The navigation buttons of the Windows explorer are stored in the system file explorerframe.dll. If you want to change your navigation buttons, you’ll have to replace the explorerframe.dll, on Windows 7 64-bit even twice!
Explorerframe.dll Location
Let’s first see where the explorerframe.dll is stored.
Windows 7 32-bit:
C:/Windows/System32/explorerframe.dll
Windows 7 64-bit:
C:/Windows/System32/explorerframe.dll
C:/Windows/SysWoW64/explorerframe.dll
Replacing Explorerframe.dll
We have some very exhaustive guides that will explain you how to replace system files in Windows 7. They will show you how to do it step-by-step:
Nonetheless, I want to give you a quick overview how to replace the explorerframe.dll quickly:
1. Step Run elevated command prompt
2. Step Take ownership of the file via Takeown explorerframe.dll:
Enter: takeown /f explorerframe.dll
3. StepGive yourself permissions: Full control
Browse to the file via explorer. Right-click on explorerframe.dll and click on Properties. Go to the tab Security. Click on Edit. Select your username and check the option Full control and confirm with Apply.
4. Step If you are on WIndows 7 64-bit do the same for the explorerframe.dll in SysWOW64!
5. Step You can now replace both explorerframe.dll. Simply rename the explorerframe.dll and then you can copy the explorerframe.dll that you want to use instead into the folder.
This link — How to replace system files is broken …
Correct link
http://windows7themes.net/how-to-replace-system-files-in-windows-7.html
thanks man
I am Admin but the System says i cant take this ownership because the User that logged has not the Rights to do this ^^ But i am logged in as Admin and has no other Accounts on PC.
When I try to replace the explorerframe.dll, it says “The action can’t be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program.” I’ve done this before, and it has worked all the other times. Can you please help me?
If you have one available try booting from a “Live” CD-ROM or USB based OS such Hiren’s Boot CD (mini XP) or even Ubuntu Linux and you should be able to easily replace the files in your Win7 OS. There are various “Live” OS’s readily found on the ‘net for download….
I’ve done this and now explorer.exe fails to start when I log in…
For 64 bit – does one need to be 64 bit and the other 32 bit or what?
I wanted to add a correction after running into a problem with this tutorial. You should clarify that on x64 (64-bit) system, the version of ExplorerFrame.dll that should be played in SysWOW64 is the x86 (32-bit) version, NOT the x64 version. Placing a 64-bit ExplorerFrame.dll into SysWOW64 will break almost all file explorer dialogs (and possibly other things) in 32-bit applications.
SysWOW64 is Windows’ multi-lib directory, meaning it holds 32-bit DLLs to provide compatibility for 32-bit applications. It should never contain anything 64-bit.
Whoa, thank you so much Neffi, I think I have made the same mistake before (put 64 bit dll in sysWOW64) and it completely stuffed my computer. Had to do a full restore. Was about to try replace the dll again and definately would have stuffed up if not for your post.
Thankyou so much!!
ERROR while taking ownership:
ERROR: the current logged on user does not have ownership previleges on the file
ERROR: the current logged on user does not have ownership previleges on the file
SomeOne Help :(
Sam, are you logged in as administrator? If not, make sure to use an admin account.
Then open an elevated command prompt and try performing the operations via the command prompt. This is always the best solution
e.g. google the commands copy, move and cd and you’re good to go
Would be like this move explorerframe.dll explorerframe.dll.bak
However, before you do that you should also look into sfc.exe, which we outlined here:
http://windows7themes.net/en-us/how-to-repair-windows-7-sytem-files/
For all those,who can’t gain the access to the file,make sure that you ran your command prompt by clicking on it with the right mouse button and choosing “Run as administrator”.Then take the steps from the tutorial.