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Submission details

294 +305/-11 votes

Forgotten explorer window properties

Submitted by Cheesus on June 3, 2008 to Annoyance, Usability

It really annoys me that explorer properties are not remembered, both size/location and attributes (like if it's a Picture window and therefore should have the Slideshow option).

I can't say it for certain but it seems like if I have no explorer windows open and launch update (to install weekly Defender updates) that seems to reset the size. If I have an explorer window already open, it seems to negate the effects.

I have no idea why the type of window is forgotten.

Medium

Medium

Not fixed

Discussion (17 comments)

ryanlm wrote on June 3, 2008, 10:21pm

I face this very offen in just by click on "Computer". 2 to 3 times a week, a radomizer kicks in and sometimes it list, sometimes its tile, and sometimes its tile, but with only "Name" Type has just disapeared! which makes the grouping terrible...

Please fix, SP1 and counting.

BrandonLive wrote on June 5, 2008, 5:19am

If someone can come up with a consistent way to reproduce this it would be helpful :)

Cheesus wrote on June 6, 2008, 1:44pm

damiankrol, that's not really the issue here. I have a few folder groups that are just pictures and some that are just music. The "Apply this to all-sub-folders" is the correct behavior I want in these cases. They just need to be retained and remember for the lifetime of the folder.

xwing44 wrote on June 7, 2008, 9:56pm

This is a serious issue that very drastically affects the "solidity" of the operating system. Consistent window properties should be something resolved in the windows 2000 era. Its disconcerting that such an obvious emotional strain on the user has been ignored for so long. It hurts productivity and compromises the users emotional confidence in the enviroment.

Formula350 wrote on June 7, 2008, 10:51pm

I've not experienced this problem for at least a few years now with Windows XP.... I'd say even before SP2.

When I change a folder to "List", it says list. When I change to Details, arrange by date, it STAYS that way always.

deejay wrote on June 8, 2008, 7:16am

@ eried: How is it solved? Aren't we talking about Vista here?
Anyway this is the biggest gripe I have with Vista. It just randomizes folder views even after I set them manually. Also it starts grouping folder contents randomly. Please fix this!

chaosblade wrote on June 8, 2008, 11:33am

I've noticed this as well. I set all my folders to Tiles view everytime i install the operating system again. I tell it to apply that to all folders. Randomly, Some folders just change to anything else they like, Usually a details view in some folders. For example, I was installing nVidia drivers, Which creates C:\NVIDIA\WinVista\1xx.xx, and navigating there turns the display into details. Don't ask me why, maybe because its a new folder.

unsersky wrote on June 8, 2008, 1:43pm

Awful and not fixed in sp1. KB813711 gives a false fix, the problem occurs without passing over the maximum number of folder views to remember. This is really old, I remember having it in each and every Windows since the first time the feature was introduced.

Danielsmi wrote on June 9, 2008, 3:45am

@eried this is NOT fixed in Vista. I just tried to fix it using your link but the registry is already edited the way that KB tell you to. Which is to set the value to 5000. It's already set at 5000 and we still have this problem!

Muvon53 wrote on June 10, 2008, 6:53am

Yes, this bug worries.

zoran wrote on June 13, 2008, 5:30am

Agreed. This is extremely nasty, completely unacceptable for anyone using their computer a tad seriously. Fire the guy who allowed this to happen.

chaosblade wrote on June 14, 2008, 11:11am

It seems to me, now, that this happens based on the folder "classification". I can set a certain look for normal folders, but then Music folders don't look like that. Same with Pictures, etc.
Even if i set each folder type to look how i want and apply it across all folders, It sometimes won't stick. This is just weird.

MikeBravo wrote on June 20, 2008, 6:34pm

It seems to me that the file manager is intrinsic to the os and those of us who recommend to our friends and family shouldn't have to struggle with an aspect of an os that's essential. Maybe if they took a look at Speed Commander, Directory Opus, and the like they could figure out what a true file manager should be. For all the money that Windows costs it should be robust and helpful.

trifid wrote on June 23, 2008, 7:26pm

What triggers the bug for me is when I close a window with the keyboard shortcut CTRL-W. And no, SP1 doesn't fix this fiasco -.-

allnewgreys wrote on August 13, 2008, 8:49pm

I wonder why this totally annoying bug that everyone knows hasn't been fixed a long, long time ago...

Seriously, it's a shame.

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