File properties not displaying in Windows Explorer

[od404]

I am running Win XP Pro and have noticed that Explorer is misbehaving.

I have set the default view as Details but the only columns which are
displaying details are:-

Size, Date Modified, Date Created, Type, Date Accessed, Attributes, Status
and Owner.

All other columns (including Author, Title, Artist, Album Title, Year,
Duration etc.) do not show any file properties at all. This is annoying
because I mainly use Explorer to sort my music.

When I right-click on an mp3 file (for example) and select Properties, if I
click the Summary tab, there is nothing showing in either the Advanced or
Simple views. Also when I hover the mouse pointer over an mp3 file all that
is displayed in the hover-text is Type and Size - I'm sure more info was
displayed before.

I know that (from having previously organised/catalogued my music) all my
music files have mp3 tags (these are displayed when I view the file info
within my default mp3 player) so I am at a loss as to what has happened.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled all software since I noticed this, and I
have run Registry Mechanic just to make sure, but this has made no
difference to Explorer.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Guest]

In Windows Explorer, you may change fields that are displayed by right
clicking on the column header and then checking and unchecking fields as
desired. You may also re-order columns. Left click and hold on the field to
be moved and drag it to where you want it.

You may also display the "Choose Details" menu by selecting View > Choose
Details. Fields may be re-ordered using the "Move Up" and "Move Down"
buttons.

 

[od404]

Thanks for replying. I shaould have stated in my original post that this is
not a column-width issue (altough I did mention that there are other
problems as well such as right-clicking on a file but there is nothjing
displayed under the Summary tab).

Any ideas?

 

[Wesley Vogel]

File Properties.

Summary
Lists information about the file, including the title, subject, category,
and author.

Sometimes, if someone was really industrious, there is info under the
Summary tab. More often than not, there is nothing listed under Summary.

Add your own comment to a file.
Right-click a file.
Click Properties.
On the Summary tab, type your comment in the Comments area.
-or-
On the Summary tab, click Simple, and then type your comment in the Comments
area.


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[od404]

Wes

Thanks for this update. As I mentioned in my first post the vast majority
of my mp3 files (for example) do have file info (whether already there or if
I updated myself) and this is confirmed by being able to view this file info
via another program (I use Winamp as my mp3 player).

This file info always used to be displayed but now it's not.

Is there a registry setting that needs to be changed to 'force' Explorer to
show files info? Or do I need to do something else?

Thanks again for any assistance you can offer

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Are you saying the whatever info can be seen by right clicking a file but
not under whatever column header?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[od404]

Wes

The (file) info:-

* is not visible in any column header
* is not visible by right-clicking then selecting
properties>Summary>Advanced/Simple
* is visible when I use my mp3 program's 'View File Info' option

I accept that the (file) info is not always present but I am sure that for
the vast majority of my mp3 files it is present - because I added it in
myself.

Maybe I could send you screen shots?

thanks

Andy

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Andy,

Either post the screen shots here or send to me.

Remove the 123 from my munged E-mail address.

Are you talking Comments?

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

My 2 cents - I am having the same problem - my mp3 files show in the Advanced
Settings in the Summary Tab only 3 items => Track Number, Title, and Comments.

I no longer have Artist, Album, Genre, Bit Rate, etc. It is just gone!!! I
previously had info there. Luckily WMP 10 Advanced Tag Editor saved the info.
However, in Windows Explorer I cannot any longer Group my files or arrange my
icons.

I have been trying to fix a problem with WMP 10 and noticed this. This has
affected all of my media files. I have rolled back WMP to 9 and then upgraded
back to 10, and reinstalled DirectX 9.0c to no avail.

Unfortunately, I do not have an answer but maybe something to think about.
If you solve this mystery, please post what you did. I shall do the same if I
find a solution.