How to manually arrange folders in windows 7__

Anonymous
2009-10-24T14:09:18+00:00

When i try manually move one folder to be the first i can t whay

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2009-10-25T13:55:54+00:00

Hello ivan099, welcome.

You can manually arrange desktop icons, however, any other icons within folders are auto-arranged and cannot be altered by direct access. You can arrange them in a multitude of different ways by right clicking open space (within a folder) and selecting Sort By > More...

A problem was discovered in Windows XP when users would accidentally manually arrange folders and icons and, in turn, they would overlap eachother. For simplicity's sake and for performance reasons, this feature was removed.

There are a number of 3rd-party programs that exist that allow you to do this, however, they would of course not be supported by Microsoft.

I would search the internet for 'File Manager', 'Alternate Shell', or something of the like. You may find some support forums that have users that specialize in just the exact thing you are looking for.

Hope this helps,

Thanks!

Ryan Thieman

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-02-12T11:36:18+00:00

    @Ryan

    Reading your reply drove me nuts!

    >>"For simplicity's sake and for performance reasons, this feature was removed.<

    Are you kidding? That is one of the most stupid things I have heard. What kind of a demented brain would "remove" such a basic and logical function? It doesn't make things SIMPLE it complicates things and frustrates the user.

    No amount of excuses will ever redeem such a twisted/lazy decision.

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-12-12T12:40:11+00:00

    Why don't you just use the numerical equivalent of the date?  012012, 022012, 032012.... etc.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-09-28T21:22:48+00:00

    There is a way with a third party fix which is posted here. I agree with you that this is a rediculous change, but since MSFT won't chang it, you have to do it yourself.

    How to Disable Auto Arrange in Folders in Windows 7? - The Winhelponline Blog

    http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/disable-auto-arrange-folders-windows-7/ 

    Windows 7 - Windows Explorer Auto Arrange - Disable

    http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/92758-windows-explorer-auto-arrange-disable.html

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-09-28T21:15:03+00:00

    This is most unbelievably unhelpful. It is understandable that Windows 7 would be designed to be helpful to users who had that problem, however there should be a way to turn off this feature for the multitude of users who have at least a moderate skill with Windows settings. The need for manual positioning of files is not just for aesthetics, it is critical in my case for access to files and this "feature" has left me incapable of accomplishing the tasks I need to do.

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