How To Disable Thumbnail Previews in Windows Explorer

Thumbnails are reduced-size versions of your pictures and videos.
Their role is to allow you to quickly scan and recognize them while browsing your computer.
You can disable thumbnails to speed up the windows explorer.
Follow the following steps to disable thumbnails in windows explorer

* For Windows Vista:

1. Click on the Start button
2. Choose All Programs
3. Click on the Accessories folder
4. Then click the Windows Explorer link
5. Click on the Organize button
6. Choose Folder and Search Options from the menu.
7. In the Folder Options window, click on the View tab
8. Under the Files and Folders heading, check the box next to Always show icons,
never thumbnails.
9. Click on OK.

You can skip first four steps by pressing "windows logo + e" on your keyboard.

* For Windows XP:

1. Click the Start button
2. Click on Run
3. Type in Regedit in the box and press Enter
Then browse following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\Advanced\ClassicViewState
4. Right click on it and change its value to 1