Vista - Windows Explorer Folder View settings

niGht kiD,

You might try running a sfc /scannow command to see if it can find and fix any system file errors.

How to Repair and Verify the Integrity of Vista System Files with System File Checker

Shawn

Does the new vista service pack 1 that's out right now fix the folder view settings problem ?

Gbp007,

I have not heard if it has or not. I have not had any problems with it yet with it installed.

Shawn

Ok thanks, Im really hoping when the official vista sp1 comes out that it fixes the annoying folder view settings problem..

Please if anyone can help me throught this issue I'll be so grateful! So I applied the fix from the beginning of this thread, and while it fix some issues, Vista still doesn't remember each folder's layout.

For example, on folders that I open from Windows Explorer, I want the navigation pane to be ON. On folders I double click from the Desktop, I want the navigation pain OFF. However, it seems that the Layout settings is universal, and whatever state I was using (pane on or off) when I last close a folder, that's the layout state that'll be applied when I bring up a new folder.

I've tried everything, from assigning types in "Customize this folder", to toggling "Remember each folder's view settings". But everything EXCEPT the layout state gets remembered.

I never had this problem in XP.

Hi Trale,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

The same folder window view settings will keep it settings as it was last closed no matter from where you open it from. The only exceptions are the personal user folders when opened from the Start menu (desktop) and from the C:\Users\(username) locations. They have separate view settings since these use a Junction Point to link them. For example, C:\Users\(username)\Documents and My Documents.

However, the window pane Layout settings are universal for all windows. The only exception is that you can have the Preview Pane on for the Contacts template without it being on for the others.

Sorry,
Shawn

Hi brink,

It said the problem couldn't be fixed after I ran the sfc /scannow(my logon screen was also reverted to default). It's ok, I have just finished a clean install

Thanks.

Hi Brink, thanks for the response. At least it confirmed what I thought was a bug. This is a truly annoying "feature" in vista, having the layout setting be universal. I really hope they address it in SP1. I don't suppose there's a way to revert Vista's explorer to XP's....

Trale,

Not that I'm aware of, but there are some 3rd party Windows Explorer alternatives out there. I do not know any names off the top of my head, but you should be able to find some free ones by using Google.

Shawn

Hi Shawn,

Thanks for this great tutorial. For the most part it's doing what I want. The 2 BIGGEST culprits for me anyway are the Music and Games folders that seem to like to forget their settings on me. I did the automatic method and it reset everything as expected. I then went in and set the one template how I wanted it, but as expected it all of my folders that same way. This is where I am hitting a brick wall. Let me give you a little background with regard to how I like to set my folders up. I am (pardon my french) very anal in how I like to set these up. Perhaps you can point me to a specific part of the tutorial which I may be overlooking that will help me make Vista remember my settings

I have a 22" widescreen monitor with the resolution set to 1680X1050. I like to set drag out my Windows to cover a good portion of this space, but I don't like to maximize them as I like the Aero glass effects. Now I would maximize them if I could somehow force Vista to keep the glass effects when the Window is maximized (thats another issue though). Anyway. Most of my Windows are set to large icons grouped by type. The onlty 2 that I really make any significant changes are is Games and Music as these are the 2 folders where most of my time is spent. For Games, I have the window sized up to a fairly decent size, with the icon size slider set about 1/2 to 2/4 between large and extra large. This folder seems to like to forget it's settings the most and I have noticed that when I make any major changes to the music folder this is when Vista forgets.

Now, for my Music folder, the top level where all the different artists is set to Large Icons, when opening the next level where the album names are listed, this to is set to large icons, when going into the actual album names, this is set to Tiles.

I have ALOT of music, perhaps about 30GB worth, and there are probably close to 2000 folders all total between the artists and albums. I ran through the automatic reset, but with what I am trying to explain, would it be more beneficial to run through the manual method? I am thinking I should maybe set the MRU Cache to 50000, but it seems like I am well under the 20000 that is set in the tutorial, so I don't think that's it.

I hope I am not being to wordy. Thanks for taking the time to read my "book".

Thanks.

Paul