royranger, Windows and its own apps/services change the registry all the time, so it doesn't mean that if RegShot reports registry changes, the app is not portable. You need to analyze it a little more to find out if the registry changes were due to the app itself, or something else. If you want to discuss this further, please post your RegShot output in the forum.

I used this Windows Explorer replacement for months until I found XYplorer - free version. XYplorer has more of a Windows Explorer look and feel plus tons of extras. One thing I tried to get the author of freeCommander to do was to include all drive letters in the left pane tree view, as Windows Explorer does. He has not seen fit to do this - a major drawback for some of us. This would be a simple fix. There are also a few other little issues, such as file compare automatically restarting after each file change - with no way to stop it. Should be an option to 'Do not recompare after synchronization'

It's quite a useful app and potentially is a Windows Explorere killer. However, I have to agree with GBJ. Until drive letters are included, it is of little use to me. Shame.

This is fantastic. The best explorer replacement I have tried (of many).

I agree with GBJ - a "Do not recompare after synchronization" option would be very handy.

This is one of the best explorer replacements I've tried anywhere, free or commercial.

I can't say about the tree view as it's something I always dispose of as soon as possible anyway and for synchronization I always use Dsynchronize.
I do find it a lot less of a resource hog than Xyplorer even if it isn't quite as pretty

Having more column types to choose from (date created, dimensions, bit rate, etc) would be nice. And why is it that when sorting columns it only applies to files and not folders? And what about having "Size of directory" as an option instead of having to click the "Size of directory" button every time FC is started?

Can anyone tell me how I would set FC to be the default file manager in Windows instead of Explorer?

Probably the best 'portable' file manager i've seen. I use it all the time instead of the 'Window$' file manager, (which i find worse than useless).
I'd reccomend it to everyone.

Best File Commander who exist, also better than TotalCommander and all others!

I still use Servant Salamander 1.52 (even though it's not truly portable). It's still a great two-pane file manager, not bad when you consider that it's written back in 1998.

It really deppends what you want in a file manager / Windows Explorer replacement. If you like the look and feel of the older Windows Explorer, there is nothing that can compare with XYplorer. There is a free version, but the commercial version is reasonably priced and has options that boggle the imagination. For the real Windows pro and novice alike.

Explorer Portable killers:
-xplorer2: Multi-tabbed Dual Pane. One of the best suited in features and design. A must have on Vista. Easily made portable.
-XYplorer is a really good choice, too, with features others don't have. Portable
- Explorer on its own with QTTabBar.
- UltraExplorer Portable, Dual Pane easy management.
All have in common the Machine\Drives\Boxed Folders, without which no file manager is worthy.

Just a quick note, in case you don't read the forum posts--
I use and love FC, but the new toolbars are a little buggy, and when I customise them, they move and/or shrink themselves. I'm hoping the developer will issue a patch, but historically, the fix will come in the next beta that is only available to users who have donated. (donation gives lifetime access to all future betas).

Other new features in this release (multi-rename, ftp, etc) more than make up for the toolbar glitches.

check out nexusFile - cool interface and great features.

xplorer2 made portable with an NSIS launcher - integrated in portableapps folder for those who know this - is a dual pane AND tabbed browser with a lot of features embedded.
And, question of taste, it doesn't have this old look and feel of FC. Last but not least: he's super fast on Vista.

It's very slow on Vista. Also when I tried to launch an excel document, it crashed, on top of that, it does not release the use of memory.

Other than that, it's very easy to get familiar with the UI. Hope the author can fix the problem soon. Will keep watching.

The actual version is the best portable Explorer replacement i have seen, especially because it has a special version for the PortableApps Suite. In this version the changing start directorys are supported.

total commander, anyone ????
it's free, portable, and works great.

Total Commander is shareware. Why are you hyping other apps on the comments section for this app? Spam.

Best dual panel manager ever seen.
Support FTP too. Love this awesome proggie.
Has the same features as TotalCommander except some plugins of Ultima Prime.

I used this program for a while on my Win2K machine and liked it. When I put it on my WinXP machine it crashed several times. Anyone have similar problems. Otherwise I like it.

There should be Desktop -button next to drive letters no question.
A bit slow to start up.

A critical question:
Does FreeCommander enable launching executable files, by mouse-click inside its panels? For instance, assuming one does double-click on a *.pdf or a *.xls file (inside a FreeCommander panel) does this automatically launch the PDF reader or the Excel application to the efect of opening that *.pdf or *.xls file?
Thanks in advance and please do apologize my English!

does_it_launch: I just tested the version of FC I'm using and it supports double-clicking to launch to your default viewer/editor. It also allows right-click menu "open with" selection.

Free Commander would be MY choice if the programmer would include a way to see all drives. That's really a poor choice NOT to have an option to show ALL drives in the tree. Also, how many trees do we need? One tree on the left or option right, or better yet, option for middle column would be great, and easy to do.

Tow main problems with Free Commander:
1. Cannot see all drives in the tree view--WTF?
2. Option to have ONE tree that operates both panes.

Showing all drives on the tree would exclude the need for tabs at the too and drive letters, as these would be redundant with a tree that shows your "Computer.".

Does anyone know that if there is any "undo" function? I found that there is no way to undo changes. I think it should be a must-have. :(

FreeCommander is simply the best dual panel manager: is free, portable, and fully customizable. Tabbed interface
Optional tree view for each panel, built in file viewer to view files in hex, binary, text or image format.
File viewer inside archives too.
Built in archive handling: ZIP (read, write), CAB (read, write), RAR (read.
Nested archive handling
Built in FTP client
Easy access to system folders, control panel, desktop and start menu.
Copy, move, delete, rename files and folders
Multi rename tool; Wipe files; Create and verify MD5 checksums; File splitting; File properties and context menu
Calculation of folder size; Folder comparison / synchronization
Modification of file date and attributes
Folder / program favorites
File searching (inside archive too)
File filters for display. User defined columns for detailed view. DOS command line. Multiple language support.
Also works with many Lister Plugins of TotalCommander.
Indeed THE BEST!

YES, as some people have already suggested: TREEVIEW need the original windows explorer-like view with DESKTOP, MY DOCUMENTS and ALL DRIVES view. The, and only then it is an alternative to DOPUS which is very prone to crashes.

I use one Windows Explorer replacement since Windows 3.1. It's compatible with any version of Windows. It's called total Commander. I don't remember when I started stinky Windows Explorer for the last several years!
Get here to download truly portable application for USB (free) and get one for your desktop (very inexpensive):
http://www.ghisler.com
If you look how many built-ins there you will be amazed!

Don't waste your time (or money) on this one. Poor support and very slow in getting updates out. Look at their website forum and known bugs section. Some have these have been there for years.

I love this program!

I can set a program to open the selected file(s) by pressing "F4" (edit) - to have it act as portable file associations.

Then, by adding a "favorite tool", I can easily integrate FreeCommander with other programs.

For example, my video files open with VLC when I press F4, and I have a MediaInfo (http://www.portablefreeware.com/?id=884) as a "favorite tool", so that I can check out the video's bitrate and other info.

2009 02 B version patches work well.
All the more the best dual pane tested so far.
Ergonomic, intuitive and fast extra functions.
Fully and easily customizable.

I have used this for some time now both the portable and the windows installed version. This was the best multi pane viewer I have tried. Intuitive and well thought out.
Unfortunately latest version 2009 02b freezes on a regular basis now when copying and moving files (Windows 7). only way to recover is forced reboot. I have thoroughly removed and reinstalled many times without success. I'm afraid it's goodbye. Shame, used to love it.

this is probably the best alternative to Total Commander.
I have tried a bunch already, and this is the last one standing.

This is def. a keeper and a def. recommendation!

Great Addition.

This is the best Windows Explorer replacement I've found (and I've tried over 15 others). It's fast, extensible, keyboard shortcuts friendly and has great portable support. By extensible, I mean you can use other programs to perform operations within FreeCommander seamlessly. I use programs like TeraCopy, IZArc, 7zip, VirusTotal, Console, BareGrep, Everything, SpaceSniffer, Unlocker as tools, but you can also use programs based on the filetype, which is perfect for portable installs. You can also use Windows environment variables in the paths) like: %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Dropbox\Utils\UniversalViewer\Viewer.exe, which works great for having everything in Dropbox.

There are a few quirks in the settings UIs, but you deal with it once, then benefit from it every day. This is one of my all-time favorite programs.

FreeCommander is EXACTLY what I was looking for, and that's saying a lot, 'cause I'm awfully fussy --hey, I even like the icon!

I've only been using this app for a day, so I haven't discovered all its features, but I was amazed at how well QuickView works, and the built-in zip and FTP capabilities are icing on the cake.

I used Total Commander CE as the default file manager on my PDA in the past, and to me, FreeCommander is like Total Commander on steroids. ;)