Option to replace backspace functionality in explorer

Start menu and Windows enhancement software

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#10 Option to replace backspace functionality in explorer

Status: closed

Owner: nobody

Labels: None

Priority: 5

Updated: 2012-10-29

Created: 2010-01-06

Creator: mss

Private: No

One of my top 3 annoyances in windows 7 is the change in the functionality of the backspace button.
In windows xp it was "folder up", don't know about vista, but in windows 7 it has been replaced with "history back".
Yes I know it's possible to press ALT+ARROW UP to do a "folder up", but I really really really don't like that.
"history back" and "history forth" is and was working perfectly fine with ALT+ARROW LEFT and ALT+ARROW RIGHT in all windows versions and several developer tools that I use all the time, I simply don't understand why MS did this change, actually I first thought it was a bug.
If it's simple to replace the functionality of the back button in explorer then I think it would be a great option to include in Classic Shell.

Discussion

Ivo Beltchev - 2010-01-06

I don't believe it is possible to override that from a shell extension.

Maybe you will have success with a resource editor. Have a look at this file - "C:\Windows\System32\en-US\browseui.dll.mui" (replace en-US with your language). Try messing with the accelerator table with ID 256. For example in my Vista version the Alt+Up produces command 40994 and Backspace (VK_BACK) is 41010. Maybe if you replace the number 41010 with 40994 it will work.

Of course messing with a live DLL is not easy. You have to rename the original while it is in use, bring in the replacement, then reboot.

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mss - 2010-01-06

Thanks a lot Ivo for pointing me in that direction, I'll certainly try to mess with it later tonight!

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Charlie - 2011-04-09

what resource editor do you suggest..... you probably could use the shell installer to "update" (patch?) the file.

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Charlie - 2011-04-09

there are resource editors that come with Visual studio 2010, one specifically made for editing accelerators...
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ac6d7wde.aspx
but surely a free editor one out there?

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Anonymous - 2011-04-09

Last edit: Anonymous 2016-01-10

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Charlie - 2011-04-09

i am curious about the first guy's method, and autohotkey is not entirely foolproof....

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Charlie - 2011-04-09

there is a 30day trial program called Resource Tuner
here i was able to modify it....

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