Windows file explorer will not display menu bar

[papapaul]

Windows file explorer will not display the menu bar!
I have tried the Alt key. I have the display menu box checked.
I have followed posts checking the registry settings. Nothing
has worked.

I have not found any posts about this exact problem.

I am not sure exactly when the menu bar stoped displaying but
I would say within the last month or two. Posible update issue.

I can't help but think it's a registry setting but I have not
been able to locate it.

The IE8 menu bar works fine.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

 

[keyboard]

Try this link-http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962963

 

[papapaul]

Thanks for the link.

The HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar
itself did not contain "ITBarLayout" so I looked under the "ShellBrowser" and nothing there.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Paul, and welcome to Vista Forums.

One the methods in the tutorial below may be able to help you enable the Menu bar.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/92073-menu-bar.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[papapaul]

Thanks Brink,

When I performed the registry edit, in step 5 of the link, I did not get
the explorer menu bar back but the menu option under organize-Layout
went away. When I undid the edit it returned.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Paul.

I've updated METHOD FOUR & FIVE. Please try either one again to see if it may help.

 

[papapaul]

Brink,

I used method 4 this time, after reviewing what it would change, and
the bad news is that it did not bring the menu up, the good news is
that it did not remove the menu check box under Organize-Layout.


Thanks for the suggestions. I appreciate the help.

 

[Brink]

Are you able to have the Menu bar display in Windows Explorer using the Organize-Layout setting?

 

[papapaul]

Brink,

No.
So far I have been unable to get the menu bar to display in windows explorer.
Alt key, menu check box under Organize-Layout, a variaty of registry edits, etc,
nothing has worked.

Papapaul

 

[Brink]

As a test, create a new administrator account to see if it works properly while logged on to it. If it does work properly, then copy all of the contents of the old user account's C:\Users\(user-name) folders (including hidden AppData folder) into the corresponding new account's C:\Users\(user-name) folder. After everything checks out ok, you can delete the old user account while logged in the new user account.

If it doesn't, then you could do a repair install without losing anything.

 

[papapaul]

Brink,

No joy with another administrator account, my administrator account or the system administrator account.

As far as a repair-install goes, my system was loaded from an first generation origonal DVD, and has 8gig memory quad four processor, Areca raid controller, and dual head high end video controller. I do a little video production
for a church.
I don't like it, but for the sake of a menu bar I think I'll have to
pass on any kind of repair-install.

Thanks

 

[Brink]

Well, I suppose that you could search the registry using the Find and Find Next option for either the AlwaysShowMenus and AlwaysShowClassicMenu to see if they may be at a different location the default locations in the REG files. Delete any AlwaysShowClassicMenu entry if finds, and Modify (right click on) any AlwaysShowMenus if finds to give it a 1 for it's data.

Be sure to create a restore point first incase you make a mistake and need to do a system restore to undo it.

 

[papapaul]

Brink,

I did the search you suggested. The AlwaysShowMenus were all set to 1,
and I deleted the two AlwaysShowClassicMenu entries. Unfortunately it did
not bring the menu bar up...

Thanks for your help.

Paul

 

[Brink]

Well, other than a repair install, do you have a restore point dated before the menu bar went missing?

 

[keyboard]

Try enabling it once from the group policy editor.Here is the link.Try it once.

Make File Menu Bar Display Permanent In Windows Explorer In Windows 7 and Vista

 

[papapaul]

keyboard,

Thanks for the suggestion.

I enabled it from the group policy editor, No menu.

I don't know if it is normal but the menu check box
under Organize-Layout is gone. As well as the one
under Folders and Search options, View tab.

Paul

---------------------------------------------------------

brink,

As far as rolling back to a previous restore point just for
the menu bar, I have in the last month loaded and updated
major video and grahics software packages and the menu
bar is just not critical enough to do all the reloads.

Thanks again.

Paul

 

[keyboard]

This may not sound that techinical.Any way try it once.Now go back to the group policy editor,

1,After you select the "Display the menu bar in window explorer"

2.Select "Not configured"-Then click OK or Apply

3.Now dont close the Box

4.Then select again "enabled"-Click ok or apply.

Now check it if the menu is back.

 

[papapaul]

keyboard,

I did as you seggested with negative results, No menu.

Paul

---------------------------------------------------------
Anyone,

I am now wondering if it might be my explorer.exe file itself?

On a Vista Ultimate 64 up to date install what should be the correct version
and date of the explorer.exe file and where should the file be located?

I did a search for explorer.exe and was supprised to see it in
so many locations and with a variaty of versions and creation dates!

Paul

 

[Jacee]

Until you can figure out what happened, use Explorer Plus Plus .... works a treat Explorer++ - A small and fast file manager for Windows

 

[keyboard]

Click this link.And try it once. Explorer Tips Scroll down to "Restore a missing menu Bar" All the best.