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How do I force a folder to retain a particular Viewing Style ("View As....Icons/Thumbnails/LIst") and Arrangement ("Arrange Icons By.....file type/size/name")?? I realize that XP is supposed to remember my preferences, but it does a pretty poor job of it sometimes. Folders that contain lots of video/picture media often revert from icon to thumbnail viewing. I want the icons in My Documents to be arranged by type, but every single damn time I restart Windows it switches back to "By Name" arrangement. Is there any way I can force a permanent change?

Also -- how do I force a folder to give me media-oriented arranging options ("Arrange Icons By....artist/track number/album/duration")?? Whether or not these options pop up seems like it can be totally random. I've tried going to Folder Properties > Customize and settng the folder to "Music" oriented, but I still don't get anything. Other times though, I get the Media Options just by filling up the folder with MP3s...

 

[Neo_ZX]

Go to Windows Explorer, arrange a folder how you want, then tools - folder options - view tab - apply to all.

There's also an option in the list to remember views for each particular folder once you have the default set.

I think the problem is that some programs may open a folder view in another way such as thumbnail, so when you go back to explorer you'll find it has changed. I don't know of any way around this.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I had the same problem. It seems Windows has a set limit to what it will remember.

You can edit a BagMRU size variable in the registry as these folks have -

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/1027162603

There should be a DWORD "BagMRU size" at:
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\"

in your registry.

 

[levious]

under folder options - view, make sure "restore previous folder options at logon" is unchecked.

 

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I don't want the same arrangement options on every single folder that I have.....I just want the customized ones to stick properly.

EDIT:

under folder options - view, make sure "restore previous folder options at logon" is unchecked.

Yeah, it is...

 

[radioheadrule83]

I don't want the same arrangement options on every single folder that I have.....I just want the customized ones to stick properly.

Yep, the info I posted should help. Set the "BagMRU size" to a really high value.
Be careful in the registry if you've never used it before -- although you probably have.

>>> Since data is stored on a "Most Recently Used" basis, at any given
> > > time, it will only contain data for the last 400 or so folders opened. If
> > > more information must be stored, the oldest folder's data will be
> > > overwritten. At that point, since there is no persisted data for that
> > > folder, if it were re - opened, a new "sniff" would occur and the folder

Thats why a folder full of MP3s will get the music template automatically and a folder full of photographs will get the filmstrip template automatically -- even if you've previously said to do otherwise.

I would check the option that levious mentioned as well.

Hope it helps

 

[radioheadrule83]

Tweakxp.com - Fix Folder View Memory Loss

http://www.tweakxp.com/tweak1922.aspx

 

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I think I have altered registry entries before, but never created new ones. Is there a decent freeware app to approach this with?

 

[Gattsu25]

I think I have altered registry entries before, but never created new ones. Is there a decent freeware app to approach this with?

I use good 'ol Regedit.exe though I heard that Notepad.exe works too

here's an example of the notepad method

 

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Well I know about Regedit, but I was hoping for something that will let me back up the registry before I go screwing with it.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I think I have altered registry entries before, but never created new ones. Is there a decent freeware app to approach this with?

You shouldn't need any additional software. If you go to start > run > and type "regedit"
the registry editor will pop up.

From there, scroll on the left side and expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER.
Expand Software, then Microsoft, and finally windows.

These keys should be common in all WXP installations so they will be there. Now when you click Shell and ShellNoRoam you should see:

default
BagMRU size

and a bunch of values next to those. If you right click BagMRU size you can then click Modify. Click Decimal, and then input a number of your choosing.

IF the "BagMRU size" variable isn't there, goto Edit > New > DWORD. Type "BagMRU size" and hit enter. Edit as above.

My value is 5000 and I find this suffices for me.


Provided you don't modify or delete any keys you shouldn't, you won't screw your registry. It won't let you do so easily in some sort of mistake, so you don't have much to worry about.