Folder Views Are Forgotten

[David E. Ross]

Tasks: Use Windows classic folders.
Browse folders: Open each folder in the same window.
Remember each folder's view settings: checked

When I double-click a folder, it always opens maximized in tiles mode.
I change it to "normal window" (clicking the middle button in the
upper-right corner, the button with two folders). Then, I change the
view to either icons or list mode. If I close the window and then
double-click the same folder, it reverts to maximized in tiles mode.

All this started shortly after downloading and installing the "Security
Update for Windows XP (KB925486)" on 26 Sep 06, but I can't remember if
it was right after that.

This is a problem both in my user account and (in safe mode) the
administrator account. But this problem affects only opening folders.

This problem also afflicts shortcuts to folders. The properties of a
shortcut to a folder says "Run: Normal window", but double-clicking the
shortcut opens the window maximized. Shortcuts to other objects (e.g.,
Word or Excel files) do not show this behavior; for them, if I have
"Run: Normal window" in the properties, their windows open less than
maximized. Only folders and shortcuts to folders are affected.

If I reduce the size of the window to "normal window" and change the
view to either icons or list mode, when I then double-click on a
subfolder in that folder, that subfolder opens in the same window. The
window does not revert to maximum, but the view reverts back to icons.

HELP! This is damned annoying. How do I fix it?

--

David E. Ross
<http://www.rossde.com/>

Concerned about someone (e.g., Pres. Bush) snooping
into your E-mail? Use PGP.
See my <http://www.rossde.com/PGP/>

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

Have you ever applied Kelly's fix?


http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Line 2, left-hand column.

It fixes most problems with saved folder views.

 

[David E. Ross]

Have you ever applied Kelly's fix?


http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Line 2, left-hand column.

It fixes most problems with saved folder views.

Actually, I had already boosted the allowed count to 5000. Applying
Kelly's tweak -- boosting the count to 8000 -- did not fix my problem
even though I used the tweak and then immediately rebooted.

I previously tried this tweak manually. That is, I manually deleted the
Bags and BagMRU keys. Unfortunately, I deleted them from Shell instead
of ShellNoRoam. It appears the keys at Shell have been regenerated, but
I can't tell if any necessary settings there are missing.

--

David E. Ross
<http://www.rossde.com/>

Concerned about someone (e.g., Pres. Bush) snooping
into your E-mail? Use PGP.
See my <http://www.rossde.com/PGP/>

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

Actually, I had already boosted the allowed count to 5000. Applying Kelly's tweak -- boosting the
count to 8000 -- did not fix my problem even though I used the tweak and then immediately
rebooted.

I previously tried this tweak manually. That is, I manually deleted the Bags and BagMRU keys.
Unfortunately, I deleted them from Shell instead of ShellNoRoam. It appears the keys at Shell
have been regenerated, but I can't tell if any necessary settings there are missing.

Hmmm...

Two weird things here: the initial view being maximized and views not being saved.

I know of only one way to accomplish the first and it involves keys that aren't in the registry by
default. Do you happen to have either of the following keys on your machine?

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

If so, export them & then delete them.

For views not being saved, look for a value named 'NoSaveSettings' under either of the following
keys:

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

If it exists, set its value to '0' or delete it. Then reboot.

If none of these things help, I have some more things we can do to troubleshoot.

 

[David E. Ross]

Actually, I had already boosted the allowed count to 5000. Applying
Kelly's tweak -- boosting the
count to 8000 -- did not fix my problem even though I used the tweak
and then immediately
rebooted.

I previously tried this tweak manually. That is, I manually deleted
the Bags and BagMRU keys.
Unfortunately, I deleted them from Shell instead of ShellNoRoam. It
appears the keys at Shell
have been regenerated, but I can't tell if any necessary settings
there are missing.

Hmmm...

Two weird things here: the initial view being maximized and views not
being saved.

I know of only one way to accomplish the first and it involves keys that
aren't in the registry by
default. Do you happen to have either of the following keys on your
machine?

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

If so, export them & then delete them.

For views not being saved, look for a value named 'NoSaveSettings' under
either of the following
keys:

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

If it exists, set its value to '0' or delete it. Then reboot.

If none of these things help, I have some more things we can do to
troubleshoot.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

It was the
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer] key.
It was 1. I changed it to 0. Now WinXP remembers both the size of
the folder window and the view mode.

--

David E. Ross
<http://www.rossde.com/>

Concerned about someone (e.g., Pres. Bush) snooping
into your E-mail? Use PGP.
See my <http://www.rossde.com/PGP/>

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

Great! You're welcome. Glad it's fixed. Thanks for the feedback.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

Keith Miller MVP wrote:
Have you ever applied Kelly's fix?


http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Line 2, left-hand column.

It fixes most problems with saved folder views.



Actually, I had already boosted the allowed count to 5000. Applying
Kelly's tweak -- boosting the
count to 8000 -- did not fix my problem even though I used the tweak
and then immediately
rebooted.

I previously tried this tweak manually. That is, I manually deleted
the Bags and BagMRU keys.
Unfortunately, I deleted them from Shell instead of ShellNoRoam. It
appears the keys at Shell
have been regenerated, but I can't tell if any necessary settings
there are missing.

Hmmm...

Two weird things here: the initial view being maximized and views not
being saved.

I know of only one way to accomplish the first and it involves keys that
aren't in the registry by
default. Do you happen to have either of the following keys on your
machine?

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

If so, export them & then delete them.

For views not being saved, look for a value named 'NoSaveSettings' under
either of the following
keys:

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

If it exists, set its value to '0' or delete it. Then reboot.

If none of these things help, I have some more things we can do to
troubleshoot.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

It was the
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer] key.
It was 1. I changed it to 0. Now WinXP remembers both the size of
the folder window and the view mode.

--

David E. Ross
<http://www.rossde.com/>

Concerned about someone (e.g., Pres. Bush) snooping
into your E-mail? Use PGP.
See my <http://www.rossde.com/PGP/>

 

[Guest]

I have the same problem that David Ross did, and have tried the same steps
that he did. Now I am to the "look for these files" part.

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Where do I look for them?
I did a file search in Explorer for "HKLM" and "HKCU", but nothing came up.

Actually, I had already boosted the allowed count to 5000. Applying Kelly's tweak -- boosting the
count to 8000 -- did not fix my problem even though I used the tweak and then immediately
rebooted.

I previously tried this tweak manually. That is, I manually deleted the Bags and BagMRU keys.
Unfortunately, I deleted them from Shell instead of ShellNoRoam. It appears the keys at Shell
have been regenerated, but I can't tell if any necessary settings there are missing.

Hmmm...

Two weird things here: the initial view being maximized and views not being saved.

I know of only one way to accomplish the first and it involves keys that aren't in the registry by
default. Do you happen to have either of the following keys on your machine?

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

If so, export them & then delete them.

For views not being saved, look for a value named 'NoSaveSettings' under either of the following
keys:

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

If it exists, set its value to '0' or delete it. Then reboot.

If none of these things help, I have some more things we can do to troubleshoot.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

I have the same problem that David Ross did, and have tried the same steps
that he did. Now I am to the "look for these files" part.

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

Where do I look for them?
I did a file search in Explorer for "HKLM" and "HKCU", but nothing came up.

They aren't files but keys in the registry. The registry is a database of settings for Windows and
software on the computer.

The registry editor can be started by clicking 'Start' -> 'Run' -> & typing 'regedit'

Plenty of advice & warnings can be found by Googling 'editing the registry'.

'HKLM' is an abbreviation for 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE' which is one of the 'hives' or main branches of
the registry.


'HKCU' is an abbreviaton for 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER'

Hives, keys, and subkeys are represented as folders in the left pane of regedit. Registry keys
contain values and their associated data, which are displayed in the right hand pane.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

Keith Miller MVP wrote:
Have you ever applied Kelly's fix?


http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Line 2, left-hand column.

It fixes most problems with saved folder views.



Actually, I had already boosted the allowed count to 5000. Applying Kelly's tweak -- boosting
the
count to 8000 -- did not fix my problem even though I used the tweak and then immediately
rebooted.

I previously tried this tweak manually. That is, I manually deleted the Bags and BagMRU keys.
Unfortunately, I deleted them from Shell instead of ShellNoRoam. It appears the keys at Shell
have been regenerated, but I can't tell if any necessary settings there are missing.

Hmmm...

Two weird things here: the initial view being maximized and views not being saved.

I know of only one way to accomplish the first and it involves keys that aren't in the registry
by
default. Do you happen to have either of the following keys on your machine?

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell]

If so, export them & then delete them.

For views not being saved, look for a value named 'NoSaveSettings' under either of the following
keys:

[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

If it exists, set its value to '0' or delete it. Then reboot.

If none of these things help, I have some more things we can do to troubleshoot.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]