My Windows Explorer keeps crashing on my WIndows 11 and it's getting a tad annoying now. It crashes at least once a day, despite the laptop being kept updated, and pretty clean in terms of being looked after and not cluttered with bloatware etc. The final straw for me is when trying to copy over a 1.8TB data load from one drive to another to keep as a disconnected physical backup, but Explorer keeps crashing before it's copied over, meaning I have to restart and have no confidence in telling it to skip already copied files as I don't know what's happened when it crashed, i.e. whether it was part-copied files it thinks exist already in full or not.

Anyway, I'm just curious if anyone is using any alternatives and wondering what the options are?

 

I use FastCopy to move large amount of stuff between my drives.

https://fastcopy.jp/

 

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Last edited by a moderator: Feb 28, 2023

i use xyplorer. i like the 2-pane norton commander view, but its possible to quickly switch to single pane. and its configurable, in any possible way. macros, shortcuts, special views... as you like and need it. i got it from sisters site, btw
but: imho your problems with the explorer crashs are a deeper problem of your system. you could exchange wins standard explorer to something different, but i dont believe your problems are gone then.

 

Total Commander

 

All above, or Explorer++, portable too.
However, it's not a good sign if the system file explorer crashes.
Teracopy also verifies copied files and can skip all written.
A backup sw is maybe tha best thing to check for different files, see Syncback, but many others are good.

 

I use portable x/y.

 

Directory Opus. It's not cheap (unless, you know), but I've been using it since its Amiga days, I'd be lost without it now.

 

I've been using XYplorer for the past several years. (Actually since I upgraded from Windows XP to Windows 7.)

 

Hey, Win11 Explorer has tabs at least! Not that it's any better, but if you augment it with PowerToys and QuickLook it's passable.

I personally use OneCommander, the basic version is free, though the pro license is something like 15€, well worth it in my opinion. Two panes, column layout if you want it. Easily navigatible with keyboard. Integrates with Seer and/or QuickLook (just tap spacebar) for quick previews (can't live without it), and you can set TeraCopy for default file copying/moving. Then I use PowerToys Run to quickly launch apps (Alt+space) then Everything for instant search (mapped to Win+alt+space).

If you're not scared of the command line and need to move/backup/sync a lot of data (or want to script it), then rsync is a solid choice, though Microsoft's own "robocopy" (yeah, terrible terrible name) is a good command line tool, though being MS it has it's own weird bizarre things going on.

But all of the replacements mentioned here are worth trying it out, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these.

 

Came here to vote for Directory Opus as well, used in on my amiga 4000 developers machine, Best bit of software on the best computer ever.

Just updated to V12 a few weeks ago as well.

 

For moving small large amount of files (ex move Arturia data) use FastCopy as first comment state.

 

Wot's Windows Explorer?

I'm using Total Commander only, for ages now, never had a problem. It could take a bit time to adjust the look and how it works to your personal needs, but that's probably the case for all these tools.
And you can use it for free forever - if you want that.

 

XYPlorer for the last two years. Can't imagine I could work without it.

 

I Used Terracopy until i met FastCopy, does everything terra does but absolutly never fails and it is as simple as
STrg C, but, does a quick winmerge + sync
its faster and it could be faster still, you got to check it out ;)

Directory Opus is quite fantastic
The customization is extensive, works without just fine.

 

I'm shocked it took them this long. I've been using Clover for many years (even though it's a bit sketchy) and could never go back to Explorer without tabs and bookmarks.

Thanks for the tip. I didn't come across this when looking for a Clover/Explorer replacement with tabs. I'll test it out, but I rely heavily on Clover's bookmarks/favorites toolbar so that could be a deal-breaker.

 

Last edited: Jan 24, 2023

Me too, but didnt find any 100% working version since 11.17 from 2015, so it's getting old ...

 

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 24, 2023

Directory Opus is the best but pirating it was hell for me