Is Remember each folder's view settings functionality gone for good?

Anonymous

Everyone remembers this from Windows XP. You goto My Computer/Tools/Folder Options.../View and there used to be a check box for "Remember each folder's view settings"

Is it going to be incorporated into Windows 7 anytime soon?

The main reason why I like it is I want my music folder to always open as simply as possible, with just a list of bands so it ends up being a really thin long window.. it works rather well. Windows 7 has completely lost the capabilities of doing this. I really don't want to have to resort to a 3rd part app.. please tell me it's being worked on... anyone?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous

HI,

I have been searching for a solution for about 2 weeks and nothing has worked so far!!

Last night I think i found a workaround. If you want your folders to keep its view settings then you MUST NOT USE THE LIBRARY folders to view!!!! the reason for this is because, Libraries let you access and arrange items from one or more folders quickly without moving them from their original location. Libraries themselves don't store your files or folders. Instead, they point to different locations on a hard disk or external drive attached to your computer.

So, now that we now that we can try the workaround I did and is working fine for me.

1. go to start - and click your username that is all the way on the right hand corner.

2. go to tools - folder options - in general tab got to be bottom and click " show all folders"

3. now you will see your "Username" folder appear underneath "library". If you expand that folder (username folder) you will see your documents folders, pictures folders, music folders and ect.

4. open any folder you want and customizes the view as you wish. You can do this to every folder !! and it will keep its view settings.

This is worked for me!!! I DO NOT USE THE FOLDERS UNDER LIBRARY BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT KEEP THERE SETTINGS!!! SO I JUST CLOSE THE LIBRARY AND KEEP ONLY EXPANDED MY USERNAME AND ALL FOLDERS UNDER IT.

HOPE THIS HELPS..... PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT WORKED AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER BETTER WAY OF HELPING.

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Anonymous

I found this and it works perfectly!!!!

http://www.sevenforums.com/customization/40916-shellfolderfix-manage-folder-window-positions-size.html

Cheers

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Anonymous

The path Windows 7 Home Premium on my Win7 for Quick Launch is located...

is Roaming \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer

C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

Other's listed under Users are as follows

C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Internet Explore

Quick Launch, not shown

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IECompatData

Recovery

Within LocalLow \ Microsoft \ Internet Explorer

C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\LocalLow\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

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Thank you very much marwerno, now the only problem is the Quick Launch is on the Right next to the Tray. Which 4 icons and the Clock, I can click on the Show Desktop that came pre-installed as is. And far as I know it cannot be moved.

On Vista, its on the left near Start, which Quick Launch is an option of Taskbar and Start Menu Properties under Tab Toolbars, which is checked. However, no option to select on the Left or Right. So a User has no control of where Taskbar features can be placed,

Start > Settings > Taskbar and Start Menu > Toolbars

Too bad Microsoft could of not left this Feature/Option alone. And with Win7, Start > Right click the Right Column gray area and Select Properties > Toolbars > Quick Launch

However, this is only because of Start/Toobar, Right click -> Toolbars -> New Toolbar-Choose a folder by going to C:\Users\Your Username\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer and Select Quick Launch

If you de-select Quick Launch (Win7) Start > Right click the Right Column gray area and Select Properties > Toolbars > Quick Launch

That Option is now gone and you have to repeat the process you mentioned.

Some things are better if left alone, one option Show Desktop, changed from XP to Vista to Win7...sorry no logic in the differences as being better, just more annoying.

And I do use XP Pro, Vista and Win7 Home Premium is primary, sometimes daily and I also run Win7 Pro. And I have 3 older computers that have installed and Run DOS 6.2, 95, 98, ME, 2000, using a 4-Port KVM Switch and using the old PartitionMagic software

As I have an original $2000 Flatbed Scanner with Transparency Adapter from 1994, that uses a SCSI card. And other antiquated Software dating back the 1980's. I finally parted with my PC's using 5.25 Floppies and tossed those Disks.

Thanks again, I appreciate your time and suggestion...Doc - drdocyoung.com

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@CmdrKeene 90,631 Volunteer Moderator

It's not something that's "broken", Microsoft built it this way on purpose. So I wouldn't expect to see a "fix" for it until Windows 8 -- because they don't change features in updates, only in new versions.

If you want to voice your feedback, http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Feedback.aspx?formID=195

As you can see in this picture below, Microsoft made this change intentionally, so I don't believe you'll see a update to change it until the next version of Windows, because they don't change features during updates:

If this was helpful, please vote by clicking the green triangle. If it solves the issue, click Propose as Answer. Thanks!

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Anonymous

Default behavior. It is not possible to set Windows Explorer to remember individual folder view settings for folders included in libraries. All libraries and its included folders share the same view.

Andre Da Costa http://adacosta.spaces.live.com http://www.activewin.com

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259 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-03-22T18:44:57+00:00
The Microsoft source I was speaking with was sincere in telling me Microsoft did purposely remove the feature and had no idea that customers would so overwhelming be upset with its removal. Given the volume of complaints Microsoft was going to return this feature.....and it would most likely be done so in a future Update to W7.

If this (and the many other problems with Windows Explorer) will get fixed with a Windows 7 Update that would be great news, but I'm expecting a slow and painful wait until Windows 8, or 9. It's amazing how many features/options they have removed from Windows Explorer.

Unfortunately when Microsoft redesigned Windows Explorer they made some pretty horrendous decisions - of which many people have complained about. There are many other file managers available, both free and for a price. One of them might be easier to use and have the features you want, here is a list of most that are available:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_managers

Classic Shell
- Customize Windows Explorer with removed features (more helpful options and info below):
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net

Xplorer² Lite
- single or dual pane file browser with tabs and many features:
http://www.zabkat.com/x2lite.htm

Guides on how to manually make changes to Windows Explorer

How to Fix The Left Pane Scroll Bug

       See the bottom of this post for help with the left pane scroll bug using Classic Shell.

       Click here to view one of several methods to reproduce it.

       Click here to vote for fixing the left pane scroll bug.

Note: The links below involve editing the registry - be careful!

**Auto Arrange Option #1 - How to disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7**

Auto Arrange Option #2 - How to disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7****

Libraries Folder - How to Add or Remove the Libraries Folder from the Navigation Pane

User Folder - How to Add or Remove your User Folder from the Windows 7 Navigation Pane

Full Row Select - How to Disable Full Row Select (details view) in Windows Explorer

_________________________________________

Extra links - help guides for using Windows Explorer

Folder Options   Change View Settings   Using Search   Change User Folder Icon   Associate File Type   Share Folders - XP & Win7   Add/Remove Columns   Add Folder To Library

Most important features to fix or return to Windows Explorer:
1. The option to disable Auto Arrange.
2. Fix The Left Pane Scroll Bug: If you are viewing a folder and expand it in the left pane to show it's subfolders, the folder is annoyingly auto-scrolled to the bottom of the pane causing the subfolders to not be shown, making it difficult to work with. Double clicking a folder in the left pane can also cause this problem. Vote to fix it.
3. When multiple files are selected they should stay selected when changing the sorting order (ex: Name to Size). Maintaining selected files when sorting should be a requirement and this feature should not have been removed.
4. The option to remember each folder's view settings (remembering individual folder window sizes and positions).
5. The option to remove "Full row selection" for details view. "Full row selection" is very annoying when the folder is full and has no empty space to click on. Also, when dragging/dropping files to a different folder - if you release the file on the row of a subfolder or .exe/.zip/.rar file "full row selection" causes the file to be moved into the subfolder or .exe/.zip/.rar file rather the the intended folder.
6. A search window with all the advanced search options. No syntax required.
7. The option to always show free disk space and folder size in the status bar and/or details pane. Also always automatically show the size of selected files (when many files are selected it will not show the total size).
8. The option to scroll the pane your mouse is in with mouse wheel even if that pane is not selected.
Let Microsoft know you want Windows Explorers features returned:

Since many people seem to agree that some or all the changes made to Windows Explorer have actually made it less user friendly, you can go to the Windows 7 Feedback page and (politely) let them know your suggestions for improving it:

http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Feedback.aspx?formID=195

Note: don't make the message too long, there is a size limit to your message even though the page doesn't tell you about it. Also, don't just copy and paste from the list above - they will think the same person is repeatedly submitting feedback.

Left pane scroll bug (and other fixes):

Using Classic Shell To Restore Some Features To Windows Explorer

After installing the free Classic Shell you can customize Windows Explorer closer to how you want it, the quote below is just one way to do so. Click here to see some of the options you can customize, and here is the FAQ page for Classic Shell.
A solution which did work for restoring some features.

Install the free Classic Shell. This is very customizable, and works as a mod for Windows Explorer rather than a full blown replacement. You didn't need to install the Classic Start Menu option, but you can if you want.

Reboot the computer.

Launch Windows Explorer (Start - Computer) and turn on "Always Show Menus" (Organize - Layout - check Menu Bar). This is just for configuration, you can turn it off again afterwards if you want.

Right click on the menu bar and turn on the "Classic Explorer Bar". This adds a series of cut/copy/paste icons to Explorer. Crucially, it also adds the "Configuration" icon.

Go into the configuration and from here you can tweak things to your heart's content. To kill the horrible Windows 7 folder-jumping, switch the "Navigation Pane Style" to Vista. You can even knock it back to XP mode if you want (this adds in the lines to the folder tree and adds a classic "+" icon for expanding folders). The Windows Vista style folder view looks pretty much the same as the Windows 7 view, but gets rid of the horrible jumping.

Tweak any other settings you want.

After this, you can turn the toolbar and menus back off in Explorer if you wish. Windows Explorer looks largely the same, but folders no longer jump around. Vote for Microsoft to fix this bug.

Now, if only MS could code properly so that we don't have to mess with third party apps to get Windows to actually work properly...
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