Need registry setting to show file extensions

[ToddAndMargo]

Hi All,

I am not having a lot of luck searching google for
the registry key that forces Windows Explorer (the
file manager, not IE) to show file extensions.
(I need to set it from the command line.)

Does anyone know what this key is?

Many thanks,
-T

 

[Tim Meddick]

Copy and paste into a dot.reg file :


REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000


....Or, execute from the command line....


reg ADD HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v
HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

(The above command should be all on one line but may not appear so due to line-wrap.
Please ensure that the command begins with 'reg' and ends with '/f')

*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a backup and /
or create a 'System Restore' point first.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

Copy and paste into a dot.reg file :


REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000


...Or, execute from the command line....


reg ADD

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced /v

HideFileExt /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f

(The above command should be all on one line but may not appear so due to line-wrap.
Please ensure that the command begins with 'reg' and ends with '/f')

*Note - Please exercise care when editing the registry, always create a backup and /
or create a 'System Restore' point first.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

Thank you!
-T

 

[Tim Meddick]

RE: my previous post -

*Please note - changing the registry value alone will not make Windows Explorer show
file extensions. For this to happen you would have to logoff / logon to see the
'change'...

Changing the setting in 'Folder Options' > 'View' > 'Hide file extensions for
registered file types' automatically refreshes Explorer into making the change
visible immediately.

Changing the registry value directly however, does not.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

RE: my previous post -

*Please note - changing the registry value alone will not make Windows Explorer show
file extensions. For this to happen you would have to logoff / logon to see the
'change'...

Changing the setting in 'Folder Options' > 'View' > 'Hide file extensions for
registered file types' automatically refreshes Explorer into making the change
visible immediately.

Changing the registry value directly however, does not.

Is there a way to force the issue without a reboot or log off
(from the command line)?

 

[Tim Meddick]

This is what I'm saying....no there isn't!

I'm having a parallel conversation with someone who wants to reset "Taskbar Grouping"
but won't use the perfectly good program "TweakUI.exe" to do it.

In your case you would have to change the setting in 'Folder Options' > 'View' >
'Hide file extensions for registered file types' to see the 'change' immediately.

But if you change this from the registry- it will not 'refresh' and you will have to
logoff / logon.

There are plenty of settings that can be 'tweaked' by using the registry, but (most
times), the drawback is you have to logoff / logon to see the change.


Just Thinking....
(possibly - if you re-set the value *before* you opened any instances of Windows
Explorer (including any little browsing Open/Save As.. windows) then - maybe - the
changed setting would be seen)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

This is what I'm saying....no there isn't!

I'm having a parallel conversation with someone who wants to reset "Taskbar Grouping"
but won't use the perfectly good program "TweakUI.exe" to do it.

In your case you would have to change the setting in 'Folder Options' > 'View' >
'Hide file extensions for registered file types' to see the 'change' immediately.

But if you change this from the registry- it will not 'refresh' and you will have to
logoff / logon.

There are plenty of settings that can be 'tweaked' by using the registry, but (most
times), the drawback is you have to logoff / logon to see the change.


Just Thinking....
(possibly - if you re-set the value *before* you opened any instances of Windows
Explorer (including any little browsing Open/Save As.. windows) then - maybe - the
changed setting would be seen)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

Hi Tim,

You gave me 95% of the loaf of bread, so I am still
happy with the way my netlogon script is running.
The users *will* eventually reboot!

Many thanks,
-T

 

[Tim Meddick]

I am gratified to hear it!

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Bill in Co.]

This is what I'm saying....no there isn't!

I'm having a parallel conversation with someone who wants to reset
"Taskbar
Grouping" but won't use the perfectly good program "TweakUI.exe" to do it.

In your case you would have to change the setting in 'Folder Options' >
'View' > 'Hide file extensions for registered file types' to see the
'change'
immediately.
But if you change this from the registry- it will not 'refresh' and you
will
have to logoff / logon.

Ummm, I don't think so. The effects take effect immediately - at least
that has been my experience.

 

[Daave]

Hi All,

I am not having a lot of luck searching google for
the registry key that forces Windows Explorer (the
file manager, not IE) to show file extensions.
(I need to set it from the command line.)

Does anyone know what this key is?

Are you trying to toggle between showing them and not showing them?

I *always* show them, and you certainly don't need to tweak the registry
to do that! In fact, I'm not sure why they should ever be hidden in the
first place...

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html

 

[VanguardLH]

This is what I'm saying....no there isn't!

What if he used Task Manager to kill the explore.exe process (for the
desktop and any other instances of Windows Explorer) and then used File
-> New Task in Task Manager's menu to reload explore.exe? This would
force a fresh load of Windows Explorer (since it is also used as the
desktop GUI manager).

 

[Tim Meddick]

Restarting the explorer shell process *is* indeed a way of 'refreshing' any changes
made in the registry.

However, I have found doing this may cause system instability and can subsequently
cause it to crash.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Tim Meddick]

I do apologise!

AS LONG AS ALL DESKTOP INSTANCES OF WINDOWS EXPLORER ARE CLOSED

when the registry setting is changed - then yes - the change IS seen WITHOUT the need
to logoff / logon.

I am very sorry I did not check this out more thoroughly.

However, I assure you, this is NOT the case with all registry changes as most DO need
you to logoff / logon to see the change...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Todd,
I have been formally challenged by "Bill in Co." that by editing the
registry setting
alone will make the change apparent without the need to logoff / logon.

I must apologise profusely that I had not checked this out more thoroughly

Because it is true that, AS LONG AS ALL DESKTOP INSTANCES OF WINDOWS EXPLORER ARE
CLOSED when the registry setting is changed then the change IS seen WITHOUT the need
to logoff / logon.

I am again, very sorry.

However, as I wrote in my reply to Bill, I assure you, this is NOT the case with all
registry changes as most DO need you to logoff / logon to see the change...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Daave,
One example of a need to know and be able to change the reg-value for this
setting immediately comes to mind.

The need to set this on a number of PCs either remotely or by activating reg-files on
each PC.

To do this in the "normal way" would be very time consuming.

....and say the guy has a reg-file already prepared, in which he had a great number of
registry adjustments to which he wanted to add this one?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[ToddAndMargo]

Are you trying to toggle between showing them and not showing them?

Hidden extensions are a security hazard. I always want them on.

I *always* show them, and you certainly don't need to tweak the registry
to do that! In fact, I'm not sure why they should ever be hidden in the
first place...

I have no idea why either. But, it is the default. UNIX/Linux
hides files/folders that start with a dot, but it is not a
system setting: it is a function of your file manager. Folders
that start with a dot are where your program settings are usually
stored, similar to Windows Applications Data directory. That makes
a lot more sense that hiding ".txt".

 

[ToddAndMargo]

Todd,
I have been formally challenged by "Bill in Co." that by editing the
registry setting
alone will make the change apparent without the need to logoff / logon.

I must apologise profusely that I had not checked this out more thoroughly

Because it is true that, AS LONG AS ALL DESKTOP INSTANCES OF WINDOWS EXPLORER ARE
CLOSED when the registry setting is changed then the change IS seen WITHOUT the need
to logoff / logon.

I am again, very sorry.

However, as I wrote in my reply to Bill, I assure you, this is NOT the case with all
registry changes as most DO need you to logoff / logon to see the change...

Tim,

You took your time to help a total stranger. I
am seeing the total picture here. I very, very much
appreciate your help.

-T

 

[ToddAndMargo]

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial62.html

Hi PA,

The link is an excellent tutorial on how to manually
configure hidden files over several of the Windows
OS'es. Thank you.

It does not give registry information, which was the
object of my question.

-T

 

[Bill in Co.]

OK, but Tim, the registry change you suggested still doesn't solve the
problem I mentioned as I indicated in the other post (to which I refer you
to). But thanks for your time on this.