Vista - File Names Disappeared / Folder view changed?

Hi

When I turned my computer on today it seems that all of my filenames have 'disappeared' - the files are still called the same that I named them, but instead of them showing the titles, they either show the date modified or only certain details. I mainly have music on my hard drive, and now the folder looks like this:


As you can see, on the left in the folder tree, the path is showing up, the files are still there etc, but instead of the track titles, there is now only the artist and album? I have tried shift and view, tried different views, tried changing the folder view to pictures and videos etc, I have also completely scanned the drives and there doesn't seem to be any problems? Under 'folder options' I have tried showing all extensions etc, showing hidden files, different customizing of views:




Seems strange, but 'title' isn't an option for the folder view anymore? As here:



The folders now look like this:



Furthermore, the desktop now looks like this:



All the icons work, nothing has moved, but now they are all called the dates modified rather than the names, however, if i go to rename any of them i can, it shows the original name briefly, then reverts back to the dates modified names instead???

What has happened? Can anybody shed any light as to how I can fix this?

Thanks!!

Hello Jow, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might try applying METHOD THREE in the tutorial below to reset all the folder view settings to see if that can help fix this for you.

Windows Explorer Folder View settings

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Shawn, thanks for your quick reply! I have read through the tutorials, and took steps as shown, I was hopeful that it was a registry fault - unfortunately, however, the problem remains - is there anything else that I could try?

Just to say that it is Vista Home Premium 32bit I'm using

Many thanks

Joe

jow:

I'm assuming the scans you did on the drives were error checking scans.
If so have you done a restart since the scans.

Hi Ardneh

Thanks for your reply, yes they were error checking scans, which found no issues - and the computer has been restarted since they were done. The problem remains however!

Joe

jow:

If you right-click at the top of the Artist column does the drop-down offer a Name or Title there?

Hi Ardneh, thanks for the quick reply - in response, there is no 'name' or 'title' in the drop down list - as here, you can see that 'title' is not in the list anymore (it used to be)! neither is 'name'??

Jow,

You might also try a System Restore using a restore point dated before this happened to see if it can fix it for you.

jow:

That looks like the View > Choose details pop up.

I was asking about the drop-down from right-clicking the column header.


Ardneh

Thanks for your replies -

to Shawn: yes, I have tried system restore, but no joy!

and Ardneh, sorry - this is what happens when right-clicking the column header: