows modes - Preview, Thumbnails and Filmstrip...

========================================================================

That's all. Hopefully useful to all of us. (Since I can view more and bigger thumbnails (included text/document) on Windows Explorer, it can make my Xp look like Vista "Live Icon" preview ...loool (lol Vista live icon is in 3d views with "angle" like "mini version" of Cover Flow on Leopard, on other side Xp still in 2d... maybe forever without 3rd parties?) but seriously, it's not bad as "down level" version, still better than nothing at all, and it's also functional, more than just only "eye candy". Finally, thanks for your attention, and good luck! Also if you guys also have more or better stuffs about thumbnails and previews on Explorer, GUI etc, please post/share your idea about them here/on Wincert forum, so other people and Wincert can also use and enjoy them for free (again, thx alo to Wincert). It will be so kind of you. I will appreaciate your great and nice job so much! Thanx alot, i aways wish you well! Screenshots: 1) Xp "Live Icon Preview" with Bigger Thumbnails of images, Text and Document files (Thumbnails of txt, reg, doc, ppt, htm, html, pdf, mpeg, jpeg, bmp, mp3 (album art), etc on Windows Xp Explorer (128x128 or larger, just for example)) :

2). Xp "Folder Live Icon" thumbnail preview (Thumbnails of Images, text, documents, and mp3 (album art file types etc (Pictures/thumbnails of mp3 album art can be customized/changed by using "Multimedia Tooltip" tool below ) on Windows Xp Explorer :

3) Preview text file thumbnails on detail pane by using Thumbnail Extensions (the left-small preview pane/webview pane on Xp Explorer, equivalent of updated Vista bottom pane that displays metadata and thumbnail view) :

Note : Vista detail pane is also metadata/tag editor, while Xp still read-only. You can still edit some custom metadata properties on some file types by right clicking the file -> Properties -> Summary or by using some 3rd party add ons on Xp Explorer. PS: if you want to get Vista Explorer Preview Pane (Vista file viewer) "ported" to Xp for free (as alternative) , please also visit my thread here - Extra: Vista Metadata (Tag/EXIF/ID3 etc) Features - Infotip, Status Bar and Detail Pane on Windows Xp Explorer Vista, as well as Xp and 2000 at the beginning with NTFS metadata storage, it has also improved much over Xp and other previous Windows versions with file metadata and tag editor (sometimes called EXIF/ID3/Tag etc) (Metadata is like "data of data", like summary/properties: Author, date, taken, size etc in almost all files, especially well supported in NTFS file system i.e in Xp and Vista). Some metadata is new like rating (you can also see it on Xp for some multimedia and images files through Windows Media Player 10/11 and Windows Live PhotoGallery as well. In Windows Vista, however, there is all kinds of new metadata, including tags, date taken, rating, caption, image resolution, camera make/model, shutter speed, etc.. Also PhotoInfo and Windows Search support them but unfortunately not Windows Explorer, not yet (also see "Code Project" for previous Windows versions- link below). There are Infotip, status bar, and details pane (also called webview pane/show common tasks in folder. It also shows both thumbnail preview and metadata). They also show metadata as unique info/property of each file. It can also make Windows (Explorer) GUI look better and functional. You can see/read similar metadata of infotip on Status Bar (to activate it: Explorer Menu Bar -> View -> check "Status Bar"): 4) Metadata : Infotip, Status Bar, and Detail Pane (displays both thumbnail and metadata) on Windows Xp Explorer: Note: To enable "Details Pane" (Small preview pane for thumbnail and properties of file) on Windows XP Explorer, you have to show Common Task Dialog (Xp Webview Panel): Menu Bar -> Tools -> Folder Options -> General -> "Show common tasks in folders", while it's not available in Classic style. Also some 3rd party VS/Skin may rearrange/remove/tweak the Webview Panel position.

(To get Explorer viewer for Xp like Vista (Text, Document, images, etc), please also visit my another thread here). - XP Metadata Properties Editor (Built In Tool) Without any 3rd Party help, Windows XP already has advanced metadata properties editor (built in) in the context menu (when Vista also has the same feature on bottom details pane. In Xp, the details pane only provides thumbnail and read-only properties. The editor is in Context Menu...). You can even insert/edit some custom metadata property such as Author, comment, title etc on some file types (not all) by right clicking the file -> "Properties -> Summary -> "Advanced" or Simple" on Xp Explorer (different for each file type).

In MS Office and some of other apps: Menu bar: File -> Properties -> Summary. You can also edit metadata in some MS apps such as WMP 10/11 (removed in WMP 12 for Windows 7!) and Windows Live PhotoGallery etc. -To fix/restore/even provide more metadata on infotip and details pane of Text/Document (txt, rtf, doc etc), Image (jpeg, bmp, png etc), Video (wmv, avi, 3gp etc), Exe, dll, ocx (activeX), and audio (mp3, wma etc) files etc on Windows Explorer without any 3rd party help: 1) Enhanced infotip for Explorer - Enhance /fix/restore and get more metadata on infotip and detail pane of Text/Document (txt, rtf, doc etc), Image (jpeg, bmp, png etc), Video (wmv, avi, 3gp etc), Exe, dll, ocx (activeX), and audio (mp3, wma etc) files etc on Windows Explorer:

3) EXIF Tag Editor and Tooltip (infotip) for Windows Explorer - EXIF/Metadata Editor for EXIF/RAW file in context menu, it's like MS PhotoInfo but more like Multimedia Tag Editor below (also in context menu properties). It adds new tab on Context menu properties so you can directly edit EXIF/metadata by using Xp Explorer context menu (Right Click -> Properties -> EXIF Tag Editor): As said above, To provide thumbnail, tooltip and metadata of RAW files in Windows Explorer, you can also install Microsoft RAW Image Thumbnailer and Viewer for Windows Xp to get the handlers (link above, 4) Multimedia Tag Editor and Tooltip (Explorer infotip), Edit and Preview MP3 Album Art Thumbnail Viewer and Tag Editor (ID3V1/ID3V2 Tags) on context menu for Windows Xp Explorer - Get more metadata on infotip on Xp Explorer by using mine - a customized version of free AudioShell For more metadata tooltip of MP3, MP4, WMA, WMV etc, as you can even insert your handsome picture as MP3 album art thumbnail by using it :lol: lol (Select Mp3 file -> Right Click -> Properties -> Multimedia Tag Editor -> Add Cover -> save to file -> Apply -> OK) such as for folder thumbnail view or as album art in WMP 11: And yes you can also preview album art thumbnail for MP3 files on context menu properties in Windows Explorer directly! Changes :

- Another Alternative Infotip Handler : (Infotip for binary executables and multimedia files: .exe, .dll, .ocx, .lnk, mp3, .wma, .ogg files...), "Infotag-special customized version": This "free customized version" of the free InfoTag Magic is a Windows Explorer infotip shell extension that provides pop-up text containing extra data stored (infotip/tooltip), when the mouse pointer is hovered over an .MP3, .WMA, .OGG Vorbis or Monkey's Audio file, shortcut (.LNK), as well as for executables (EXE, DLL, OCX) files. As a "customized version", it has no "ugly brand text info" on infotip such as "Provided by Infotag Magic" as you can see and no text preview for some based text file type (e.g. for .TXT, .BAT, .INI...) by default since i've felt that it's not better to see text preview of the file without also providing file property info itself (as that what infotip does usually show) for me etc. There's no installer or bell and whistle, only registering the single dll with batch file (by regsvr32 command), done, "fast, simple, and clean...". Works on 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 7 (Windows All):

- QT Tabbar: - As a free useful and well-known add on (tab bar and additional toolbar buttons, searchbar etc) for Windows XP Explorer (Btw please read the review), installing latest QT Tabbar will also give tooltip (infotip) with thumbnail previews and file properties info for each supported image file (jpeg, bmp, png,...etc) and also text file types when mouse hover (just like the almost similar infotip feature in Vista Windows PhotoGallery and Windows Live PhotoGallery applications btw...). It can be even extended by using some additional plug ins. You can even customize it by using: right click the QT tab bar -> Options -> Misc. -> "Show preview tooltip"...and so on...Get the latest version of QT Tabbar for free here: http://qttabbar.wikidot.com/ Screenshot of infotip previews by QTTabBar on Windows Explorer:

5) Microsoft Pro Photo Tools 2 - To edit and read more metadata (EXIF) of files, Microsoft also launched an application called Microsoft PhotoInfo (Now Pro Photo Tools, latest version 2). Very useful and recommended application, especially for photographers/artists and professional people who may need it:

Screenshot (courtessy: Softpedia and Author's):

6) Xp Built in Metadata/Tag Features: -> (Screenshots - credits to zunester.com) - Screenshot 3 (Xp Built in Metadata Editor (in Shell/context menu)-> Example: id3 tag editing in the Windows XP Shell):

- Screenshot 4 (Xp Detail View with some metadata info as well as detail pane, status bar, and infotip):

- Screenshot 5 (Customize Xp detail view with some metadata info as well as detail pane, status bar, and infotip):

  1. Microsoft QuickView ported to Xp and 2003: old but famous Windows 98/ME shell context menu viewer ported back to Xp (it's been enhanced and especially tweaked for Xp/2003). Download it from Here. Also the same link below.

Note: If you have WDS (Windows Desktop Search/Windows Search for Xp/Vista-not Default search companion) installed on Xp, then it can also index and show some metadata and previews by using same Ifilters and other handlers when you are searching the files as well as Vista (since Xp WDS technically has same engine with Vista one!)... List of Applications (from MS) that support metadata and Vista only metadata on Xp (i.e. Rating, etc) as both viewer and editor:

There is some of free 3rd Party File Attributes Editor for editing file and folder attributes (free, abandonware/unsupported but still cool) or just google for more. Work on Windows All (95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, Windows 7...).: - File Attribute Editor for Windows: Edit time stamp/time attribute of files and folders on Explorer's context menu:

**- Properties Plus:**A Folder/File Attribute Editor, An Explorer add on for editing folder and file attributes (e.g. Read Only, Hidden, Time Attributes etc) on context menu.

Recommended Link! : - Get Vista File Viewer (Vista Explorer Preview Pane) "ported" to Xp (for both Explorer and Desktop Search) HERE - Get Classic Windows 95-98 file viewer - QuickView "ported" to Xp HERE - List: Most Vista Applications and Features for Xp So Far (included Vista Apps Ported to Xp Etc) HERE -> Recommended for All Xp / 2003 Users! (Y) - Download (Collection) Free File Viewer Tools, Explorer Thumbnail Handlers, and Search Tools for Windows All (98, ME, 2000, Xp, 2003, Vista, 2008, and maybe Windows 7): http://www.4shared.com/dir/16848775/c90f5d..._and_Vista.html ==================================== (Updated) Just Added Some Tools for Windows Explorer to The Thread Here:

Some Free-Powerful Shell Extensions for Windows XP Explorer

(Recommended for XP - work on other OSes like 2003, Vista, or Windows 7 too)

You can also visit my original thread on Deviantart for more info, updates, etc here (Windows All): Most links are found here. http://amirsyahrani.deviantart.com/art/Great-Windows-Explorer-Tools-142913425 1. XP / 2003 Only: Enable XP / Common Visual Style on Some Controls of Loaded Shell Extensions For Free - An Important feature for Windows XP shell customization... (Especially 3rd parties) - in shell extensions or activex objects (e.g toolbar button / BHO, explorer bar, context menu items etc) in Windows Explorer, note must support / have InitCommonControls function, with link to comctl32 version 6 in XP/Vista or higher, and so on). For more info please see some documentations about it on MSDN: e.g http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb775695(VS.85).aspx and http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms997646.aspx (Look, if you have Vista / WIndows 7 then you will notice that Vista / 7 has already improved/enabled the feature natively, by default. You would also get the feature by installing Window Blinds on XP, but it's not free though...). To get the visual feature on XP and 2003 as default (M$ didn't do it for "some political reason" lol), on any shell extensions (especially 3rd party, if supported) visually without installing or patching any file, especially when on non-classic theme, just simply put / copy the explorer.exe.manifest (external manifest file) to Windows Directory to enable the feature without tampering explorer.exe itself or any system file (just take advantage of its "hidden" native feature instead). Easy to do that, without any special skill or "hacking" and programming language at all, lol that's it. It's safe and not harmful at all, would make XP shell looks better. You can safely delete it easily anytime if you dont want it anymore. Useful for both dev and user. Very small size (download explorer.exe.manifest for only less than 1 KB lol!) For Example: A. Before applying manifest (oldy):

(Click to enlarge) B. After applying manifest (better look):

(Click to enlarge) Download it Here (With Guide & Batch Files etc): (and just put it on Windows Directory (%Windir% or C:\Windows, then restart Explorer/Windows to see the changes) http://www.4shared.com/file/146116163/39c2b651/Visual_Manifest_for_XP_Explorer_Shell_Extension.html Or Just Download explorer.exe.manifest file only: http://www.4shared.com/file/146169885/abb0c923/explorerexe.html Alternatively you can also copy this code and save it as .manifest file named "explorer.exe.manifest" using Notepad:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0"><assemblyIdentity version="1.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" name="CompanyName.ProductName.YourApp" type="win32"/><description>Your application description here.</description><dependency><dependentAssembly> <assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*" /> </dependentAssembly></dependency></assembly>

You can also use it with any "MyApp" app with myapp.exe executable file for similar purpose as well (if supported, with above requirements e.g has link to comctl32 and so on), just rename it myapp.exe.manifest (following the executable name) and put it as external file in the same directory e.g in MyApp folder). To get the same result on control panel extension/applets (.cpl), since .cpl is actually a dll that is running by using rundll32.exe, then just use same manifest file (renamed to "rundll32.exe.manifest") and copy it to C:\Windows\system32. You may need to restart Windows (or the service) before the change appears. Download (complete): http://www.4shared.com/file/153774846/19cdeadc/Visual_Manifest_for_XP_Control_Panel_Extension.html Or download rundll32.exe.manifest file only: http://www.4shared.com/file/153775143/deca42b9/rundll32exe.html 2. "New Folder" Button in XP Explorer Toolbar / Command Bar (just like Windows 7): Actually Windows XP already has its own "Make a new folder" button too, to create a new folder in Windows Explorer (it's located in XP Webview Panel/Common Task Pane, see screenshot: http://img243.imageshack.us/i/standardxpnewfolderbutt.jpg/ ), but yeah some people would love it's on the explorer toolbar as well as Open/Save dialog box (and just like Windows 7 RTM Explorer now). Hopefully useful for you... Since Baxbex new folder offered only old Windows 98 style icon (not matching with new XP visual style) see: http://www.baxbex.com/images/shoots/bxnewfolder.html'>http://www.baxbex.com/images/shoots/bxnewfolder.html , then you can just download this free add on for new folder button in XP Explorer Toolbar (my created-skinned/reshacked bxnewfolder with Vista / 7 style icon etc) + using hotkey and floating dialog box, + external manifest file (explorer.exe.manifest) to enable XP / Visual style on some controls as above. Fully functional and working as well. See online screenshots: http://img263.imageshack.us/i/newfolderbuttoninxpexpl.jpg/ and http://img263.imageshack.us/i/cleanerusefuldialogboxa.jpg/ -> Screenshots of "New Folder" button on XP Explorer Toolbar: (Sorry can't display more larger images here for some technical reason):

A. Vista / 7 style icon new folder on XP Toolbar:

(Click to enlarge)

B. Creating new folder on XP Explorer:

(Click to enlarge) C. Creating new folder dialog box - useful and cleaner UI with XP / Vista visual style:

Download it Here:

Hopefully still useful especially for XP users here (works on 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003..., while it has only dialog box and hotkey on Vista and 7 though). By the way, since this one is just using the same library from baxbex new folder (it's freeware, all credits and thanks to Baxbex), and most people had complaint about that they were not able to reshack the app using Resource Hacker / any res editor to change the original "old" Windows 98 style icon etc in the bx toolbar, actually it's because the file (activeX dll) was encrypted and compressed (packed) with 3rd party PE compressor (e.g UPX, Execryptor...), after checking it by PEid then i found it that was Aspack 2.12 and then decided to unpack it, (note: not all app binaries can work properly after they are unpacked, so it's also necessary to dissassembly, dump and rebuild the PE headers, some fixes and rechecks etc) until the dll was registered fine, finally the little work was kinda like reverse engineering rather than just reshacking lol. And since it was unpacked (uncompressed), the size become little bigger of course lol although there's no problem with it, anyway i wish they would also update the app in near future, soon... Updated: If you already have standard/original Baxbex New Folder application installed: http://www.baxbex.com/ , then you can also just download this smaller patch only to get Vista style icon (would also give the similar result): http://www.4shared.com/file/152692792/57222e19/Baxbex_New_Folder-Vista_Icon__Patch_Only_.html 3. FolderBox for Windows Explorer (Unpacked too/Skinned/skinnable): A free application that displays additional folders (window) in the lower part of Windows Explorer, displays the contents of two folders or more, useful and cool (with Windows 98 icons though). So i just changed some few UI features of it (unpacked and res-edited like BxNewFolder above, "fixed" text, enabled "dead" icons and so on...). a free application that displays additional folders (window) in the lower part of Windows Explorer, displays the contents of two folders or more, very useful. Since it's already unpacked, you may customize the icons yourself if you want later, by using any capable delphi res editor e.g PE Explorer. At least it's still better than original look imo, + also enabled (some) XP visual common controls as said above, works well on Vista and Windows 7 as well as Windows XP: Screenshot:

(Click to enlarge) Edit/Updated: Beside the standard one, i've just added FolderBox with Vista Icons (on its toolbar - see screenshots), sorry just got them for free (free Vista toolbar icons, 100% legal). Just like the standard one, FolderBox with Vista icons will work well on all Windows versions: 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, and Windows 7 without any problem so far: Screenshot of FolderBox (with Vista icons) on XP and Windows 7:

(Click to enlarge) Download it here: http://www.4shared.com/file/145993156/b890321e/Baxbex_FolderBox_Unpacked-Skinned.html Again this FolderBox version works on Windows all: 98, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7...all credits to Baxbex for the free original apps (just skinned them). Updated: If you already have standard/original Baxbex FolderBox application installed: http://www.baxbex.com/ , then you can also just download this smaller patch only to get Vista style icons (would also give the similar result): https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip 4. Another Useful File Viewer for XP Explorer With Preview Pane (just like Vista / Windows 7 feature): Preview any file on Windows Explorer (text, documents, images, multimedia audio-video, compressed binaries etc) without using the default application, easy and faster: Screenshot:

(Click to enlarge) Updated: it's already included a patch to get Vista style icons too (optional) now, in the same download package below: Download it here: http://www.4shared.com/file/145080698/fe089106/File_Preview_Program_for_Windows_Explorer.html OS: Windows XP, 2003, Vista, Windows 7...(Windows All). You can also please visit my thread here for more options etc: http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19634-get-windows-vista-like-explorer-and-search-preview-pane-for-xp/ - Added Here: Some other free "special" shell extension-based tools/apps that might be useful for you (file viewers and metadata properties tools etc) here: Download links: - EXIF tooltip & tag editor on context menu : - Thumbnail for text files on Windows Explorer : - Vista Explorer preview pane for XP (File viewer-Complete) : http://www.4shared.com/file/58042204/7195bc4a/Vista__Explorer_Preview_Pane_for_Xp.html - MacOSX/Leopard-style Coverflow (AKA Quicklook) for Windows Explorer (directory, file content, & thumbnail viewer etc): Explorer Coverflow for Windows by Vemod - Edit: there are still "afew issues" with Vista/7 though, also seems it's not quite stable on XP. Anyhow it's still free and working, and seems the app itself is still under development/being developed...(thanks to my friend Kyosan for the info btw). Note: XP/2003: You need administrator rights to install the shell extensions. Vista/Windows 7: Make sure you always install/register/run "as administrator" (self explanatory)...

Links to lots of the stuff above: https://archive.org/details/other-tools-explorer PS : Please feel free to redistribute them/re-upload/share the download links etc... ...Anyway good luck, sorry for my very bad English lol hopefully useful for you, cya......  Edited July 8, 2010 10:22 AM (MDT) by AMIRZ

https://github.com/ibay770/explorertools/releases/download/test/Great.Tools.for.Windows.Explorer.zip