Vista - Folder Options - Enable or Disable

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista

Information

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 or some other malware, so do a thorough scan with your antivirus and anti-spyware programs to be safe.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Before (Enabled) and After (Disabled)

METHOD ONE:
Through the Local Group Policy Editor

NOTE

This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium edition.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Removes the Folder Options menu from the Tools Menu, and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Folder Options -
A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Folder Options -
A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

METHOD TWO:
Through the Registry

NOTE

This method will work for all Vista versions.

Through a Download:
1. To Enable Folder Options -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Folder_Options.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Folder Options -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Disable_Folder_Options.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.

5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. Log off and log on 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 on the Continue button in 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 on New and Key. Type Explorer and press Enter.

5. To Disable Folder Options -
A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

B) Type NoFolderOptions and press Enter.

C) Right click on NoFolderOptions and click on Modify.

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

E) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Folder Options -
A) In the right pane, right click on NoFolderOptions and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 5C)

B) Click on 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.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on or restart the computer to apply the changes.

That's it's,
Shawn

**Noosaville** · 02-04-2009

Thank you Shawn,
Only if it was so simple,
Being Vista Premium I used the registry download, zilch result.
In Explorer " Folder options" it comes back with - operation cancelled due to blah blah, contact the admin. I am the jolly admin.
Any other tricks ? Cheers Michael

**Brink** · 02-04-2009

Hello Noosaville,

Could you post back screenshots of these four registry locations below with all of the right pane included in the screenshot? I will see if I can spot something that does not belong there causing this for you.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

and

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

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

**Noosaville** · 02-04-2009

Thank you , herewith the pics in the ordr asked for. In manipulation to reduce the size for posting the "run " in Local/Machine is the same as capture 3, it said -default- reg-sz -default, I hope it makes some sense . Michael

**Brink** · 02-04-2009

Did you not want CD Burning enabled in capture 4? If you do, then delete the NoCDBurning entry.

Do you have the captures for the Policies folders in both locations?

**Noosaville** · 02-07-2009

The picture was as you said of Explorer, why ? because it was different to ones sent before. No pics for the "Policies" was sent as the entry in both cases shows what I told you in the last reply. Default-reg-sz- value not set and that's all there is . Michael

**Brink** · 02-07-2009

Ok Michael. I understand you now. I had thought you were referring to another folder with that.

I did not see anything in those registry locations that would apply to this, so you might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this happened can fix it for you.

**Noosaville** · 02-08-2009

Thanks for the attention and your time.
I did tell you that even my Tech, who has been in the business for 25 years has thrown in the towel . As we are friends, he will look at the problem in his workshop when times allow, rather than in situ service. . It is not a matter of life and death, just a bloody nuisance , why Redmond decided to restrict this is beyond belief. Perhaps Win 7 may be more user friendly.WE hope, but don't hold your breath, Cheers Michael

**Brink** · 02-08-2009

Michael,

I hope that he can get it sorted out for you soon.

So far Windows 7 seems pretty great.

02-04-2009
Noosaville Vista Home premium 32 bit 5 posts	Re: Folder Options - Enable or Disable Thank you Shawn, Only if it was so simple, Being Vista Premium I used the registry download, zilch result. In Explorer " Folder options" it comes back with - operation cancelled due to blah blah, contact the admin. I am the jolly admin. Any other tricks ? Cheers Michael
My System Specs

02-04-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Folder Options - Enable or Disable Hello Noosaville, Could you post back screenshots of these four registry locations below with all of the right pane included in the screenshot? I will see if I can spot something that does not belong there causing this for you. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
My System Specs

02-04-2009
Noosaville Vista Home premium 32 bit 5 posts	Re: Folder Options - Enable or Disable Thank you , herewith the pics in the ordr asked for. In manipulation to reduce the size for posting the "run " in Local/Machine is the same as capture 3, it said -default- reg-sz -default, I hope it makes some sense . Michael Attached Thumbnails
My System Specs

02-04-2009
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 25,919 posts	Re: Folder Options - Enable or Disable Did you not want CD Burning enabled in capture 4? If you do, then delete the NoCDBurning entry. Do you have the captures for the Policies folders in both locations?
My System Specs

02-07-2009
Noosaville Vista Home premium 32 bit 5 posts	Re: Folder Options - Enable or Disable The picture was as you said of Explorer, why ? because it was different to ones sent before. No pics for the "Policies" was sent as the entry in both cases shows what I told you in the last reply. Default-reg-sz- value not set and that's all there is . Michael
My System Specs

02-08-2009
Noosaville Vista Home premium 32 bit 5 posts	Re: Folder Options - Enable or Disable Thanks for the attention and your time. I did tell you that even my Tech, who has been in the business for 25 years has thrown in the towel . As we are friends, he will look at the problem in his workshop when times allow, rather than in situ service. . It is not a matter of life and death, just a bloody nuisance , why Redmond decided to restrict this is beyond belief. Perhaps Win 7 may be more user friendly.WE hope, but don't hold your breath, Cheers Michael
My System Specs

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