How to disable "bread crumbs" in Windows Vista
One of the more popular "improvements" in Windows Vista is the inclusion of "bread crumbs" in Windows Explorer. Instead of the old fashioned "c:\program files\mozilla\firefox" addresses, Windows Vista provides you with a series of triangles. Click on one to get a list of folders you can visit.Up until now, there's been no way to revert to the old address bar. Sure, if you click on the address box, it shows up. But as soon as you click away, it's gone. If you can't stand bread crumbs, you were out of luck. But not anymore.
Andreas Verhoeven has developed a little utility that lets you disable bread crumbs. All you have to do is download and unzip the file, double click on AveNoBreadCrumb.exe and open a new explorer window. Your bread crumbs should be gone. Double clicking again will restore them.












Comments
9
Subscribe to commentsRyan WagnerAug 9th 2007 10:28PM
I think that the breadcrumbs in Vista's Windows Explorer is a great addition, and definitely not something I would want to disable. With that being said I'm a little surprised there isn't a simple checkbox to remove the feature in the options.
DrWatsonAug 9th 2007 10:28PM
Interesting, unfortunately that only decreases the functionality of the new explorer. Without the button to go to the parent folder (as in the old explorer) and without the bread crumbs, we are forced to navigate using the horrendous new tree view on the left side. Can you now put the "go to parent" button and the old tree view back? No, installing XP doesn't count as a solution :)
RonAug 9th 2007 10:28PM
I'd much rather have someone come up with breadcrumbs for explorer in XP. I had to many other issues with Vista(drivers, scanners, network) so I had to roll back to XP. The new Explorer is the one feature I really miss.
JohnAug 9th 2007 10:28PM
Here you go, Ron.
http://www.mcox.com/2007/08/get-vista-like-explorer-breadcrumbs-on.html
NoelAug 10th 2007 8:17AM
Hi john, thanks for the great link. Extended the life of my XP......
Blog JonesAug 10th 2007 8:17AM
Dude, people, check this out. Open up My Documents. Single-click on the breadcrumb bar, on the far right, away from any of the breadcrumbs.
Voila. The old-timey address bar. No third-party software required, and you get the convenience of BOTH options at the same time.
Jarrett KaufmanAug 10th 2007 11:55AM
I don't see much of a reason not to use the breadcrumbs. It's an extremely convenient method of navigating your folders.
RonAug 10th 2007 1:11PM
John, fantastic. Thanks, just what I was looking for.
rufusAug 11th 2007 10:01PM
this feature is so great on Vista, Apple might as well copy it and include it in their own system!
... oh wait
no use in being smug...