"My Computer" drive listing

[David P. Donahue]

When I open "My Computer" it normally shows (as icons, my preferred view
setting) the various drives grouped by type (fixed, removable, network,
etc.). But yesterday I accidentally backed up the directory tree to the
Desktop and now whenever I view the icons in My Computer they're just a
set of icons like any other folder, no grouping.

How would I go about making it group these icons again? If I try to
group them under "View->Arrange Icons By->Show In Groups" they just
group by the first letter of their description, not by their drive type.

Any ideas?


-David

 

[robert.bidgood]

Hello David; hope this helps.

Windows XP allows you to customize the folder view of your files to
your liking. Sometimes our desires change, so XP can change as well. As
with most Windows features, there are multiple ways to change the
folder views. The following 2 step method is one of the easiest.

Step 1: Change the View of a Displayed Folder
· With a folder being displayed (either from My Computer or Windows
Explorer) click View on the file bar
· Click on the desired view: Thumbnails, Tiles, Icon, List, Details -
The folder being displayed will have the new view.

Step 2: Apply the View to All Folders
· With a folder being displayed (either from My Computer or Windows
Explorer) click Tools on the file bar
· Click on the Folder Options in the drop down box - The Folder
Options control window will be displayed
· Click on the View tab
· Click on the Apply to All Folders button in the Folder Views section
of the view tab
· A confirm box will be displayed to change the view of all folders to
be like the folder you have displayed - click YES
· Click OK at the bottom of the View tab to close the Folder Options
control window

Use Show In Groups
Most users are familiar with the ability to display folders and files
using Tile, Icon, List, Thumbnail, and Detail views. They can be easily
changed using the View menu or the Views toolbar button. Many users are
not aware there is another view called Show in Groups. Right click in
the main Explorer pane, select Arrange Icons By and one of the options
will be Show In Groups. ( Note: The Show in Groups option will not be
available if List View is selected. Some say this is by design, others
say it's an XP bug) Once Show in Groups has been selected the files
will be sorted by alphabetical headings.

RBS "Quick Fixes for Windows XP"

http://robertbidgood.spaces.msn.com/

 

[David P. Donahue]

Use Show In Groups

Most users are familiar with the ability to display folders and files
using Tile, Icon, List, Thumbnail, and Detail views. They can be easily
changed using the View menu or the Views toolbar button. Many users are
not aware there is another view called Show in Groups. Right click in
the main Explorer pane, select Arrange Icons By and one of the options
will be Show In Groups. ( Note: The Show in Groups option will not be
available if List View is selected. Some say this is by design, others
say it's an XP bug) Once Show in Groups has been selected the files
will be sorted by alphabetical headings.

That's all well and good, but I'm looking for the grouping by drive
type, specifically for the "My Computer" level of the tree. It
shouldn't change other folder views or anything of the sort. And it
shouldn't group alphabetically by the drive's description.

I'm looking to restore whatever setting groups the drive listing by
drive type, which somehow decided to unset itself simply by me backing
up the tree to the "Desktop" level.


-David

 

[robert.bidgood]

Try select "View">select "Arrange Icons By" and select one of the
options (ie. "Type" or "Name" indicated by a dot) select "Type" >
select "Show by groups" (indicated by a check mark.) This should show
groups of Files, Hard Disks Drives, Devices with Removable Storage,
then others if you have the new Messenger.

 

[David P. Donahue]

Try select "View">select "Arrange Icons By" and select one of the

options (ie. "Type" or "Name" indicated by a dot) select "Type" >
select "Show by groups" (indicated by a check mark.) This should show
groups of Files, Hard Disks Drives, Devices with Removable Storage,
then others if you have the new Messenger.

Ah, now I see. The difference is between arranging by "Type" (which I
only do for the "My Computer" level of the tree) and arranging by "Name"
(which is my default for everything else).

Odd, though, that the "My Computer" level of the tree loses its settings
by nothing more than backing up to the "Desktop" level.

In any event, thanks!


-David