Explorer-equivalent to add to the Windows installation USB?

Is there an explorer-equivalent that will run from the Command prompt when I'm booted from the installation USB?
My Macrium reflect boot USB has an explorer built into it and I would like to have some equivalent on my Windows 10 [& Win11] installation USBs.

Ever since Windows 7, I've been using Notepad's FileOpen dialog as a rudimentary explorer.
Use InstallUSB Notepad as a rudimentary File explorer to backup files [post #33] - TenForums
It works but I want to find out if I can do better.

I've searched the internet but have not found a solution.
- I found recommendations [in TechNet discussions?] for Explorer++ & FreeCommander despite which they did not work when I tried them.

I'm not looking for a dedicated rescue disk containing an explorer-equivalent, I'm looking for something to add to my Windows installation USBs.

Yours in hope,
Denis

Try3 said:

Is there an explorer-equivalent that will run from the Command prompt when I'm booted from the installation USB?

Yes. If you have a Macrium recovery usb then their own peexplorer.exe will. You can extract it from the boot.wim if you have 7-Zip.



However, a better solution appears to be Explorer++, according to this Macrium Forum post it will run in the PE environment.

Apps that work in MR Rescue Environment (WinPE)

Explorer++ - A small and fast file manager for Windows


Edit: tested, and both work from a Windows 11 install USB booted to a command prompt. For Explorer++ make sure you get the version to match the WinPE you will be using, 64 bit or 32 bit.

Luiz, Bree,

Thank you both for your suggestions. I'll try them later today.
- And I note that both the things I had tried before posting worked in your tests. Curious. I had tried their portable versions.
- I've downloaded the FC & Explorer++ versions you suggested and they are radically different from the ones I tried before. They are both standalone exe files. So that's encouraging.
- I'll extract the Macrium one as well.

All the best,
Denis

Luiz,
Bree,

I've now tried them out.

The Explorer++ [x64] worked so I've added it to my normal Windows Installation USB.
- All my current computers are 64 bit.
- If I find that I still have an Installation USB for my semi-retired Version 1709 x86 computer then I'll add the x86 version to it. That computer cannot update past Version 1709 so I only use it for a few odd jobs & I might well have re-used its Installation USB [I often only keep the ISO file for old Versions].
I run Explorer++ twice in the Installation USB's Command prompt then use WinKey-LeftArrow, WinKey-RightArrow to arrange them on the screen ready for browsing / comparing or for copying [rescuing] files to an external drive.

FreeCommander did not run. Given your success, I suspect that I've made a mistake somewhere along the way.
- The error message was that wrong type of computer one that you 'd get if you had run a x64 exe on a x86 computer.

I extracted the Macrium peexplorer.exe but trying to run it from the Installation USB's Command prompt provoked no response at all.
- No error message, nothing. The command prompt just moved on to a new line as if a command had been completed.
- It runs alright in Windows itself.

Now that I have one solution, I'm satisfied.

Since I was experimenting with an Installation USB anyway, I took advantage of the situation to contribute to
Are drivers used by Windows RE different to drivers used after boot? - TenForums

Once again, thanks to you both,
Denis

The only other fiddling around I've done is to add SumatraPDF to my Windows 10 Installation USB so if I'm following a procedure, such as one provided in TenForums, that I've saved to PDF [well, printed to PDF] then I can read through it on the computer concerned.

I did try out screenshot utilities [SnipPaste and ZoomIt] on my Windows 10 Installation USB but I couldn't get either of those to work.
- The command SnipPaste has no response at all.
- MS SysInternals' ZoomIt brings up its licence agreement, which has to be accepted, then its options dialog, which has to be dismissed, and then allows a screenshot to be taken but then fails to save it even though it appears to do so [browse to a folder on a non-X:\ drive , give the file a name, …].


Denis

Luiz,
Bree,

I thought I should add a note to explain that I have now managed to get Snipaste working in WinPE.
- It's an awkward little thing but it works within the limitation of not being able to capture the cmd prompt window.
- I've tested it in my Windows 10 installation USB & my AcronisTI boot disk.
- I've also tested it in my Macrium boot disk but it's not a requirement there since there is a better Macrium one already.

The steps are:-

- Boot with the USB in the normal manner.
- Open its cmd prompt using whatever is the correct method for that USB.
- Open whatever windows are wanted and arrange them as desired.
- In the cmd prompt, run Snipaste.exe [from the appropriate USB folder].
- Press F1 [in my case, Shift-Fn-F1] to start the capture as advised in Snipaste Getting Started
- Drag its baffling capture window drag points around to include the relevant window[s].
- Ignore the unnecessary advice to press C.
- Move the cursor to the Save icon on its little toolbar & click on it then browse and save where required [never on X:\].

Then scratch your head in wonder at its constant ignoring of the cmd prompt window itself. I have not [yet]managed to get it to capture that at all.

So my Windows InstallUSB, AcronisTI & Macrium boot disks now have an explorer, a PDF reader & a limited-ability screenshotter.
[Explorer++, SumatraPDF, Snipaste]


All the best,
Denis