How to disable auto arrange in Windows 7 Explorer?

But it is possible to disable auto arrange mode in windows 7 explorer - like it was in Vista: **Free arrange of files in Windows 7**

7. 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 all the subfolders to not be shown. Windows Explorer in XP did not behave in this way, and was much easier to work with.
8. The option to remove "Full row selection" for details view. "Full row selection" is very annoying when the folder is full and has no free space to click on, also when dragging/dropping to folders with many subfolders or .exe/.zip/.rar files

These two annoying ways of behaviour caused me to feel very restricted and annoyed without realizing what was missing when I first started using Win7

I reported number 8. As for number 7 i disabled the option of “Expand to current folder” however if you choose the size of the icons as shown here then you will have some space between icons

Win7-Geek

Microsoft intentionally removed the option to disable Auto Arrange, but it's still possible with a workaround.   See the Auto Arrange links below.

Microsoft's answer for not being able to disable auto arrange:Can I manually arrange files within folders?

From Microsoft: Working with files and folders

Also, installing Classic Shell helps with many of Windows Explorers issues. See the links below.

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.

1. 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.
2. Reboot the computer.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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...

HI ALL

I agree with you guys. (Manual arrangement for files)+(align to grid) is very essential method for a customised experience in dealing with folders

Microsoft seems to have enforced the auto-arrange thing to PUSH people to use the search functionality in windows explorer.

Fair enough. But the sad thing is the so called “search” reminds me of how the internet was in the year 2000! The notion of“Spell it correctly” just makes me burst laughing HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...**

wake up MS!!

For GOD SAKE, why would I search for something if I know its name and location? Providing I am tidy person who doesn’t through files wherever and however (by the way, MS is promoting this way of dealing with files) ! A person who does that will NEVER remember the name of the file!

Search should be at least, and sorry for this Microsoft, like Google’s search. You are looking for a file that you are not sure about its name! So search engine gives you the closest with some suggestions.

Now you will tell me the search goes deep into the content of the file. Ok what about files that is not text-based! (Folders, Graphics, Audio/visual media, executive files.

If you can’t invent it.... copy it. Please... and stick it up to us the customers. Say the customers want that!

Win7-Geek