Vista Tutorial - Windows Explorer Folder View settings

**Brink** · **METHOD ONE:**

How to Reset Windows Explorer Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember

Information

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 have Vista remember the view settings, folder type template, size, or position of a specific window for when it was last closed at the specific path location.

This does not work with the sub Save As, Open With, Open in New Tab (Internet Explorer), etc.... type dialog windows though. These do not seem to be able to have their size or position remembered. For these, you can use the free program AutoSizer to resize them.

NOTE

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.
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.
External devices (EX: USB drive) will not retain their folder view settings when turned off or disconnected from the computer.

Tip

It has been reported that installing the Vista SP2 has helped resolved this issue of Vista forgetting folder view settings for no apparent reason.

WARNING

The exact cause of Vista losing it's memory on your folder view settings has not been found yet. This may just reset them for now to help Vista remember them again. It has been noticed that changing a lot 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)

RELATED LINKS:

METHOD ONE:
Normal Way to Reset a Folder Type View Settings

NOTE

This resets the folder view settings 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 Folder Options from the Control Panel (Classic View), and click on the View tab and Reset Folders button. (See screenshot below)

2. Click on Yes to the confirmation pop-up.

3. Click on OK to close Folder Options.

METHOD TWO:
Reset All Folder View Settings to Make Vista Remember

NOTE

This resets all current folder view 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.

TO RESET BY A DOWNLOAD:

1. Click on the Download button below to download the Reset_Folder_View.zip file and save it to your desktop.

NOTE

This .reg download includes and does all of the Manual section below for you automatically.

2. Open the ZIP file and extract the Reset_Folder_View.reg file to your desktop.

3. Right click on the Reset_Folder_View.reg file (on desktop) and click on Merge.

4. Click on Run button in the Security Warning prompt.

5. Click on Continue in the UAC prompt.

6. Click on YES in the Confirmation prompt.

7. Click on OK in the Success prompt.

8. Go to the Wrapping it Up section in step 25 below.

TO 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 on Continue in the UAC prompt.

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

5. In the left pane, right click on Bags, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)
A) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.

6. In the left pane, right click on BagMRU, and click on Delete. (See screenshot below)
A) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.

7. In regedit, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
A) In the left pane, right click on BagMRU and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.

C) In the left pane, right click on Bags and click on Delete.

D) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.

8. In regedit, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam
A) In the left pane, right click on BagMRU if here and click Delete. (See screenshot below step 8)

B) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.

C) In the left pane, right click on Bags if here and click on Delete.

D) Click on Yes in the confirmation pop-up window.

9. The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

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 on New and Key.

12. Type Bags and press Enter. (See screenshots below)

13. In the left pane, right click on Bags and click New and Key.

14. Type AllFolders and press Enter. (See screenshots below)

15. In the left pane, right click AllFolders and click on New and Key.

16. Type Shell and press Enter. (See screenshots below)

17. In the right pane of Shell, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value.

18. Type FolderType and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

19. In the right pane, right click on FolderType and click on Modify.

20. Type NotSpecified (or one below) and click on OK. (See screenshots below)

Tip

You can type any one of these values 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 afterwards.
Value Description
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

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\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

22. In the right pane, right click on BagMRU Size.
NOTE: If you do not have the BagMRU Size value, then right click on a empty space in the right pane and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. Type in BagMRU Size and press enter.

23. Click on Modify.

24. Dot the Decimal and type 20000 (folders) and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

NOTE

5000 is the default number of folders to be remembered.

Deleting Local Group Policy Setting :

NOTE

This will show you how to check to see if this Group Policy setting has been set to not save the position of open windows or the size and position of the taskbar when users log off, and to delete if it is so that the changed will now be remembered at exit.

25. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

26. In the right pane, look to see if you have NoSaveSettings. If you do, then right click on NoSaveSettings and click on Delete and Yes to confirm deletion. (See screenshot above)

27. In regedit, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

28. Repeat step 26 if you have NoSaveSettings here as well.

Wrapping it Up :

29. Close regedit.

30. Logoff and logon,or restart the computer to apply the reset and to let Vista rebuild the registry keys with a clean slate.

31. Open Folder Options.
A) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below)

B) Check Remember each folder's view settings.

WARNING

If left 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) Uncheck Restore previous folder windows at logon.

D) Click on OK.

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

33. To Apply These Changes to All the Same Folder Type Templates -

Tip

For more information on folder 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

A) Open Folder Options
WARNING: Folder Options must be opened from within the same Windows Explorer window that you are changing or the Apply to Folders button will be grayed out.

B) Click on the View tab. (See screenshot below step 31D)

C) Click on the Apply to Folders button.

D) Click on Yes in the confirmation prompt.

E) Click on OK.

34. 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.

WARNING

Vista will only remember the way it is when you last closed the window.

35. To Apply Changes to All Window Templates -
A) In step 20 above, you can change the default folder template used of (NotSpecified) to what you want instead for all folder templates without having to restart the computer again.

That's it,
Shawn

Sudsy · 07-14-2007

Thanks Brink. The registry edit was what I was looking for. It worked perfectly. You are hereby awarded the "High Order of the Registry Cross" for your excellent and timely problem solving skills.
..::SD::..
PS Thanks for the link ;~)

**Brink** · 07-15-2007

You're welcome SD, and welcome to the forum.

I'm glad that this has helped.

Shawn

hendinas · 07-23-2007

Thanks so much! I was ready to put a baseball bat through my PC and go back to XP over this! now im happy

if only Microsoft couldve gotten it right from the start!

**Brink** · 07-23-2007

Hendinas,

Welcome to the forum. Haha, I know how you feel. It takes a bit to get use to working on a OS that is not up to full snuff yet, but it is getting there.

Glad this has helped,
Shawn

**Brink** · 07-27-2007

Updated to include how to disable automatic folder type discovery for templates.
Shawn

stefanny · 08-12-2007

Hi Shawn,

This guide is great! Would you happen to know how to set the Details view (with custom columns) as default for all folder?

Thanks in advance.

**Brink** · 08-12-2007

Hi Stefanny,

Welcome to the forum. I'm glad you like this guide.

You can change the columns to what you like and can apply them to all of the same folder type templates. See the Customize the columns in the folder type template : section at this link. Look at the Note under the title for how to apply them to all the same folder type template that you made the change in. You'll see what I mean when you see the link. If not, just let me know. I'll be happy to help.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/77444-windows-explorer-folder-type-templates.html

Shawn

stefanny · 08-15-2007

Hey Shawn,

Thanks for the reply.

What I am trying to do is to have a Details View (Name,Date Modified,Type,Size) for all the subfolders inside the Documents folder.

Here's how I did it (from what I understand):
1. Opened the Documents folder
2. Changed the folder view to Details
3. Removed the Tags column
4. Right-clicked on an empty space and clicked Customize this folder
5. Went to Customize tab and then selected Documents and checked Also apply this template to all subfolders
6. Clicked Apply then OK

However, when i open any of the subfolders, I still have the Tags column.

Am i doing it correctly? Forgive me but I am new at this kind of stuff.

Thanks for the patience,
Stef

**Brink** · 08-15-2007

Stefanny,

You are doing it correctly, but just left out one little step. It was the top part below what you did.

Customize the columns in the folder type template :
NOTE: To apply the column changes to all windows with the same folder type template, open Folder Options and click the Apply to Folders button in the View tab. See this link for how:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84215-folder-options.html

This will apply that setting to all of the same folder type template windows and should get what you wanted.

Shawn