Hello again (I didn't give up and it paid off), Original Problem ... Windows XP was not remembering the size settings
Clint's lead: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=lang_en&newwindow=1&safe=off&as_qdr=all &q=+%22remember+each+folder%27s+view+settings%22&lr=lang_en or, http://tinyurl.com/syens was very helpful. The site there with the best information (for me) was http://www.tweakxp.com/ For anyone needing the tweak for Windows XP, I'm re-wording the solution for clarity: A. RESTORING REGISTRY DATABASE FOR EACH FOLDER'S VIEW SETTINGS Within Explorer, in Folder Options/View tab/Advanced Settings, you can check the "Remember each folder's view settings". From this moment, each Explorer's window, including My Computer, Recycle Bin, Control Panel, Network Connections or Printers should always open itself at the same defined position, with the same defined size and selected columns. In fact, Windows XP remembers those individual settings in a kind of database within the Registry, under: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags For some unknown reason, this database may however become corrupted from time to time (this is not a new problem in Windows). If this happens, you can't save any more of the specific settings of each Explorer's folder. Each Explorer's window will always open with the default size and columns settings, and at a random position on the screen. This is what is really annoying for people (like me) who need a well organized desktop, with constant windows size and position to suit their needs. To solve this problem: 1. Open the Registry (Start, Run, Regedit) 2. Go to "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\ 3. Delete both keys: "BagMRU" and "Bags" 4. Close Registry and reboot 5. Open and customize each Explorer's specific folder you wish (My Documents, Recycle Bin, My Computer, Printers, Network Connections, Control Panel) and then close it. It will again open each time with your defined size, position and columns. The reason this happens is that the default setting is for 400 views. After that your customized settings may not be saved. The above tweak will reset to 400 views after the listed keys are deleted (they will recreate themselves upon reboot). B. INCREASING THE FOLDER VIEW LIMIT By default, Windows XP will remember the view settings for the 400 most recently used folders. After that, XP will begin overwriting the data of the oldest folder, and its view setting will be lost. The information is stored in the registry by two keys: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam These keys can be modified to make XP remember more folder settings. 1. Open Windows Explorer and go to Tools, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings. Ensure that "Remember each folder's view settings" is checked. 2. Open Regedit and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell. Right-click on "Shell", then follow to New, Key, DWORD Value. 3. Name this item "BagMRU Size" (sans quotes but with a space between BagMRU and Size). 4. Double-click BagMRU Size, give it a Decimal value of 2000, and click OK. 5. Now go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam. 6. Create another BagMRU Size DWORD Value for "ShellNoRoam". 7. Again, give it a Decimal value of 2000, and click OK. 8. Now you will have two "BagMRU Size" values equal to 0x000007d0 (2000). 9. Close the registry and reboot. Windows XP will now remember 2000 folder view settings instead of 400 You could also try higher values if necessary. You should only consider editing the registry if you are comfortable with it, and remember to back up the registry keys you are deleting. And just to "make sure" what I do is add a restore point to System Restore. You might call it "Before changing folder size in registry". I didn't bother with increasing the folder view limits; maybe sometime I will. The good news is that restoring the database worked. ============= PCWorks Mailing List ================= Don't see your post? Check our posting guidelines & make sure you've followed proper posting procedures, http://pcworkers.com/rules.htm Contact list owner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribing and other changes: http://pcworkers.com =====================================================
