Vista - Re: How do I kill Auto-Arrange?

Well, if you're REALLY motivated, you could do what I did: write a batch
file to fix it.
I too am sick of MS deciding what's best for me. I've been doing my own
'clean ups' since the days of WinMe.
My method is a bit complicated to set up, but it works fine.

***
Here's what you do:

1. Make sure REMEMBER EACH FOLDER'S VIEW SETTINGS is checked.
(Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Folder Options\VIEW tab


2. Create a .reg file (I call mine CLEANUP.REG), and put these lines in it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]

The '-' in front of the key name tells REGEDIT to delete the key when you
install the .reg file.

Save the file as C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg


3. Create a batch file (I call mine CLEANUP.CMD) and put these lines in it:
REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg

REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\BagMRU.reg
REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Bags.reg

where <username> is your logon ID.

You can point to another folder if you want, but I'll keep it simple for the
example.


4. Using the Registry Editor (Regedit), delete the keys

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
and
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]

This is where your current layouts are stored.


5. Now, configure EVERY window you'd like to retain settings for. Go as
crazy as you want. I configure my Start menu (RIGHT CLICK,/OPEN), my trash
folder, and all folders I use repeatedly.
Arrange the columns/icons and windows settings to your preference.


6. When you have all your windows the way you want them, go into Registry
Editor again and EXPORT the keys
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
to your C:\Users\<username>\Documents folder.


7. To reset, just run your batch file CLEANUP.CMD and it will refersh your
folders to the preferences you saved in step 6.
If you later want to add a new folder to your cleanup, just run CLEANUP,
navigate to that folder, configure it, and do step 6 again.

To make it really easy, create a shortcut to your batch file and pin it to
your Start Menu.

My CLEANUP.CMD file does a lot more than this, but this is the part that
solves your problem.
It sounds complicated, but once it's set up, all you do is click your
shortcut, and voila! MS is foiled again!

Dave

Note: IGNORE THE LINE WRAPPINGS!
THE registry key values [HKEY_CURRENT_USER...], etc... were one line when I
wrote them, but got wrapped when I posted.
Make sure they're one line in your file.

****

"DaveD" <dd@xxxxxx> wrote in message
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