How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista
INFO: This will show you how to
Remove (Disable) or
Show (Enable) the
Folder Options item from all Windows Explorer menus and from the
Control Panel for all user accounts on the computer.
WARNING: This is known to have sometimes been disabled by a
virus, so do a thorough scan with your antivirus program to be safe.
RELATED LINKS: 1. How to Open and Change Search Options 2. How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista 3. How to Add or Remove the Hidden Files and Folders Option in Vista EXAMPLE: Before (Enabled) and After (Disabled) Explorer_Before.jpgExplorer_After.jpg CP_Before.jpgCP_After.jpg Explorer2_Before.jpgExplorer2_After.jpg METHOD ONE: Through the Local Group Policy Editor : NOTE: This is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise versions. See Method Two below for Vista Home Basic and Home Premium versions. 1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type
gpedit.msc and press
Enter.
3. Click
Continue for the UAC prompt.
4. In the left pane, click on
User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Windows Explorer
(See screenshot below)
5. In the right pane, right click on
Removes the Folder Options menu from the Tools Menu and click
Properties.
Group_Policy.jpg 6. To Enable Folder Options -
A) Dot
Disabled or
Not Configured and click
OK. (See screenshot below)
7. To Disable Folder Options -
A) Dot
Enabled and click
OK.
Properties.jpg 8. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.
METHOD TWO: Through the Registry : NOTE: This will work for all Vista versions.
Through a Download: 1. To Enable Folder Options -
A)
Enable_Folder_Options.reg < Click To Download 2. To Disable Folder Options -
A)
Disable_Folder_Options.reg < Click To Download 3. Click on
Save, and save the
.reg file to the
Desktop.
4. Right click the
.reg (On Desktop) file and click
Merge.
5. Click on the
Run button for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on
Continue (UAC),
Yes, and then
OK when prompted.
7. Logoff and logon or restart the computer to apply the changes.
8. When done, you can delete the
.reg file (On Desktop).
The Manual Way: 1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type
regedit and press
Enter.
3. Click the
Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer NOTE: If Explorer is not there, then right click on Policies in the left pane and click New -> Key and type Explorer and press Enter.
Explorer_Reg.jpg 5. To Disable Folder Options -
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click
New ->
DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)
B) Type
NoFolderOptions and press
Enter.
C) Right click on
NoFolderOptions and click
Modify.
NoFolderOptions_Reg.jpg
D) Type
1 and click
OK. (See screenshot below)
Modify_NoFolderOptions.jpg 6. To Enable Folder Options -
A) In the right pane, right click on
NoFolderOptions and click
Delete. (See screenshot below step 5C)
B) Click
Yes to confirm delete.
C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if
NoFolderOptions is there to.
HKLM_Reg.jpg 7. Close regedit.
8. Logoff and logon or restart the computer to apply the changes.
That's it's,
Shawn