Update: it all seems to be workiing normally now. I did a search on here
using the words R.C WHite recommended (one problem I have with searching is
knowing the right "buzz words", which is hard when you aren't sure what's
going on int he first place).
MVP Ramesh has a link to this site:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/227/1/
which goes into detail. It seems last night my computer started sorting in
the old Windows 2000 style, when the XP/Vista style is what I wanted all
along. Seems to be correct now for whatever reason....