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Microsoft decided to hide the menus in Windows Vista Windows Explorer, but you can easily bring them back. To see them immediately, press the Alt key. To bring them back permanently, follow these quick steps:
1. Bring up Windows Explorer — say, choose Start --> Documents.
You see the Vista Windows Explorer window.
2. Press Alt.
You get your menus back, momentarily.
3. Choose Tools --> Folder Options. Click View.
You see the View tab.
4. Check the box marked Always Show Menus.
While you're here, you might also want to check the box marked Display the Full Path in the Title Bar (Classic Folders Only). If you check that box and use Alt+Tab to "cool switch" among running programs, Vista shows you the full path name for any Windows Explorer dialog boxes that are open. No biggie, but kinda cool.
5. WAIT! Don't click OK yet. Leave the Folder Options dialog open for the moment, and continue reading.
Microsoft made a horrible design decision — no, call it a mistake — when they decided that filename extensions were too complicated for the typical Windows user. (Filename extensions are those letters at the end of a filename — like, oh, the .doc in BadDecision.doc or the .vbs in ImAVirusAndImGonnaGetYou.txt.vbs.)
Hogwash. The confusing part comes when you don't show filename extensions and all of a sudden you bump into a situation in which you need them.
Here's how to get your filename extensions back — and make Vista show you its hidden files and folders at the same time:
1. If you haven't done so already, follow Steps 1–5 above, to bring up the Folder Options View tab.
2. Select the option marked Show Hidden Files and Folders.
3. Uncheck the box marked Hide Extensions for Known File Types, and -- if you know what you're doing (and won't become suddenly seized with the notion that you should delete system files) -- uncheck the box marked Hide Protected Operating System Files (Recommended).
Vista bellyaches that deleting or editing your system files can make your computer inoperable. Click the button that says, Well, Yes, but Enabling Automatic Updates Can Make My Computer Inoperable, Too, You Stupid Machine. Or something like that.
4. Click OK.
Your system's seat back is now in its normal, upright position.
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