I have a problem that has been annoying me for quite some time. My Downloads folder contains thousands of files, and it's sometimes difficult to find what I'm looking for unless the files are arranged correctly. The problem is, Vista doesn't remember the configurations for the way I want to display the files (details, arranged by type, no groupings). This means I need to go to all the effort to change the viewing options some of the time when I reopen the folder.
I also have the same problem when I use Programs and Features, as it would be much more convenient if I could see the size and install location by default.
I remember reading that display information for folders are stored in some sort of queue of a certain size (if I can recall correctly, meaning this may be false) and that the display would be reset when the options for that folder leave the queue. But adjusting the buffer size doesn't help because it will still eventually reset the viewing options.

So the question is: Is there a way to add a permanent display change to a folder, preferably by changing some registry values, or perhaps even using a logon script?

I wonder if there is some feature like this in Windows 7.

Umm.. im not sure quite what you mean there Oz but to my understanding you can apply folder option to all folders through the tools menu.

So arrange the view however you want it to look go to tools >> folder options >> View Tab >> Click apply to all folders

This should make the view default to all folders, if the Tools option isnt visible in explorer might wanna hold down the alt key.

Nav Wrote:Umm.. im not sure quite what you mean there Oz but to my understanding you can apply folder option to all folders through the tools menu.

So arrange the view however you want it to look go to tools >> folder options >> View Tab >> Click apply to all folders

This should make the view default to all folders, if the Tools option isnt visible in explorer might wanna hold down the alt key.

Nope. There's an option under folder options: "Remeber each folder's view settings", but this is already ticked, and it still forgets the settings every once in a while.

I want to configure one folder (Downloads folder) to display the files with the details view, and with the type/size/date modified columns.

It should just remember it by itself I think. In XP if i alter the layout or anything it keeps those settings for that folder, so I assume Vista should do the same. You say it forgets at random? How odd

Judah Wrote:It should just remember it by itself I think. In XP if i alter the layout or anything it keeps those settings for that folder, so I assume Vista should do the same. You say it forgets at random? How odd

I think XP works in much the same way, storing view settings until the space allocated to store them reaches a maximum, at which point the oldest will be removed. Or at least, that was what I had read at some stage.

The reason for this thread is to try to make the changes -->permanent<-- Con permanenza!

Here is the XP fix, might still apply for Vista.

Basically, just set the amount of folder views to remember to some ridiculously high number, so not permanent, but close.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813711


To work around this problem, create a BagMRU Size DWORD value in both of the following registry keys, and then set the value data for both values to the number of folders that you want Windows to remember the settings for. For example, for Windows to remember the settings for 5,000 local folders and 5,000 network folders, set both values to 5000.

You must create the new value for the following registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

Important You may have to adjust the BagMRU Size values for your specific situation. If you increase the BagMRU Size values, the information that is stored in the registry increases. When you use roaming user profiles, registry information is copied to a server when you log off and copied to your local computer when you log on. Therefore, you may have performance issues if you increase the BagMRU Size values for roaming user profiles.

Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:
Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
Type BagMRU Size, and then press ENTER.
On the Edit menu, click Modify.
Type 5000, and then click OK.

Follow these steps:
Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
Type BagMRU Size, and then press ENTER.
On the Edit menu, click Modify.
Type 5000, and then click OK.

Also this link may be useful

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-...tings.html

Thanks for your response.

I see the information you have posted is identical to the information provided by Microsoft here: KB813711

The problem I see with this is that I need to extend the amount of registry entries for folder view settings to 5000 folders. This is not a proper solution to the problem, though, because I assume the view settings would be reset again once I have visited another 5000 unique folders (maybe even ones that I've deleted). I often move folders from my Downloads folder to another drive after I have finished extracting it, so not only does this massively expand the registry unnecessarily, but it also means that eventually the view settings will still be reset.

If you had understood my original post, and my second post where I even placed specific and extreme emphasis on the word permanent, you would have saved yourself some time.

I see that the view settings appear to be stored in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

But I can't make sense of the subkeys, or find any way to associate them with and folder

Actually, your problem is probably more related to Vista's automatic folder type detection, so it changes the type of folder to 'pictures + video' and changes the view settings when you put 1 picture in it.

Your probably downloading a variety of different file types, and thats whats changing it.

Heres the fix: (From the Vistax64 link I posted earlier)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

11. In the left pane, right click on Shell and click on New and Key.


12. Type Bags and press Enter. (See screenshots below)

13. In the left pane, right click on Bags and click New and Key.





14. Type AllFolders and press Enter. (See screenshots below)

15. In the left pane, right click AllFolders and click on New and Key.





16. Type Shell and press Enter. (See screenshots below)

17. In the right pane of Shell, right click on a empty area and click on New and String Value.





18. Type FolderType and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

19. In the right pane, right click on FolderType and click on Modify.



20. Type NotSpecified (or one below) and click on OK. (See screenshots below)





You can type any one of these values in bold below instead to apply the template as the default for all folder types. You will still be able to change a individual folder type template to what you want and have Vista remember it afterwards.

NotSpecified----All Items folder type template
Contacts----Contacts folder type template
Music ----Music Details folder type template
MusicIcons ----Music Icons folder type template
Documents----Documents folder type template
Pictures----Pictures and Videos folder type template with large icons

Thanks for the help P4.

The problem now is I don't know how to recreate the issue I was having before, so I guess I'll just have to keep using my PC and see if it worked.

And to simplify your post:

Create HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\FolderType [String, Value=NotSpecified]