Windows Explorer Folder View settings

INFO: Vista sets the Explorer window view settings and folder...

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Paul,

When you make changes in your Music and Game folders, you should close the window to save the changes for that one window, or do the Apply to Folders in the Wrapping it up (Step 29) section of the tutorial.

Usually 20000 is more than enough, but if the above does not help, you can try the 50000 setting to see if it will help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hey Shawn,

Just one last question to make sure I am clear on something. I think I found what I was looking for with regards to my last post. I am going to look for something to monitor the registry so I can document the changes it is making when I make my changes.

Anyway, when I make my change say in one of the albums in my Music folder. For arguement sake, I'll say the folder is C:/Users/Paul/Music/Metallica/Ride the Lightning. Once I make the change to that folder, I should close it out before moving onto the next album or folder is that correct?

nytiger73,

Yes, to apply and have Vista save those changes for that folder window, or try and do the Apply to Folders in the Wrapping it up (Step 29) section of the tutorial to see if will apply those changes to all the other same folder template type windows for you. (your other music or game folders)

Shawn

Here is a little something that I figured out that might shed some light on tracking down why this issue is occuring. I monitored my registry with Process Monitor from SysInternals.

What I found was that for the Music folder any changes made to a sub folder such as C:/Users/Paul/Music/Metallica are created in these registry keys. Occasionally the numbers change where as some of the keys are deleted and new ones created to possibly update the settings for either that window or all of the directories. But what I am seeing is these number increase whenever I make a change to a different folder such as instead of going to Metallica, maybe going to Godsmack/IV making my change and closing the window in question. I THINK 134 MAY be the main Music folder and the others might be the directories and sub directories.

Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\134\Shell\{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}
Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\150\Shell
Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\150\Shell
Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\150\Shell\{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}
Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\151\Shell
Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\151\Shell
Key HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\151\Shell\{5C4F28B5-F869-4E84-8E60-F11DB97C5CC7}

The directory after Bags initially started at 101 and gradually made it's way to what is seen now. Once I have my changes done, I am going to backup the last known good set of keys and then if Vista "forgets" again, merge these known good keys in to see if that corrects the issue. I'll keep you all posted.

Thank you. I'll be looking forward to what you find out.

Brink it looks like you have the knowledge to point me in the right direction. I have a Vista machine with Home Premium 32 bit preinstalled. I added XP Pro via dual boot. No problems except it looks like every time I reboot from XP into Vista, the explorer details view only has Filename. I have to Select Details and they're just erased on next boot of the other OS. Would you have an idea on the best approach to avoid XP stepping on Vista's toes? Both systems are on separate NTFS partitions on the same phyical drive using Vista boot loader to boot up and are visible to each other.

Hi MilesAhead,

Give this a try. It prevents XP from being able to see Vista, which may prevent it from messing with Vista when you switch OS's. It may do the trick for you.

System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete

Shawn

Thanks Brink, I'll try it out.

This tutorial seems to work for me - almost

Unfortunately it does not work for folder view of the desktop in open- or save-dialogs (e.g. "save as" in browser or "open" in word or whatever).

When I navigate to "Desktop" the folder view is always set to "tiles" and "grouped -> ascending". This really annoys me (when I navigate to "Desktop" in the windows explorer it's "details" sort by "type" - as I want it to be)

Any clue what is wrong here?