Retaining folder preferences

philnolan3d · Oct 26, 2010

I'm having an annoying problem where I like to keep my "My Computer" folder set a certain way, with the View set to Tiles and Grouped by Type. This has been fine but now every time I change these settings in another folder the "My Computer" folder changes to that as well. Any ideas on making the settings stay the way I put them?

This is in Vista x64, Service Pack 2

Lorien · Oct 26, 2010

Hi Phil,

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to do this in Vista (well, there is, but it doesn't always "stick" - it tends to revert to the template defaults or change as you change other folders no matter what you do (though I seem be generally successful for the most part - it seems to typically work most of the time)). There's no "trick" or registry modification or anything like that I'm aware of that will solve this when it happens. It's a very common complaint.

Go to go Start / Control Panel/ Folder Options / View Tab and make sure the box Remember each folder's view settings is set. That's about all you can do on a folder-by-folder basis and generally works for me (as far as the View only itself goes). The rest can only be altered by changing the templates - and that pretty much does it for all folders of that type - not just the individual ones.

Here's some information I've put together on changing folders that may be of some help (though the above, as limited as it is, seems to be the best and only option on a folder-by-folder basis).

Here's how to change the default template for a folder: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html. Default behavior is to select the template based on the first type of file placed in the folder (it has to choose something). 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 inexpensive ($8) program WinSizeMe http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2339650,00.asp to resize them and save those sizes and locations (I've changed the program from the one mentioned in the article because although it is a Vista article, the referenced 3rd party application there does not speciically speciify it is compatible with Vista whereas this one does).

Here's another article on how to change the Windows Explorer columns and sort order in Vista: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/108665-column-customize.html. This will show you how to add, remove, move, change the width, and change the sort order of Windows Explorer columns to how you want them.

Here's another article on how to change the default folder view in Vista (but it claims it isn't a perfect solution and may revert to prior behavior so it's not as good as the prior links provided - but it may help if nothing else does so it may be worth a shot): http://news.cnet.com/8301-13880_3-10019957-68.html.

I hope this helps with your situation.

Good luck!

philnolan3d · Oct 26, 2010

Thanks for the tips.

Lorien · Oct 26, 2010

It was my pleasure. I hope something there helps you with the problem.

Good luck!

philnolan3d · Oct 26, 2010

I did open the Folder Options and that box was checked, so I decided to try something and unchecked the box, hit Apply, then checked it again. I had to reset the way I like a few folders but maybe I'll get lucky and they'll stay that way.

transitionality · Nov 25, 2010

Hi Lorien.

I have a similar problem and it seems like WinSizeMe might help, but it's behind a paywall right now. If you have a copy of the utility, would you mind sharing? Thanks.

Also, feel free to recommend any other similar program. In another post, you mention a program without a Vista compatibility claim. I don't mind trying it out.

Lorien · Nov 25, 2010

transitionality said:
Hi Lorien.

I have a similar problem and it seems like WinSizeMe might help, but it's behind a paywall right now. If you have a copy of the utility, would you mind sharing? Thanks.

Also, feel free to recommend any other similar program. In another post, you mention a program without a Vista compatibility claim. I don't mind trying it out.

Hi transitionality,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

1. Thank you for making me aware the program is no longer free - I have revised the post and my posting template to reflect this change. I may even remove it.

2. If you are asking me to provide you with a copy of a program I previously downloaded to avoid the cost of buying it yourself, I will NOT do that (for you or anyone) as that is software piracy and copyright infringement and is both illegal and a serious violation of this Forum's Rules of Conduct http://www.vistax64.com/general-discussion/118651-forum-rules-please-read.html. I strongly suggest you never ask this of me or anyone else ever again in these Forums.

3. I don't know what other program you are referring to. If you'll provide a link to that thread (or better still, the post itself), then I'll consider it (assuming I can find it if it wasn't posted). I do not typically suggest anything that may cause harm (and incompatible software can do that) even if somone is willing to take the risk because I don't know enough to determine if that person understands enough to truly assess the risk involved. I've seen some cause quite serious harm.

4. I'm aware of no other free program that does that (or I would have included it in the listing when it was created as an alternative option). There may be commercial products, but I usually don't include them if I find a free and safe alternative that does the same thing. Since it costs only $8 now, I see no point in researching commercial products as finding something cheaper is highly unlikely.

Good luck!

transitionality · Nov 25, 2010

As I understand it, it is perfectly legal for you to share a copy of a program that was licensed as freeware when you downloaded it. That is the license that applies to that version.

I am not asking you to hack into the server or anything like that. I am simply asking you to share a program in accordance with the license that applies to it.

Lorien · Nov 25, 2010

First, one of the Forum rules is not to attach programs but only provide links to programs located elsewhere - so doing so would violate the rules in any event. I'm not a lawyer to debate the legalities (and I don't have a copy of the EULA for that product (the original or the new one) to review even if I had the skill to interpret it properly concerning distribution without proper authorization and perhaps several other limiting factors even if it was freeware - only certain sites may have been granted the right to distribute it and may even have provided compensation for that right and that would definitely make others providing copies an issue), but it is against Forum Rules in any event (#14 and perhaps #9).

Second, I simply ran the program and did not download it, so even if I was inclined to do so, I don't have a copy of it anyway. And you can't transfer installed programs - it doesn't work that way.

If you really want the program, splurge (it's Thanksgiving!) and spend the $8 to get it.

Good luck!

P.S. I am an author, so I take the protection of intellectual property rights very seriously. I found one of my stories posted on the web and had to take legal action to get it removed and it was all very disturbing as I worked hard writing it and for someone to just "steal" it from me and essentially publish it that way without my permission was extremely upsetting.

niemiro · Nov 25, 2010

I am in agreement with Lorien. I see your point. The issue is that when we share something online, we are duplicating the media. If we sell a second hand car, we are not ruining the industry on the same scale, because there is still only one car. However, when we put something online, we are duplicating the media to as many people as there are people who want it. Shareware programs are designed that you share it with friends. The idea is not that you put it on the internet for everyone. It effectively limits duplications to two or three.

Also, please remember that these sort of programs have one developer. He spent countless hours working on it. He will see and count every purchase and comment that comes into his account, and he will cherish and remember them.

Before you ask whether I could PM it to you, the answer is no. It may be only one duplication, but I don't know you personally. It would be without the friends sharing agreement.

transitionality · Nov 25, 2010

Freeware is legal to distribute.

A version of the program released as freeware remains licensed as freeware. Later versions may change the license, but the license applied to a specific work cannot be retroactively changed.

One does not need to be a lawyer to know any of this. This is all common knowledge. This is the principle that allows sites like oldversion.com and oldapps.com to exist.

As for providing a link to somewhere else, just upload the setup file to rapidshare or any one of a thousand other filehosting sites. This is not a problem either.

But if you don't have the setup file, the point is moot.

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