XP TASK PANE FOR FILE EXPLORER - PUBLIC BETA

IMPORTANT: TASK PANE NOT APPEARING?

In File Explorer, open View > Navigation pane and untick
Navigation pane. Close File Explorer, then open it again.


BEFORE INSTALLING

This Task Pane assumes that you have already completed the File
Explorer portions of the Windows XP customization tutorial and the
matching File Explorer instructions on the 0sugar release page.

Tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-KA8RDZ-l4

You do not need to follow unrelated parts about browsers, games, or
other XP applications. Only the File Explorer setup is needed.


WHAT THIS PACKAGE ADDS

This package adds a functional Windows XP-style Task Pane to File
Explorer.

It includes:

- Location-aware File and Folder Tasks
- System Tasks
- Picture Tasks
- Music Tasks
- Other Places shortcuts
- Selection-aware Details
- XP-style animations
- A watcher for newly opened File Explorer windows
- A helper for XP-style drive title placement


INSTALLING THE TASK PANE

1. Run "1 - Install XP Task Pane.cmd".

2. Approve the administrator prompt.

3. Run "2 - Apply XP Drive Appearance.cmd".

4. Close every File Explorer window, then open a new one.

5. If the Task Pane does not appear, open
   View > Navigation pane and untick Navigation pane.
   Close File Explorer, then open it again.


Windhawk is required only if you want the complete visual package,
including the XP ribbon corner and XP selection effects.

For the complete visual package, install this Windhawk catalog mod:

Classic Explorer navigation bar
Mod ID: explorer-frame-classic

Open the mod's Settings and select:

Explorer style: Classic ribbon UI (no tabs)

Save the setting and restart File Explorer.

Then follow:

Documentation\README - Windhawk Setup.txt


WHAT THE INSTALLER DOES

The installer:

- Copies the Task Pane to:
  C:\Program Files\XP Task Pane for File Explorer

- Registers the Explorer bar component.

- Sets the XP Task Pane width.

- Creates clean default settings.

- Starts the Task Pane watcher with Windows.

- Starts the drive-title helper with Windows.

- Saves logs and previous-install backups under:
  C:\ProgramData\XP Task Pane for File Explorer

The installer does not install Windhawk, WindowBlinds,
ExplorerPatcher, Open-Shell, or other shell-customization software.


USING THE TASK PANE

- Right-click the blue Task Pane background to open Settings.

- "Close XP Task Pane" closes it for the current Explorer window.

- The watcher remembers the intended Task Pane and navigation-pane
  behavior for future Explorer windows.

- Settings controls whether the normal folder tree can appear beside
  the XP Task Pane.

- Website, email, and Soulseek destinations are located under the
  Customization tab.

- If no Soulseek path is saved, "Shop for music online" opens the
  Soulseek website.


USING THE TASK PANE AND FOLDER TREE TOGETHER

Open Task Pane Settings and enable:

Allow XP Task Pane and navigation pane side by side

You can then turn File Explorer's Navigation pane back on.

With this option disabled, the folder tree temporarily replaces the
XP Task Pane, matching normal Windows XP behavior.


REPAIRING THE TASK PANE

Run "Repair XP Task Pane.cmd".

Repair restores missing or damaged files, registration, and startup
entries. It does not erase your existing Task Pane preferences.


REMOVING THE TASK PANE

Run "Uninstall XP Task Pane.cmd".

This unregisters the Explorer component, removes its startup entries
and Task Pane settings, and restores the saved drive appearance.

Windhawk mods must be disabled or removed inside Windhawk separately.


RESTORING NORMAL WINDOWS DRIVE TEXT

Run "Restore Windows Drive Appearance.cmd".

This restores the drive information that existed before the XP drive
appearance command was used.


IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG

Read:

Documentation\README - Troubleshooting.txt

Use "Repair XP Task Pane.cmd" before repeatedly restarting Explorer,
RetroBar, or the entire Windows shell.


BETA NOTE

This is a public beta built for the supported Windows 11 File Explorer
setup described above. Unsupported Explorer replacements, DPI layouts,
and third-party shell combinations may behave differently.

Readable source is included for inspection and experimentation.
Advanced modifications are user-supported.
