Windows Explorer Folder View settings

How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember​

   Information

Vista sets the Explorer window view settings and folder type template according to what folder types are in the window. This will show you how to reset the Windows Explorer folder view settings, turn off Automatic Folder Type Discovery, and increase the folder view cache to have Vista remember the view settings, folder type template, size, or position of a specific window for when it was last closed at the specific path location.

This does not work with the sub Save As, Open With, Open in New Tab (Internet Explorer), etc.... type dialog windows through the File menu bar item though. These do not seem to be able to have their size or position remembered. For these, you can use the free program AutoSizer to resize them.

   Note

• The Windows Explorer window pane Layout settings are universal for all window templates. These are the Search Pane, Details Pane, Preview Pane, and Navigation Pane. They can only be turned on or off for all windows with the same folder template. For example, the Music Details, Music Icons, Pictures and Videos, All Items, Contacts, and Documents.
• This will have no affect on the memory for the Open, Save, and Save As dialog boxes for having them open to the same location.
• External devices (EX: USB drive) will not retain their folder view settings when turned off or disconnected from the computer.

   Tip

It has been reported that installing the Vista SP2 has helped resolved this issue of Vista forgetting folder view settings for no apparent reason.

   Warning

The exact cause of Vista losing it's memory on your folder view settings has not been found yet. This may just reset them for now to help Vista remember them again. It has been noticed that changing a lot of window folder view settings in combination with some unknown applications settings may be triggering this forgetfulness. Make sure that you do not have a setting in a 3rd party program set to clear the folder view setting cache when it is used. (EX: CCleaner - Window Size/Location cache option under Cleaner -> Advanced)

METHOD ONE

Normal Way to Reset a Folder Type View Settings

   Note

This resets the folder view settings for all folders with this same folder template type back to the default view settings. You will need to use METHOD TWO below for Vista not remembering your settings for all the folder views.

1. Open Folder Options from the Control Panel (Classic View), and click on the View tab and Reset Folders button. (See screenshot below)​

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2. Click on Yes to the confirmation pop-up.​

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3. Click on OK to close Folder Options.​

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METHOD TWO

Reset All Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember

   Note

• This resets all current folder view settings so they will be rebuilt when you restart.
• This will also bring back the Uninstall, Change, Repair, or Uninstall/Change buttons in Programs and Features if missing.

OPTION ONE

Automatically Using a REG File Download

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1. Click on the Download button below to download the Reset_Folder_View.zip file and save it to your desktop.

   Note

This .reg download includes and does all of the Manual section below for you automatically.

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2. Open the ZIP file and extract the Reset_Folder_View.reg file to your desktop.​

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3. Right click on the downloaded Reset_Folder_View.reg file and click on Merge.​

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4. Click on Run button in the Security Warning prompt.​

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5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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6. Click on YES in the Confirmation prompt.​

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7. Click on OK in the Success prompt.​

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8. Go to step 29 in OPTION TWO below to finish wrapping this up.​

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OPTION TWO

Manually Through Registry Editor

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Reset Folder View Settings :​

1. Open the Start Menu.​

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

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3. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.​

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4. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

5. In the left pane, right click on Bags, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)​

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A) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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6. In the left pane, right click on BagMRU, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)​

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A) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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7. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

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A) In the left pane, right click on BagMRU and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 8)​

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B) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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C) In the left pane, right click on Bags and click on Delete.​

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D) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

8. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

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A) In the left pane, right click on BagMRU if here and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 8)​

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B) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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C) In the left pane, right click on Bags if here and click on Delete.​

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D) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.​

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9. The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)​

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Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery for Templates :​

CREDIT TO: Kristan Kenney: Confessions of a Windows Enthusiast

   Note

This will allow you to have what folder type template you set for the window instead of Vista automatically assigning a default template to it based on the contents of the window. This is when you have your folder template changed to Pictures and Videos from All Items when you put one image file in the folder.

   Note

OPTION: This is an optional section, but it is recommended. Steps 1-9 must have been done first before you do this section. If you decide to skip it, then go to step 21.​

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10. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

11. In the left pane, right click on Shell and click on New and Key.​

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12. Type Bags and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

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13. In the left pane, right click on Bags and click New and Key.​

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14. Type AllFolders and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

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15. In the left pane, right click AllFolders and click on New and Key.​

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16. Type Shell and press Enter. (See screenshots below)​

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17. In the right pane of Shell, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value.​

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18. Type FolderType and press Enter. (See screenshot below)​

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19. In the right pane, right click on FolderType and click on Modify.​

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20. Type NotSpecified (or one below) and click on OK. (See screenshots below)​

   Tip

You can type any one of these values in bold below instead to apply the template as the default for all folder types. You will still be able to change a individual folder type template to what you want and have Vista remember it afterwards.

   Tip

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-500][TR][TD]
Value
[/TD]
[TD]
Description
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
NotSpecified
[/TD]
[TD]
All Items folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
Contacts folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
Music Details folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
MusicIcons
[/TD]
[TD]
Music Icons folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
Documents folder type template
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
Pictures and Videos folder type template with large icons
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

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Increase Folder View Cache Memory :

   Note

This will increase the amount of folders to be remembered for changes to the folder view settings.

   Note

OPTION: This is a optional step, but the increase will help ensure that Vista does not forget. Steps 1-9 must be done first before you do this section. If you decide to skip it, them go to step 25.​

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21. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

22. In the right pane, right click on BagMRU Size.​

NOTE: If you do not have the BagMRU Size value, then right click on a empty space in the right pane and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type in BagMRU Size and press enter.​

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23. Click on Modify.​

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24. Dot the Decimal and type 20000 (folders) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

   Note

5000 is the default number of folders to be remembered.

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Deleting Local Group Policy Setting :​

   Note

This will show you how to check to see if this Group Policy setting has been set to not save the position of open windows or the size and position of the taskbar when users log off, and to delete if it is so that the changed will now be remembered at exit.

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25. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer​

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26. In the right pane, look to see if you have NoSaveSettings. If you do, then right click on NoSaveSettings and click on Delete and Yes to confirm deletion. (See screenshot above)​

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27. In regedit, go to:​

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HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer​

28. Repeat step 26 if you have NoSaveSettings here as well.​

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Wrapping it Up :​

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29. Close regedit.​

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30. Log off and log on,or restart the computer to apply the reset and to let Vista rebuild the registry keys with a clean slate.​

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31. Open Folder Options.​

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A) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below)​

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B) Check Remember each folder's view settings.​

   Warning

If left unchecked, Vista will ignore custom view settings for every folder and have every folder open using default settings instead. Only, uncheck this setting to force all folders to stop using display settings you have specified.

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C) Uncheck Restore previous folder windows at logon.​

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D) Click on OK.​

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32. Make the changes you want for the opened Windows Explorer windows.​

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33. To Apply These Changes to All the Same Folder Type Templates ​

   Tip

For more information on folder templates, see: How to Choose and Customize a Folder Type Template and Columns in Vista and How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista

A) Open Folder Options​

WARNING: Folder Options must be opened from within the same Windows Explorer window that you are changing or the Apply to Folders button will be grayed out.​

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B) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below step 31D)​

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C) Click on the Apply to Folders button.​

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D) Click on Yes in the confirmation prompt.​

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E) Click on OK.​

34. To Apply Changes to Just this Window Template​

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A) Close the window when you make your changes to the Windows Explorer window to save the folder view settings for just that one window.

   Warning

Vista will only remember the way it is when you last closed the window.

35. To Apply Changes to All Window Templates​

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A) In step 20 above, you can change the default folder template used of (NotSpecified) to what you want instead for all folder templates without having to restart the computer again.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Back Up and Restore Your Folder View Settings in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista
• How to Change a Default Open Window Size for a Shortcut in Vista
• How to Change Windows Explorer Default Open Location
• How to Use the Windows Explorer Address Bar in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable the Menu Bar in Vista
• How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista
• 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 Sort Order for Numbers in File and Folder Names in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Auto-Hide for Vista Explorer Full Screen F11
• How to Hide or Show File Names in Vista
• How to Disable Auto Arrange in Vista Windows Explorer to have Free Sorting

 

[Brink]

Hello VYP3R, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm sorry that you needed to reinstall the computer, but there is nothing in the .reg download file that would have caused the problem that you had. The only thing the .reg file does is reset the folder view settings and apply all of them to the Details view.

What type of problems did you have before applying the .reg file? Did you try a Startup Repair to see if that would have helped before formating?

Shawn

 

[VYP3R]

hi, well hopefully i managed to repair it just before format, i know its not meant to screw the windows but seems it did to me, i didnt had any problems before, i have antivirus and all, after i did 2 times "Restore last good configuration" and hit a registry clean and fix, i restarted my pc and worked, i shut down and it worken so i guess i solved my problem. Seems the folder view also is working, i had some problem with my antivirus tho and i managed to resolve that one too, all fine now. Thx for ur consern tho, nice of u. Im not a newbie as well in pc's and tweaking, who knows what hapened, was weird tho :huh:

 

[Brink]

Well, I'm happy that you didn't have to reinstall. Not sure what may have caused it though.

 

[VYP3R]

its ok, np, i really didnt wanted to format, u know, sometimes u HATE to format ur PC :P

 

[trimix]

Thanks. Applying to Folders does not work unfortunately. In fact, the column width does not even hold for the same folder - completely random. Otherwise, the registry fix works fine. Considering how many people find the problem with Vista not remembering folder views and the problem can actually be fixed, I wonder why Microsoft would not provide a patch or something - it was Microsoft technical support who directed me to this forum...

Hello Trimix, and welcome to Vista Forums.

The column width is not as easy as the other folder view settings. If you get one that does not match for the same folder template, then try the Folder Options, View, Apply To Folders option to see if that may help more with it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Brink]

Hello Trimix,

I have noticed that the column widths tend to be universal. Whatever it was set at in the last Explorer window is what it tends be whenever any next Eplorer window is opened next. However, it still tends to be a bit quarky and not always act as such.

Good news is that it seems to work fine so far in Windows 7.

 

[philbill]

I have two questions / problems. I can not adjust my cache memory as I do not have the BagMRU Size entry in my registry. Also when I open my folder options the "Apply to Folders" button is grayed out.

am I missing something ?

 

[Brink]

Hello Philbill, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you like, you can download and merge the .reg file in Method Two to have all of the changes in the registry made and added automatically for you. I also added a note under stepp 22 to help show how to add it as well.

The "Apply to Folders" button will be grayed out if you did not open Folder Options from within the window that you want to use it for. It will not work if Folder Options is open from another location (ex: Control Panel).

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[SGinWL]

This tip helped me set up Vista x64 Ultimate so that it remembers windows sizes, etc...

BUT! I think Vista has a bug or a glitch, because even though this method works perfectly, once I press Ctrl + W to close a window, it forgets the preset settings for that window. It's very strange. Pressing Alt + F4 doesn't have that effect, as I assume that shortcut is pretty much emulating 'clicking out' of a window by clicking on the red X on the top right, but Ctrl + W seems to be the magic way to make windows forget everything. Can anybody else duplicate this result?

 

[BleepingCrazy]

Hi SGinWL, I have the same OS as you and I don't have that problem...I tried Alt+F4, Ctrl+W and just using the close button....all give the same results. (I tried changing the view each time before closing and it opened up with the same settings as assigned)

 

[SGinWL]

Hi SGinWL, I have the same OS as you and I don't have that problem...I tried Alt+F4, Ctrl+W and just using the close button....all give the same results. (I tried changing the view each time before closing and it opened up with the same settings as assigned)

It seems the view settings get preserved no matter how I exit the windows, but the window size seems to get forgotten. Have you tried changing the window size before closing with Ctrl+W, and re-open to see if the window size still remains? I can duplicate the result every time on my system, but I just want to make sure everyone has the same bug as I do.

 

[BleepingCrazy]

sorry, yes I meant to say both the folder view settings and the window dimensions/placement on screen. it keeps any related customizations.

probably goes without saying, but just to be sure, do you have all the latest updates to vista (post SP1)? and do you have "remember each folder's view settings" ticked in folder options? have you tried the Reset_Folder_View.reg ? it helped me with some issues relating to view settings. it's worth a try on your system if you didn't.

Let us know if that works for you or not.

 

[bigdogchris]

OK this problem has plagued me for too long so I have to post here. The fix works as long as I don't add more drives. I believe I have found ways to reproduce this bug at will.

When I install Vista and set up my folders everything is fine. It messes up when I turn on my USB HDD or flash drives. You view the contents and not only does it 'organize' your USB drive but it reorganizes the rest of your folders.

So what I did was run the registry fix that turns off auto sensing for you, problem seems to be fixed. Now when I have multiple USB flash/hard drives, as well as an image mounted, even with that fix, it still reset my folders.

My thought process is that the fix works up to a point depending on what the max amount of drives you had mounted and viewed, when you ran the fix. If you ever go over that amount or previously viewed drives, or add new drives, like I did to test it, it resets the folders again.

Does this make sense and has anyone else noticed it? There seems to be two separate issues. Disabling the non-detection turns off folder sensing but there is still something going wrong that's causing the actual layout to change. Is there another setting that detects and effects your layout? Even with the registry fix, it's changing my layout, it's just leaving them all as "all items'. There has to be another setting.

It just doesn't seem that Vista is forgetting the layout of folders. Vista is being told to reset the folders because it turns auto arrange back on. There has got to be something related to viewing more folders and Vista seeing these new folders and feeling the need to auto arrange your entire system!

 

[pdsnickles]

TWO YEARS DOWN THE LINE AND MS STILL HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM!!!

And they had the problem BEFORE THAT, in XP!!!

Okay, now, I got that out of the way.... I feel better...

Here's the deal, I did all of the above steps (using the Reset_Folder_View.reg file), then I made the manual registry changes in Bags, etc. - all according to this tutorial... and then I restarted.... Set my folder settings to remember and not reset each time...

And then I went to my MUSIC folder on my archive partition. (This is not on C drive, is that the problem????? It's not a USB drive, it's a partition of my computer's HD.)

In the Top Folder, which shows only other folders, not files, I set it to show:
Name, Artist, Number, Title, Bit Rate, Genre and Size.

I then told it to use this as a Music Details Template and apply it to all subfolders.

The problem is, it seems to remember it for THIS folder, but will not remember the settings for the SUBfolders!

Then I went to a Subfolder and did the same thing on that one. Told it to remember that Music Details Template and apply it to all subfolders.

Went to the next folder and it did not remember all the settings! It insists on putting the Rating column in there and refuses to remember to put the bit rate and size column in!

This is exactly the same as it was before I went through all the registry editing.

I'd appreciate any help you can give me, because like someone said in the beginning of this thread, this is driving me up the wall and I want to take a sledge hammer to my computer! (OR go back to XP...) Oh, no, that's right, I could never get it to work in XP, either!!...

 

[pdsnickles]

OK this problem has plagued me for too long so I have to post here. The fix works as long as I don't add more drives. I believe I have found ways to reproduce this bug at will.

When I install Vista and set up my folders everything is fine. It messes up when I turn on my USB HDD or flash drives. You view the contents and not only does it 'organize' your USB drive but it reorganizes the rest of your folders.

So what I did was run the registry fix that turns off auto sensing for you, problem seems to be fixed. Now when I have multiple USB flash/hard drives, as well as an image mounted, even with that fix, it still reset my folders.

My thought process is that the fix works up to a point depending on what the max amount of drives you had mounted and viewed, when you ran the fix. If you ever go over that amount or previously viewed drives, or add new drives, like I did to test it, it resets the folders again.

Does this make sense and has anyone else noticed it? There seems to be two separate issues. Disabling the non-detection turns off folder sensing but there is still something going wrong that's causing the actual layout to change. Is there another setting that detects and effects your layout? Even with the registry fix, it's changing my layout, it's just leaving them all as "all items'. There has to be another setting.

It just doesn't seem that Vista is forgetting the layout of folders. Vista is being told to reset the folders because it turns auto arrange back on. There has got to be something related to viewing more folders and Vista seeing these new folders and feeling the need to auto arrange your entire system!

I don't know but I have the same problem and it's really REALLY frustrating.
I think it could have to do with USB drives. I have 2 hooked up, each with 2-3 partitions on them, and tons of files...

 

[Brink]

Hell Pdsnickles,

Yes, this has been a buggy issue with Vista for some time now, and there seems to be no permanent fix available yet. Unfortunately, I have found that this works best when they are applied on a per window basis instead of using the the Apply to Folders option.

 

[bigdogchris]

One thing that I never did that I should have was opened my user folder Start/Username, then set the files up the way I want, then immediately go to Tools, Apply to All Folders, from within the same windows.

Anyways, there was a 'global' disable auto-arrange registry tweak for XP but I can't find a Vista one OR a 7 one. 7 forces you to auto arrange EVERYTHING, except the Desktop. That's Microsofts way to fix this problem.... lame

 

[pdsnickles]

Hell Pdsnickles,

Yes, this has been a buggy issue with Vista for some time now, and there seems to be no permanent fix available yet. Unfortunately, I have found that this works best when they are applied on a per window basis instead of using the the Apply to Folders option.

Okay, thanks Brink.

May I say that I hope MS goes bankrupt and Bill Gates loses ALL his money?
It is just unacceptable that MS has not fixed this problem which plagues so many users.

I have spent the last 3 weeks loading software, getting prefs and things set up on my new (Vista 64-bit) computer like it was on my old (XP) one. It's been a long haul.
But at this point, I am about ready to switch back to XP! IF XP fixed this Folder View issue, I would probably do it, but unfortunately it had the same problem (though, perhaps not as bad; I'm not sure, but it seemed a bit less forgetful than Vista once the Bag # edit was made).

 

[Brink]

Pdsnickles,

You might see if increasing the Bag size in steps 21-24 to allow Vista to store more and hopefully remember better the folder view settings for you.

 

[bigdogchris]

Pdsnickles,

You might see if increasing the Bag size in steps 21-24 to allow Vista to store more and hopefully remember better the folder view settings for you.

Isn't the innate problem here that Vista wants to auto-arrange stuff for you; It's not forgetting? Turning off auto sense is only disabling the sensing of contents, not changing the folder arrangement.

There has to be a way to make the global change to disable default auto-arrange being on. That way new folders that the OS see's doesn't make it auto-arrange everything, which ends up screwing up what you already set, which is what happens to me and Pdsnickles. I really don't think it's because it runs out of bag space...