Windows Explorer does not automatically refresh

[Glenn Mulno]

Until very recently, whenever I added or removed a file from a directory
using Windows Explorer, the current directory (on the right side, files, not
sure about folders) would refresh so that I could see the change.

For example, added some files? They would show right away (perhaps at the
bottom). Deleted/moved files? They would disappear right away.

Recently however, if I do either of the above the change is not visible
unless I hit F5 (refresh). This is annoying as I used to move some files
off of a read only server to a writable directory and then by default just
hit return to open them. Now, I have to refresh the screen, select on the
file and then open it.

Any idea if there is a setting for this somewhere?

I am not sure if this has been doing this since I got the new laptop (a few
weeks back) of if it started shortly after.

Thanks!

 

[Wesley Vogel]

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

Read the instructions at the top
157. Prevent Automatic Folder and Icon Refresh - Enable
Click on Enable

enableiconrefresh.reg is the file that you want.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Glenn Mulno]

Thanks Wesley. Unfortunately that did not solve the issue I am having
(unless I am supposed to restart the pc? I have not yet done that).

Thanks again!

 

[Peter Ogden]

I have the same problem. I found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291, but it didn't fix my problem, though
maybe it'll help you?

Anyone got another solution?

 

[Glenn Mulno]

I have the same problem. I found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291, but it didn't fix my problem,
though maybe it'll help you?

Anyone got another solution?

Hi Peter,

I have had the latest version of service pack so that was not my issue
either.

However - I was able to piece together a variety of fixes based on the
recommendation from Wesley earlier and another web search.

I created a .reg file with the following contents:
***BEGIN FILE
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update]

"UpdateMode"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

"Max Cached Icons"="12000"

***END FILE



Running this registry file fixed the issue for me and some others in my
company who had the same issue.



Good luck.

Glenn

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Glenn,

I created a .reg file with the following contents:

Copied from Kelly's Korner no doubt. ;-)

157. Prevent Automatic Folder and Icon Refresh - Enable
enableiconrefresh.reg

199. Enable Folder and Icon Refresh
disablerefreshundo.reg
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

UpdateMode and NoNetCrawling have nothing to do with refreshing folders as
near as I can tell. They may affect refresh, but I do not see how.
NoNetCrawling may free some things up if disabled.

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update\UpdateMode has to do with
Windows NT 4.0 System Policies.

UpdateMode
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/29985.mspx?mfr=true

<quote>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update

Remote Update:
Category: Network
Subcategory: System Policies update
Selection: Remote update

Description: Controls how policies are applied to a Windows NT 4.0-based
computer.

Note The UpdateMode registry entry only applies for the Windows NT 4.0
policy.
<quote>
from...
How to apply System Policy settings to Terminal Server
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192794

<quote>
By default, Windows NT is set to download and apply system policies. This
behavior is described in KB article 168231, "System Policies Are Not Applied
in Windows NT" at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=168231, and is
controlled by the following registry value:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\
Control\Update\UpdateMode (REG_DWORD)

* A value of 0 disables the application of system policies.
* The default value of 1 enables Automatic mode. Windows will look for the
Ntconfig.pol system policy file on the authenticating domain controller as
described previously.
* A value of 2 enables Manual mode. Windows will look at the NetworkPath
(REG_SZ) value (in the same key) and attempt to find the policy file located
there.
<quote>
from...
The Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 98 Threat Mitigation Guide: Chapter
4 - Hardening Windows NT 4.0
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/guidance/networksecurity/legsgch4.mspx

<quote>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update
The following table lists valid settings for the UpdateMode DWORD value.

Setting Description
----------------------------------------------------------------------
0 System policies are disabled.
1 Automatic mode. Search for a system policy file named
Ntconfig.pol in the authenticating server's Netlogon share.
This is the default value.
2 Manual mode: Search for the specified system policy file in
the location specified by the optional NetworkPath SZ value.

An UpdateMode data value of 2 requires an additional SZ value called
NetworkPath that specifies a local or network system policy path and file
name.

The following samples demonstrate valid entries for the NetworkPath value:
\\<Servername>\<Sharename>\<Filename>

C:\<Directoryname>\<Filename>
<quote>
from...
System Policies Are Not Applied in Windows NT
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/168231

<quote>
UpdateMode value
This registry entry determines how the client will search for the
Ntconfig.pol file that contains the policies.
Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update
Value name: UpdateMode
Data type: REG_DWORD
Values:

Value Description
------------------
0 System Policies are disabled.
1 Automatic mode searches for a policy file that is named Ntconfig.pol
in the authenticating server's Netlogon share. This is the
default value.
2 Manual mode searches for the specified policy file in the location
that is specified by the NetworkPath value. If UpdateMode is set
to a value of 2, you must specify an additional value that is
named NetworkPath that specifies a local or network system policy
path and file name.

NetworkPath value
The NetworkPath setting is used to identify the location of the Ntconfig.pol
file that is used to determine System Policies if the UpdateMode value is 2.

Path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update
Value name: NetworkPath
Data type: REG_SZ
Values: Value Example
UNC path \\Server_name\Share_name\File_name
Local path C:\Folder_name\File_name
<quote>
from...
How to implement system policies for Windows XP-based, Windows 2000-based,
and Windows Server 2003-based client computers in non-Active Directory
environments
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/910203

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\Advanced\NoNetCrawling disables the net crawl functionality.
How to Disable Net Crawl Functionality
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/276322

NoNetCrawling is the state of the Automatically search for network folders
and printers option.

Folder Options | View tab | Automatically search for network folders and
printers

Automatically search for network folders and printers...
[[Specifies that Windows periodically search the network for shared folders
and printers. All shared folders and printers that are found appear in My
Network Places.]]

How To Disable Automatic Search for Network Printers and Folders in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320138

"Similar to a Web crawl, the net crawl feature searches out and provides
links to network resources."
from...
My Network Places "net crawler" functionality
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256248

"NetCrawler checks for new resources whenever you log on to a network, and
whenever you open or refresh your Printers and My Net Places folders. It
doesn’t "crawl" in the following situations: when a Remote Access Server
(RAS) or Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection is active; when you are
logged on to a Terminal Server session; if your machine is a member of a
domain; or if the shell restriction "NoNetCrawling" is set."
from...
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...432655b486/PRO/WindowsXPTechnicalOverview.doc

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I have the same problem. I found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291, but it didn't fix my problem,
though maybe it'll help you?

Anyone got another solution?

Hi Peter,

I have had the latest version of service pack so that was not my issue
either.

However - I was able to piece together a variety of fixes based on the
recommendation from Wesley earlier and another web search.

I created a .reg file with the following contents:
***BEGIN FILE
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update]

"UpdateMode"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

"Max Cached Icons"="12000"

***END FILE



Running this registry file fixed the issue for me and some others in my
company who had the same issue.



Good luck.

Glenn

 

[Glenn Mulno]

"Wesley Vogel" <[email protected]

Copied from Kelly's Korner no doubt. ;-)

All three may be available on Kelly's Korner - but only two I found there.
One I found through another reference in a google search.

But what a great resource Kelly Korner is. Lots and lots of reg fixes.

UpdateMode and NoNetCrawling have nothing to do with refreshing folders as
near as I can tell. They may affect refresh, but I do not see how.
NoNetCrawling may free some things up if disabled.

I agree that it does not seem to make sense. However - in the PC's we tried
fixing the issues we were having - if we left off any of the three fixes the
whole issue was not resolved. As odd it as seemed - it still worked.

Thanks for your earlier suggestion!

Glenn

 

[Peter Ogden]

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately it didn't work for me. The first two
registry items were already set that way, setting the last had no
discernable effect (even after rebooting). Looks like I will have to put up
with the quirk.

--
- Peter Ogden

I have the same problem. I found this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/823291, but it didn't fix my problem,
though maybe it'll help you?

Anyone got another solution?

Hi Peter,

I have had the latest version of service pack so that was not my issue
either.

However - I was able to piece together a variety of fixes based on the
recommendation from Wesley earlier and another web search.

I created a .reg file with the following contents:
***BEGIN FILE
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Update]

"UpdateMode"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"NoNetCrawling"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

"Max Cached Icons"="12000"

***END FILE



Running this registry file fixed the issue for me and some others in my
company who had the same issue.



Good luck.

Glenn

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hi Glenn,

Well, it beats the heck out of me. I guess with some things, if they get
fixed, ours is not to reason why...

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In