Vista - Preview Pane - Enable or Disable

Information

The Preview pane allows you to see a preview of the highlighted image, video, or document file in the opened Windows Explorer window without opening it. This will allow you to Add or Remove Preview Pane from being listed in the Organize -> Layout menu option in a Windows Explorer windows.

WARNING

This will be applied to all user accounts on the computer.

Tip

If you just wanted to turn the Preview Pane on or off, then see: How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista

• How to Turn the Navigation Pane On or Off in Vista
• How to Change the Open Folder Icon in Vista
• How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Menu Bar in Vista
• How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista

NOTE

This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editons.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, Windows Explorer,
Explorer Frame Pane. (See screenshot below step 3)

3. In the right pane, right click on Turn off Preview Pane and click on Properties. (See screenshot below)

4. To Enable the Preview Pane -

A) Dot Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable the Preview Pane -

A) Dot Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

NOTE

This method will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:

1. To Enable the Preview Pane -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Preview_Pane.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable the Preview Pane -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Disable_Preview_Pane.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click on Merge.

5. Click on Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

The Manual Way:

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NOTE: If Explorer is not there, then right click on Policies in the left pane and click on New -> Key and type Explorer and press Enter.

5. To Disable the Preview Pane -

A) In the right pane of Explorer, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

B) Type NoReadingPane and press Enter.

C) Right click on NoReadingPane and click on Modify.

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

6. To Enable the Preview Pane -

A) In the right pane, right click on NoReadingPane and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 5C)

B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.

C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if NoReadingPane is there to.

7. Close regedit.

8. Logoff and logon, or restart the computer to apply the changes.