Folder views randomly changing

cvp wrote:
> Now that is useful! I hadn't realized that each folder TYPE had
> different default views and apparently (or because of that)different
> setting for "Remember. each folder's view settings'.
>

I'd picked up on that one a while back from browsing these forums. As I
understand it...

With "Remember each folder's view settings" checked, the view of each
individual folder is remembered.

When you click "Apply to folders" (in Folder Options > View) the current
folder's view is applied to all folders the same type. Hence doing this
for a folder under C:\ProgramData (an "All Items" folder) will affect
the view of C:\Program Files (another "All Items" folder) but not your
Documents (a "Documents" folder).

The problem I've been having is that these views don't seem to stick,
and even the type of folders seems to change, apparently at random. As
you and Adam have suggested, it may just be one of those annoying bugs
which will hopefully be fixed. I just posted here to find out if there
could be another reason for it, which may be fixable. I'll try Keith's
registry hacks when I have time, and see how that goes.

Mark.

"Mark Bourne" wrote:

> Using Explorer on Windows Vista Business, I've noticed that the folder
> view settings keep randomly changing.
>
> For example, one folder yesterday was set to "Details" view. Today, I
> opened the folder and it is in "Tiles" view. The main "Computer" view
> yesterday was "Tiles", grouped by drive type, today it is in "List view
> and not grouped. I have also had some folders even randomly changing
> type ("All Items", "Pictures and Videos", "Music Icons" etc.) This was
> particularly annoying when it decided that the root of the C: drive was
> a music folder, as there is no option to "Customise" this folder and put
> it back to "All Items"!
>
> I don't do anything to change the view of these folders, nor anything
> which would affect the view of all folders (ie. clicking "Apply to
> Folders" in the folder options).
>
> Does anyone know why this happens, and what I can do to stop it
> happening? I understand there are some registry keys which control this,
> but I don't see why they would keep randomly changing like this.
>
> Thanks,
> Mark.

ditto

My folder views change all the time. I tried setting them all to the same
view (detail) but they are always changing. Even detail view changes. It will
use different columns and rearrange them to the point that the folder doesn't
even look likes it's in detail view. BUGGY
>

"Keith Miller MVP" wrote:

> First & foremost:
>
> 'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab (or Alt+T -> 'Folder
> Options')
>
> Make sure that 'Remember each folder's view settings is checked'
>
> As for a specific folder forgetting it's view, folder views are unique based
> on the namespace path to the folder -- the saved view for
> 'Desktop\UserName\Pictures' has no bearing on the view of
> 'Desktop\Computer\c:\Users\UserName\Pictures', it can remember different
> view settings -- even use a different template. So make sure that's not the
> cause of the discrepancy that you are seeing.

THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE OPTION TO SET ALL FOLDER TO CURRENT VIEW IF IT ISN"T
GOING TO LISTEN?!

Stupid VISTA
>
> To obtain some consistency, you might want to consider using 'Apply to
> Folders'. 'Apply to Folders' in Vista works on a per-template basis.
> Different
> defaults can be saved for 'All Items', 'Documents', 'Pictures & Video', etc.
> You need to be sure of what template the current folder is using before
> using 'Apply to Folders'.
>

I just want a stinking DETAIL view for EVERYTHING how is that done?


> This also means that the default will only be applied to folders of that
> type.
>
> As for over-zealous content-sniffing (forcing the Pictures template on a
> folder), you can kill that with the following regedit. It will override
> autosense & set the template for any folder without a saved view as 'All
> Items'.
>
> Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file.
> Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell] is all one line,
> there is a space between 'Local' and 'Settings'.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
> "FolderType"="NotSpecified"
>
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any folders that
> don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can clear
> all saved views by deleting the
>
> "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
>
> key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different
> template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most
> likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.
>
>
> --
> Good Luck,
>
> Keith
> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
>
> "Mark Bourne" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:uaN973nfHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> > Using Explorer on Windows Vista Business, I've noticed that the folder
> > view settings keep randomly changing.
> >
> > For example, one folder yesterday was set to "Details" view. Today, I
> > opened the folder and it is in "Tiles" view. The main "Computer" view
> > yesterday was "Tiles", grouped by drive type, today it is in "List view
> > and not grouped. I have also had some folders even randomly changing type
> > ("All Items", "Pictures and Videos", "Music Icons" etc.) This was
> > particularly annoying when it decided that the root of the C: drive was a
> > music folder, as there is no option to "Customise" this folder and put it
> > back to "All Items"!
> >
> > I don't do anything to change the view of these folders, nor anything
> > which would affect the view of all folders (ie. clicking "Apply to
> > Folders" in the folder options).
> >
> > Does anyone know why this happens, and what I can do to stop it happening?
> > I understand there are some registry keys which control this, but I don't
> > see why they would keep randomly changing like this.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Mark.
>
>

I do not see how this could be a security issue. If so let me know but I am
making a global change here.

Try this and see if you like this better:

As an admin account browse to the top of the drive (C
'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab
UNCHECK 'Remember each folder's view settings'
Set to details
apply/save
'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab -> Apply to all
folders

Now almost everything in c: should show as details.

I think if you want to you can set the remember setting back and they will
stay details except where you change them to something else.




"bp" <bp@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:630EA28A-E8E3-45A5-B5FC-790442F78ABF@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
>
>> First & foremost:
>>
>> 'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab (or Alt+T ->
>> 'Folder
>> Options')
>>
>> Make sure that 'Remember each folder's view settings is checked'
>>
>> As for a specific folder forgetting it's view, folder views are unique
>> based
>> on the namespace path to the folder -- the saved view for
>> 'Desktop\UserName\Pictures' has no bearing on the view of
>> 'Desktop\Computer\c:\Users\UserName\Pictures', it can remember different
>> view settings -- even use a different template. So make sure that's not
>> the
>> cause of the discrepancy that you are seeing.
>
> THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE OPTION TO SET ALL FOLDER TO CURRENT VIEW IF IT ISN"T
> GOING TO LISTEN?!
>
> Stupid VISTA
>>
>> To obtain some consistency, you might want to consider using 'Apply to
>> Folders'. 'Apply to Folders' in Vista works on a per-template basis.
>> Different
>> defaults can be saved for 'All Items', 'Documents', 'Pictures & Video',
>> etc.
>> You need to be sure of what template the current folder is using before
>> using 'Apply to Folders'.
>>
>
> I just want a stinking DETAIL view for EVERYTHING how is that done?
>
>
>> This also means that the default will only be applied to folders of that
>> type.
>>
>> As for over-zealous content-sniffing (forcing the Pictures template on a
>> folder), you can kill that with the following regedit. It will override
>> autosense & set the template for any folder without a saved view as 'All
>> Items'.
>>
>> Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file.
>> Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell] is all one line,
>> there is a space between 'Local' and 'Settings'.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>
>> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
>> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
>> "FolderType"="NotSpecified"
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any folders
>> that
>> don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can
>> clear
>> all saved views by deleting the
>>
>> "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local
>> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
>>
>> key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different
>> template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most
>> likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Good Luck,
>>
>> Keith
>> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
>>
>> "Mark Bourne" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:uaN973nfHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> > Using Explorer on Windows Vista Business, I've noticed that the folder
>> > view settings keep randomly changing.
>> >
>> > For example, one folder yesterday was set to "Details" view. Today, I
>> > opened the folder and it is in "Tiles" view. The main "Computer" view
>> > yesterday was "Tiles", grouped by drive type, today it is in "List view
>> > and not grouped. I have also had some folders even randomly changing
>> > type
>> > ("All Items", "Pictures and Videos", "Music Icons" etc.) This was
>> > particularly annoying when it decided that the root of the C: drive was
>> > a
>> > music folder, as there is no option to "Customise" this folder and put
>> > it
>> > back to "All Items"!
>> >
>> > I don't do anything to change the view of these folders, nor anything
>> > which would affect the view of all folders (ie. clicking "Apply to
>> > Folders" in the folder options).
>> >
>> > Does anyone know why this happens, and what I can do to stop it
>> > happening?
>> > I understand there are some registry keys which control this, but I
>> > don't
>> > see why they would keep randomly changing like this.
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > Mark.
>>
>>

bp wrote:
>
> "Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
>
>> First & foremost:
>>
>> 'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab (or Alt+T -> 'Folder
>> Options')
>>
>> Make sure that 'Remember each folder's view settings is checked'
>>
>> As for a specific folder forgetting it's view, folder views are unique based
>> on the namespace path to the folder -- the saved view for
>> 'Desktop\UserName\Pictures' has no bearing on the view of
>> 'Desktop\Computer\c:\Users\UserName\Pictures', it can remember different
>> view settings -- even use a different template. So make sure that's not the
>> cause of the discrepancy that you are seeing.
>
> THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE OPTION TO SET ALL FOLDER TO CURRENT VIEW IF IT ISN"T
> GOING TO LISTEN?!
>
They above is about how each *individual* folder's view is remembered,
not about setting all folders to the current view. As I understand it,
when you set all folders OF THE SAME TYPE to the current view, it should
clear any settings remembered per-folder.

The bit that seems to keep tripping people up (understandably, as the
change isn't exactly obvious) is that the button which used to set ALL
folders to the current view now only sets all folders OF THE SAME TYPE
to the current view. And who actually carefully reads the text next to a
button they've been using for the last 7 years?

That, however, isn't the problem I'm having. The problem I have is that
the view or even type of individual folders keeps changing, apparently
at random, without me doing anything to change it. Maybe because of the
namespace path thing Keith mentioned, but I don't think that is it.
Maybe the content-sniffing, and I'll be trying the registry hack Keith
suggested to stop that.

> Stupid VISTA
>> To obtain some consistency, you might want to consider using 'Apply to
>> Folders'. 'Apply to Folders' in Vista works on a per-template basis.
>> Different
>> defaults can be saved for 'All Items', 'Documents', 'Pictures & Video', etc.
>> You need to be sure of what template the current folder is using before
>> using 'Apply to Folders'.
>>
>
> I just want a stinking DETAIL view for EVERYTHING how is that done?
>
Find a folder of each type (or use one folder and change it to each type
in turn), change its view and apply to all folders of that type. By
default, detail view for "Documents" contains different columns than
detail view for "All Items" etc., so you might want to change the
columns to what you want as well before applying to all similar folders.
Maybe there's an easier way, but there's only 5 different types to change.

If you don't want the view of individual folders remembered, you may
also want to turn OFF the option to "remember each folder's view settings".

>
>> This also means that the default will only be applied to folders of that
>> type.
>>
>> As for over-zealous content-sniffing (forcing the Pictures template on a
>> folder), you can kill that with the following regedit. It will override
>> autosense & set the template for any folder without a saved view as 'All
>> Items'.
>>
>> Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file.
>> Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell] is all one line,
>> there is a space between 'Local' and 'Settings'.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>
>> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
>> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
>> "FolderType"="NotSpecified"
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any folders that
>> don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can clear
>> all saved views by deleting the
>>
>> "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
>>
>> key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different
>> template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most
>> likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Good Luck,
>>
>> Keith
>> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
>>
>> "Mark Bourne" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:uaN973nfHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>> Using Explorer on Windows Vista Business, I've noticed that the folder
>>> view settings keep randomly changing.
>>>
>>> For example, one folder yesterday was set to "Details" view. Today, I
>>> opened the folder and it is in "Tiles" view. The main "Computer" view
>>> yesterday was "Tiles", grouped by drive type, today it is in "List view
>>> and not grouped. I have also had some folders even randomly changing type
>>> ("All Items", "Pictures and Videos", "Music Icons" etc.) This was
>>> particularly annoying when it decided that the root of the C: drive was a
>>> music folder, as there is no option to "Customise" this folder and put it
>>> back to "All Items"!
>>>
>>> I don't do anything to change the view of these folders, nor anything
>>> which would affect the view of all folders (ie. clicking "Apply to
>>> Folders" in the folder options).
>>>
>>> Does anyone know why this happens, and what I can do to stop it happening?
>>> I understand there are some registry keys which control this, but I don't
>>> see why they would keep randomly changing like this.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>> Mark.
>>

On Sun, 15 Apr 2007 11:09:24 +0100, Mark Bourne
<Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>bp wrote:
>>
>> "Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
>>
>>> First & foremost:
>>>
>>> 'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab (or Alt+T -> 'Folder
>>> Options')
>>>
>>> Make sure that 'Remember each folder's view settings is checked'
>>>
>>> As for a specific folder forgetting it's view, folder views are unique based
>>> on the namespace path to the folder -- the saved view for
>>> 'Desktop\UserName\Pictures' has no bearing on the view of
>>> 'Desktop\Computer\c:\Users\UserName\Pictures', it can remember different
>>> view settings -- even use a different template. So make sure that's not the
>>> cause of the discrepancy that you are seeing.
>>
>> THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE OPTION TO SET ALL FOLDER TO CURRENT VIEW IF IT ISN"T
>> GOING TO LISTEN?!
>>
>They above is about how each *individual* folder's view is remembered,
>not about setting all folders to the current view. As I understand it,
>when you set all folders OF THE SAME TYPE to the current view, it should
>clear any settings remembered per-folder.

It boils down to Microsoft again showing it's arrogance and imposing
what it thinks is right, overriding what the user actually wants. This
is exhibited by some offering a Registry hack to prevent Vista from
doing what it wants to do by default. This is an ABSURD "solution" to
suggest you must fiddle with some Registry hack just to get Windows to
do what you want it to do in the way of presenting folder views.

Microsoft still hasn't learned a simple and important lesson. It is MY
computer, and I GET TO SET IT UP the way I want it to work, not how
Microsoft thinks it should behave. We see the biggest example of
Microsoft arrogance in their useless UAC implementation foced upon us.

What always infurates users of Windows is the mindless maze of
"controls" which often act other than expected or act differently
depending on how they're accessed which again makes little sense.

How Explorer displays folder contents is a good example of how
Microsoft dropped the ball and instead of offering s simple, clean
interface where you can easily set folders to show how YOU WANT THEM
TO SHOW globally, it uses a maze of templates which may or may not
undo what you want. The laughbable part is to do it this way no doubt
adds hundreds if not thousands of lies of code that further adds to
Windows' bloat which is often the underlying problem for all the dumb
things Windows does and how long it takes to do them.

What's sure to anger the fan boys club is a famous quote from Bill
Gates himself: "If you can't make it good, at least make it look
good.”

That is the singular guiding principle behind Windows and the fan boys
know it, which is why they quickly get pissed off when anybody points
out flaws in Windows which are everywhere, hiding under the "pretty"
Vista face. Eveybody knows Windows is broken, has been from the start,
the fan boys say so what, live with it or use something else. I expect
more. I'm simply saying Microsoft should be held accountable.

"Mark Bourne" wrote:

> bp wrote:
> >
> > "Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
> >
> >> First & foremost:
> >>
> >> 'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab (or Alt+T -> 'Folder
> >> Options')
> >>
> >> Make sure that 'Remember each folder's view settings is checked'
> >>
> >> As for a specific folder forgetting it's view, folder views are unique based
> >> on the namespace path to the folder -- the saved view for
> >> 'Desktop\UserName\Pictures' has no bearing on the view of
> >> 'Desktop\Computer\c:\Users\UserName\Pictures', it can remember different
> >> view settings -- even use a different template. So make sure that's not the
> >> cause of the discrepancy that you are seeing.
> >
> > THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE OPTION TO SET ALL FOLDER TO CURRENT VIEW IF IT ISN"T
> > GOING TO LISTEN?!
> >
> They above is about how each *individual* folder's view is remembered,
> not about setting all folders to the current view. As I understand it,
> when you set all folders OF THE SAME TYPE to the current view, it should
> clear any settings remembered per-folder.
>
> The bit that seems to keep tripping people up (understandably, as the
> change isn't exactly obvious) is that the button which used to set ALL
> folders to the current view now only sets all folders OF THE SAME TYPE
> to the current view. And who actually carefully reads the text next to a
> button they've been using for the last 7 years?



Yeah I noticed that yesterday But I don't want "types" either I just want a
folder to open and have file names in detail view FOR ALL OF MY FOLDERS
Is there a place to set the "types" to a default view?

I can't tell if they are really changing until I can set them all.
Where does it say in a folder what type you are viewing? How do I know when
a folder is of a different "type" ? How many types are there? etc etc.
Why would they make something so simple so complicated? ;-)

>
> That, however, isn't the problem I'm having. The problem I have is that
> the view or even type of individual folders keeps changing, apparently
> at random, without me doing anything to change it. Maybe because of the
> namespace path thing Keith mentioned, but I don't think that is it.
> Maybe the content-sniffing, and I'll be trying the registry hack Keith
> suggested to stop that.
>
> > Stupid VISTA
> >> To obtain some consistency, you might want to consider using 'Apply to
> >> Folders'. 'Apply to Folders' in Vista works on a per-template basis.
> >> Different
> >> defaults can be saved for 'All Items', 'Documents', 'Pictures & Video', etc.
> >> You need to be sure of what template the current folder is using before
> >> using 'Apply to Folders'.
> >>
> >
> > I just want a stinking DETAIL view for EVERYTHING how is that done?
> >
> Find a folder of each type (or use one folder and change it to each type
> in turn), change its view and apply to all folders of that type. By
> default, detail view for "Documents" contains different columns than
> detail view for "All Items" etc., so you might want to change the
> columns to what you want as well before applying to all similar folders.
> Maybe there's an easier way, but there's only 5 different types to change.
>
> If you don't want the view of individual folders remembered, you may
> also want to turn OFF the option to "remember each folder's view settings".
>
> >
> >> This also means that the default will only be applied to folders of that
> >> type.
> >>
> >> As for over-zealous content-sniffing (forcing the Pictures template on a
> >> folder), you can kill that with the following regedit. It will override
> >> autosense & set the template for any folder without a saved view as 'All
> >> Items'.
> >>
> >> Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file.
> >> Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell] is all one line,
> >> there is a space between 'Local' and 'Settings'.
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------
> >> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
> >>
> >> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
> >> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
> >> "FolderType"="NotSpecified"
> >>
> >> --------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >> Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any folders that
> >> don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can clear
> >> all saved views by deleting the
> >>
> >> "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
> >>
> >> key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different
> >> template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most
> >> likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Good Luck,
> >>
> >> Keith
> >> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
> >>
> >> "Mark Bourne" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:uaN973nfHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> >>> Using Explorer on Windows Vista Business, I've noticed that the folder
> >>> view settings keep randomly changing.
> >>>
> >>> For example, one folder yesterday was set to "Details" view. Today, I
> >>> opened the folder and it is in "Tiles" view. The main "Computer" view
> >>> yesterday was "Tiles", grouped by drive type, today it is in "List view
> >>> and not grouped. I have also had some folders even randomly changing type
> >>> ("All Items", "Pictures and Videos", "Music Icons" etc.) This was
> >>> particularly annoying when it decided that the root of the C: drive was a
> >>> music folder, as there is no option to "Customise" this folder and put it
> >>> back to "All Items"!
> >>>
> >>> I don't do anything to change the view of these folders, nor anything
> >>> which would affect the view of all folders (ie. clicking "Apply to
> >>> Folders" in the folder options).
> >>>
> >>> Does anyone know why this happens, and what I can do to stop it happening?
> >>> I understand there are some registry keys which control this, but I don't
> >>> see why they would keep randomly changing like this.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks,
> >>> Mark.
> >>
>

> I can't tell if they are really changing until I can set them all.
> Where does it say in a folder what type you are viewing? How do I know
> when
> a folder is of a different "type" ? How many types are there? etc etc.
> Why would they make something so simple so complicated? ;-)

When you're in a folder, right-click anywehre in the white area and click
"Customize". The current type is listed in the drop-down menu and you're
free to change it to anything you want. You can also apply the template
type to subfolders. You can also get to the "Customize" tab from within the
properties of any folder.


Eric

bp wrote:
>
> "Mark Bourne" wrote:
>
>> bp wrote:
>>> "Keith Miller MVP" wrote:
>>>
>>>> First & foremost:
>>>>
>>>> 'Organize' -> 'Folder & Search Options' -> 'View' tab (or Alt+T -> 'Folder
>>>> Options')
>>>>
>>>> Make sure that 'Remember each folder's view settings is checked'
>>>>
>>>> As for a specific folder forgetting it's view, folder views are unique based
>>>> on the namespace path to the folder -- the saved view for
>>>> 'Desktop\UserName\Pictures' has no bearing on the view of
>>>> 'Desktop\Computer\c:\Users\UserName\Pictures', it can remember different
>>>> view settings -- even use a different template. So make sure that's not the
>>>> cause of the discrepancy that you are seeing.
>>> THEN WHAT GOOD IS THE OPTION TO SET ALL FOLDER TO CURRENT VIEW IF IT ISN"T
>>> GOING TO LISTEN?!
>>>
>> They above is about how each *individual* folder's view is remembered,
>> not about setting all folders to the current view. As I understand it,
>> when you set all folders OF THE SAME TYPE to the current view, it should
>> clear any settings remembered per-folder.
>>
>> The bit that seems to keep tripping people up (understandably, as the
>> change isn't exactly obvious) is that the button which used to set ALL
>> folders to the current view now only sets all folders OF THE SAME TYPE
>> to the current view. And who actually carefully reads the text next to a
>> button they've been using for the last 7 years?
>
>
>
> Yeah I noticed that yesterday But I don't want "types" either I just want a
> folder to open and have file names in detail view FOR ALL OF MY FOLDERS
> Is there a place to set the "types" to a default view?
>
Keith's registry hack (if you delete the key he mentioned first) seems
to set most, if not all, folders to "All Items". Even Documents,
Pictures, etc were set to "All Items" rather than their default when I
tried it.

> I can't tell if they are really changing until I can set them all.
> Where does it say in a folder what type you are viewing? How do I know when
> a folder is of a different "type" ?

Open the folder, and either:
- right click in and empty space and select "Customize This Folder"
- click "Organize", then "Properties" and select the "Customize" tab
- if you have the menus shown, View > Customize This Folder
You can then see and change the template used for the current folder.

> How many types are there?

5 for most folders - All Items, Documents, Pictures and Videos, Music
Details, Music Icons. It seems that an additional "Contacts" template is
available when you are in your contacts folder. I'm not sure what's
special about this folder that makes the extra template visible, nor if
any other folders have a similar feature.

> etc etc.
> Why would they make something so simple so complicated? ;-)
>
I guess they're trying to make it easy to apply different views to
folders containing different types of content. eg. you may want a
thumbnail view when browsing photos, but details view when looking at
documents. Like you, I've previously always had everything in details
view, but I can see the advantage of the "Pictures" folder showing
thumbnails etc. Personally, I'm not sure if I like it or not either yet.
I might start liking it more if it didn't keep randomly changing the
views ;o) I've yet to see if the registry hack has fixed that.

I was also thinking it might also be nice if I could define my own
templates rather than being stuck with the 5 provided, and delete the
ones I don't use (maybe all except "All Items" in your case). Then
again, maybe that is possible and I just don't know how...

>> That, however, isn't the problem I'm having. The problem I have is that
>> the view or even type of individual folders keeps changing, apparently
>> at random, without me doing anything to change it. Maybe because of the
>> namespace path thing Keith mentioned, but I don't think that is it.
>> Maybe the content-sniffing, and I'll be trying the registry hack Keith
>> suggested to stop that.
>>
>>> Stupid VISTA
>>>> To obtain some consistency, you might want to consider using 'Apply to
>>>> Folders'. 'Apply to Folders' in Vista works on a per-template basis.
>>>> Different
>>>> defaults can be saved for 'All Items', 'Documents', 'Pictures & Video', etc.
>>>> You need to be sure of what template the current folder is using before
>>>> using 'Apply to Folders'.
>>>>
>>> I just want a stinking DETAIL view for EVERYTHING how is that done?
>>>
>> Find a folder of each type (or use one folder and change it to each type
>> in turn), change its view and apply to all folders of that type. By
>> default, detail view for "Documents" contains different columns than
>> detail view for "All Items" etc., so you might want to change the
>> columns to what you want as well before applying to all similar folders.
>> Maybe there's an easier way, but there's only 5 different types to change.
>>
>> If you don't want the view of individual folders remembered, you may
>> also want to turn OFF the option to "remember each folder's view settings".
>>
>>>> This also means that the default will only be applied to folders of that
>>>> type.
>>>>
>>>> As for over-zealous content-sniffing (forcing the Pictures template on a
>>>> folder), you can kill that with the following regedit. It will override
>>>> autosense & set the template for any folder without a saved view as 'All
>>>> Items'.
>>>>
>>>> Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file.
>>>> Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell] is all one line,
>>>> there is a space between 'Local' and 'Settings'.
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>>>
>>>> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
>>>> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
>>>> "FolderType"="NotSpecified"
>>>>
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any folders that
>>>> don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can clear
>>>> all saved views by deleting the
>>>>
>>>> "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
>>>>
>>>> key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different
>>>> template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most
>>>> likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Good Luck,
>>>>
>>>> Keith
>>>> Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
>>>>
>>>> "Mark Bourne" <Mark@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:uaN973nfHHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Using Explorer on Windows Vista Business, I've noticed that the folder
>>>>> view settings keep randomly changing.
>>>>>
>>>>> For example, one folder yesterday was set to "Details" view. Today, I
>>>>> opened the folder and it is in "Tiles" view. The main "Computer" view
>>>>> yesterday was "Tiles", grouped by drive type, today it is in "List view
>>>>> and not grouped. I have also had some folders even randomly changing type
>>>>> ("All Items", "Pictures and Videos", "Music Icons" etc.) This was
>>>>> particularly annoying when it decided that the root of the C: drive was a
>>>>> music folder, as there is no option to "Customise" this folder and put it
>>>>> back to "All Items"!
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't do anything to change the view of these folders, nor anything
>>>>> which would affect the view of all folders (ie. clicking "Apply to
>>>>> Folders" in the folder options).
>>>>>
>>>>> Does anyone know why this happens, and what I can do to stop it happening?
>>>>> I understand there are some registry keys which control this, but I don't
>>>>> see why they would keep randomly changing like this.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Mark.

Mark Bourne wrote:
> Keith Miller MVP wrote:
>> As for over-zealous content-sniffing (forcing the Pictures template on
>> a folder), you can kill that with the following regedit. It will
>> override autosense & set the template for any folder without a saved
>> view as 'All Items'.
>>
>> Copy the text between the lines below into notepad & save as a .reg file.
>> Watch out for line wrap -- [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\...\Shell] is all one line,
>> there is a space between 'Local' and 'Settings'.
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>
>> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
>> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]
>> "FolderType"="NotSpecified"
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Merging the .reg file will set the 'All Items' template for any
>> folders that
>> don't currently have a view saved with a different template. You can
>> clear
>> all saved views by deleting the
>>
>> "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local
>> Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
>>
>> key BEFORE merging the .reg file. If any folders open with a different
>> template after clearing the 'Bags' key & merging the .reg file, they most
>> likely have a template specified via their desktop.ini file.
>>
>>
>
> I deleted the "...\Shell\Bags" key, and then set FolderType=NotSpecified
> for AllFolders (as above). This does seem to have stopped the content
> detection choosing a template for folders. I then set one of the "All
> Items" folders up as I wanted it to appear (details view), and applied
> to all other folders of that type.
>
> One particular folder (C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Uni\Year4) was fine
> yesterday, in details view. Today I went to that folder, through exactly
> the same sequence as yesterday (so no problems with navigating from
> Desktop vs Computer) and it was in Tiles view, grouped by type. It was
> still an "All Items" folder, so the folder type hadn't changed (I never
> put my Documents back to the Documents template after modifying the
> registry, since I don't want them to have a different view).
>
> So the views still seem to be liable to change apparently at random...

I've just discovered that whatever view I set up for "Computer" also
gets applied to "C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Uni\Year4" for some reason. I
change the view of "Computer", close the window, open
"C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Uni\Year4", and it has the view I just set for
"Computer". It also happens the other way round - if I change the view
of "C:\Users\Mark\Documents\Uni\Year4", the same view is applied to
"Computer". I don't tell it to apply that view to any other folders, it
just does it! Possibly there are other pairs of folders affected in this
way, but I haven't found them yet. So maybe this isn't quite as random
as it originally seemed...

To me, this seems like there's a bug in the mapping between the registry
keys under "...\Shell\Bags" and the actual folders. Is there some way to
report this? I have an OEM version of Vista, so no technical support
from Microsoft.