Windows Explorer Folder View settings

INFO: 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 help Vista remember the view settings, folder type template, size, or position of all windows as you last left them when closed.

NOTE:
A) The Windows Explorer window pane Layout settings are universal for all window templates. These are the Search Pane, Details Pane, Preview Pane, and Navigation Pane. They can only be turned on or off for all windows with the same folder template. For example, the Music Details, Music Icons, Pictures and Videos, All Items, Contacts, and Documents. See: How to Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista
B) This will have no affect on the memory for the Open, Save, and Save As dialog boxes for having them open to the same location.

WHY: You want Vista to remember how you set the current open Windows Explorer window's folder view settings when you close it again so it will open the same way the next time you open the same Windows Explorer window again.

WARNING: The exact cause of Vista losing it's memory on your folder view settings has not been found yet. This will just reset them for now so Vista will remember them again. It has been noticed that changing alot of window folder view settings in combination with some unknown applications settings may be triggering this forgetfulness. Make sure that you do not have a setting in a 3rd party program set to clear the folder view setting cache when it is used. (EX: CCleaner - Window Size/Location cache option under Cleaner -> Advanced) External devices will not retain their folder view settings when turned off or disconnected from the computer.

RELATED LINKS:
1. How to Change a Windows Explorer Folder Type Template in Vista

2. How to Change a Default Open Window Size for a Shortcut in Vista

3. How to Change Windows Explorer Default Open Location

4. How to Use the Windows Explorer Address Bar in Vista

5. How to Enable or Disable the Menu Bar in Vista

6. How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista

7. How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista

8. How to Turn the Preview Pane On or Off in Vista

9. How to Turn the Navigation Pane On or Off in Vista

10. How to Change the Sort Order for Numbers in File and Folder Names in Vista

11. How to Enable or Disable Auto-Hide for Vista Explorer Full Screen F11

12. How to Hide or Show File Names in Vista


METHOD ONE:
Normal Way to Reset a Folder Type View Settings :
NOTE: This resets the folder view for all folders with this same folder template type back to the default view settings. You will need to use METHOD TWO below for Vista not remembering your settings for all the folder views.

1. Open the Control Panel. (In Start Menu)
NOTE: If you do not see icons in Control Panel, then click Classic View in upper left corner.

2. Click on Folder Options icon. (See screenshot below)
3. Close Control Panel.
4. Click on View tab.
5. Click on Reset Folders button.

Folder Options.jpg

6. Click Yes to the confirmation pop-up. (See screenshot below)

Folder Views.jpg

7. Click OK to close Folder Options.


METHOD TWO:
Reset All Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember :
NOTE: This just resets the current settings so they will be rebuilt when you restart. This will also bring back the Uninstall, Change, Repair, or Uninstall/Change buttons in Programs and Features if missing.

DO RESET BY A DOWNLOAD:

1. Click on Reset_Folder_View.reg (Below) and save it to your desktop.
NOTE: This includes and does all of the Manual section below.

Reset_Folder_View.reg <CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

2. Right click Reset_Folder_View.reg (On desktop) and click Merge.
3. Click Run button for Security Warning prompt.
4. Click Continue button for UAC prompt.
5. Click YES on Confirmation prompt.
6. Click OK on Success prompt.
7. Go to the Wrapping it Up section below.
NOTE: Step 25 below.

DO RESET MANUALLY:
Reset Folder View Settings :
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click Continue for UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

5. In the left pane, right click on Bags, and click Delete. (See screenshot below)

Delete_Bags.jpg

6. Click Yes to the confirmation pop-up window. (See screenshot below)

Confirm.jpg

7. In regedit, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

8. In the left pane, right click on BagMRU and click Delete. (See screenshot below)

Reg BagMRU.jpg

9. Click Yes to confirmation pop-up window. (See screenshot for step 6 above)


Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery for Templates :
CREDIT TO: Kristan Kenney: Confessions of a Windows Enthusiast
NOTE: This will allow you to have what folder type template you set for the window instead of Vista automatically assigning a default template to it based on the contents of the window. This is when you have your folder template changed to Pictures and Videos from All Items when you put one image file in the folder.
OPTION: This is an optional section, but it is recommended. Steps 1-9 must have been done first before you do this section. If you decide to skip it, then go to step 21.

10. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

11. In the left pane, right click on Shell and click New and click Key.

RightClick_Shell.jpg

12. Type Bags and press Enter. (See screenshots below)
13. In the left pane, right click Bags and click New and click Key.

New_Key_Bags.jpg
New_Bags.jpg

14. Type AllFolders and press Enter. (See screenshots below)
15. In the left pane, right click AllFolders and click New and click Key.

New_Key_AllFolders.jpg
New_AllFolders.jpg

16. Type Shell and press Enter. (See screenshots below)
17. In the right pane of Shell, right click on a empty area and click New and click String Value.

New_Key_Shell.jpg
New_Shell.jpg

18. Type FolderType and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
19. In the right pane, right click FolderType and click Modify.

New_FolderType.jpg

20. Type NotSpecified (or one below) and click OK. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: You can type any one of these in bold below instead to apply the template as the default for all folder types. You will still be able to change a individual folder type template to what you want and have Vista remember it. For examples of the templates, see: How to Choose and Customize a Folder Type Template and Columns in Vista

• NotSpecified = All Items folder type template
• Contacts = Contacts folder type template
• Music = Music Details folder type template
• MusicIcons = Music Icons folder type template
• Documents = Documents folder type template
• Pictures = Pictures and Videos folder type template with large icons

Modify_FolderType.jpg
Type_After.jpg


Increase Folder View Cache Memory :
NOTE: This will increase the amount of folders to be remembered for changes to the folder view settings.
OPTION: This is a optional step, but the increase will help ensure that Vista does not forget. Steps 1-9 must be done first before you do this section. If you decide to skip it, them go to step 25.

21. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

22. In the right pane, right click on BagMRU Size.
23. Click Modify.

Reg Size.jpg

24. Dot the Decimal and type 20000 (folders) and click OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: 5000 is the default number of folders to be remembered.

ModifyBagMRU.jpg


Wrapping it Up :
25. Close regedit.
26. Logoff and logon,or restart the computer to apply the reset and to let Vista rebuild the registry keys with a clean slate.
27. Open Folder Options.
NOTE: See: How to Open and Change Folder Options in Vista
A) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below)
B) Check Remember each folder's view settings.
NOTE: If unchecked, Vista will ignore custom view settings for every folder and have every folder open using default settings instead. Only, uncheck this setting to force all folders to stop using display settings you have specified.
C) Click OK.

Apply.jpg

28. Make the changes you want for the opened Windows Explorer windows.

29. To Apply These Changes to All the Same Folder Type Templates -
NOTE: For more information on templates,
see: How to Choose and Customize a Folder Type Template and Columns in Vista and How to Change the Windows Explorer Columns and Sort Order in Vista

WARNING: This must be done from within the window that you are changing, or it will not work.
A) Open Folder Options.
B) Click the View tab. (See screenshot above)
C) Click the Apply to Folders button.
D) Click Yes to the confirmation prompt.
E) Click OK.

30. To Apply Changes to Just this Window Template -
A) Close the window when you make your changes to the Windows Explorer window to save the folder view settings for just that one window.
NOTE: Vista will only remember the way it is when you last closed the window.

31. To Apply Changes to All Window Templates -
A) In step 20 above, you can change the template at will for all folder types without having to restart the computer again.


That's it,
Shawn