UPDATE: Also works in Windows 7.
One of the most annoying problem in Windows Vista is automatically change of a folder view type. You set a desired view of a folder and suddenly Windows changes its view type to "Pictures and Videos" when you copy a picture to this folder.
Its a very common problem in Vista which almost all Vista users are facing. Actually it happens because of "Automatic Folder Type Discovery" feature which was introduced in Vista but instead of making something good, this feature has made the case worst.
But now no need to worry, there is a registry trick to fix this annoying problem. This trick will reset the folder view settings and will completely disable the automatic folder type discovery feature, so you'll not face this problem any more. Windows will always use your custom view settings for all folders.
So follow these simple steps to fix this problem:
1. Type regedit in RUN or start menu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now navigate to following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
3. Under "Shell" key, select "Bags" key and press "Delete" key. It'll ask for confirmation, click on Yes button.
4. Now right-click on "Shell" key and select "New -> Key" option. Give the new key name of Bags
5. Now right-click on "Bags" key and select "New -> Key" option. Give the new key name of AllFolders
6. Again right-click on "AllFolders" key and select "New -> Key" option. Give the new key name of Shell
7. Now click on this new "Shell" key and in right-side pane, create a new String value and give it name of FolderType and set its value to NotSpecified
8. That's it. Either restart your system or log off and now Windows will no longer reset/change your custom folder view type settings.
NOTE: If you want a ready-made registry script to do the task automatically, then download following Zip file, extract it and run the extracted REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it:
Fix-Folder-View-Type-Problem-in-Windows-Vista
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista.
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VG
^^ First apply the "All Folders" option in "Customize this folder" and then change the view options.
Michael
This also fixing the problem in Windows 7!
Why can't Microsoft just include this in the OS?
Aten
VG is right, before changing the "remember view" settings press apply to folders
William
THANKS, for the "ready-made registry script "
Everyone who posts registry changes SHOULD ALSO supply us with a ready-made script to do the job !
This cured the problem AND seems to have corrected a number of OTHER Squirrely "Timing" related problems.
Michael
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!
I guess Microsoft's VP of User Frustration will now just have to work harder.
Paultx
VG, does this very same fix apply to Windows 7 without risks? Michael?
VG
^^ Yes.
Dean
OK so this is a "FEATURE" introduced into windows Vista, its interesting as the "Folder View memory" issue with windows XP not being able to remember your custom settings after (originally 400 folders) this is EXACTLY what XP does, it finds an image or music file in a folder then randomly creates chaos across the whole hard disk by setting almost every folder to a media type folder. So my question is - What can be done for windows XP that will 100% prevent this ever happening again? - Microsoft's given solution to up the "BagMRU" Size value to 5000 or even 8000 is a waste of time- it assumes that you can and will maintain no more than 5000 folders on then PC - Some of us are never going to upgrade to Vista, & Windows 7 is still a long way short of proving itself to be a definite must have it now operating system, So DON'T EVEN GO THERE!
So what is it that can be modified that prevents XP from taking any control of folders, Something that ensures 100% that with exception to system controlled folders ALL FOLDERS are DOCUMENT folders by Default & that Windows CANNOT change them PERIOD regardless of the content. So that the ONLY thing windows has to do is Remember the changes made buy the USER!
Its very obvious from the chaotic folder control that windows XP does not only look for a users changes as it even changes its own system files & the whole of a drives root directory to a media folder when the folder count gets too high for it to handle or remember.
I think about 100% of XP Die Hard users are wanting this sorted once and for all, & as usual Microsoft don't give two wazzoo's & won't provide a real solution because its not good business sense when your busy trying to flog your latest unfinished product. So come on peoples some tech savvy programmer out there must know how to resolve this properly, Become the XP god & hero to all by saving millions of Keyboards, mice & screens from being smashed to smithereens when we can't take Microsoft's incompetent operating system bugs anymore & go mad, Mad I tell's ya!!
Apologies for the long post but I tell's ya its driving me mad, my BagMRU is set to 10,000 which is apparently the maximum tested by Microsoft, & the problem is still happening, YES I have a lot of folders on the PC (a lot more than 10,000) I download, I burn, Delete & download more so the folder and file count always remains high & yes of course some stuff does not get deleted as its constantly accessed & NO why should I have to remove them..... That's a narrow minded resolution that allows assuming that file sizes will not increase, that hard drive sizes have reached their limit & the need to have infinite folders & infinite files on a drive at any one time will never happen, THE EXACT narrow minded concepts from Microsoft who should know better than anyone else on the planet, that this is not true!
Sorry I'm ranting & going mad... even if you don't post this, if there is a real solution out there you know of can you point me toward it, Cheers, one total mental case
ColinR
I followed the instructions in How to Fix Annoying Folder View Type Problem in Windows Vista and 7 but it did not work, the folders still open any old way instead of how I set them.
Anyone else has the answer?
VG
^^ It works absolutely fine. Make sure no Explorer window is opened while running the registry script or while manually editing registry using the tutorial.