Windows 10: Removing File Explorer categories - How?

How do you get rid of these annoying categories in file explorer, I did it on one windows 10 Pro 20H2 installation but I'm building another and I forgot how... see picture (the circled items):



:)

 

Locking the file explorer

After many failed attempts to disable the file explorer, automatic grouping of file names in alphabetical order suggested, the work around suggested fails miserably. Using the “group by” has been found to be completely incapable of working.
The “group by” procedure found online is”
1. Open the file explorer
2. Navigate to the folder containing the files to be renamed.
3. Click the view tab.
4. Click the down arrow to access the “Group by” pull down menu.
5. Clicking the “Date created” category or any other category except the “Name” category.
6. Again click the down arrow to access the “Group by” pull down menu
7. Click “None”
After manually changing the “File name” and clicking “Enter”. The “File name” category once again automatically reorganizes the in alphabetical order. In effect Steps 1 thru 7 accomplishes nothing.
Additionally, if I repeat the process in a folder containing nothing but “MP4 Video Files (VLC)” in the “Type” category” and run the “Group by” process it still continues to resort the names alphabetically. It then places a new blank Deltacad file into the Folder having files being renamed. It then launches and plays the changed video file with the VLC media player.

 

Cannot Remove File From File Explorers Recent Files List

I'm using Windows 10 and have always been able to remove files from the file explorer's recent files list. The file is listed as FileProvider and it is located in the ThisPC/downloads directory. Any other file is readily deleted from the list by the usual
procedure. This file is not. Any suggestions?

THANKS

 

How to REPLACE Win 10 File Explorer

Sorry, but answering this one would REALLY end up in the rant category which according to someone above was not taken kindly to. And it would mean skating dangerously close to the limits of the politeness line, towards the designers of said contraption, no impoliteness towards forum members suggested or implied.