How do I kill Auto-Arrange?

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Most of my folders I set to display as "List", but I want some
displayed as "Medium Icons". And, once I get the icons in the "Medium
Icons" folders arranged as I want them, I want them to STAY that way.
But I keep finding that the contents, in my various folders, are
subject to being Auto-reArranged when I don't want them to be!

I've tried de-selecting "Auto-Arrange" (right-click/View), but
Auto-Arrange gets automatically re-selected - sometimes just a few
minutes later! I know how to edit the Registry safely, and I've found
lots of web pages that describe how to disable Auto-Arrange in XP, but
none that help me to do it in Vista (the path to the value to be
changed isn't the same on my computer as it is in XP).

I'm fed up with Microsquish deciding what's best for my computer, and
overruling the user. Can someone out there tell me how to edit the
Registry, in 64-bit Vista, to kill Auto-Arrange permanently? Thanks
for your time, and for any help.
 
Well, if you're REALLY motivated, you could do what I did: write a batch
file to fix it.
I too am sick of MS deciding what's best for me. I've been doing my own
'clean ups' since the days of WinMe.
My method is a bit complicated to set up, but it works fine.

***
Here's what you do:

1. Make sure REMEMBER EACH FOLDER'S VIEW SETTINGS is checked.
(Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Folder Options\VIEW tab


2. Create a .reg file (I call mine CLEANUP.REG), and put these lines in it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]

The '-' in front of the key name tells REGEDIT to delete the key when you
install the .reg file.

Save the file as C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg


3. Create a batch file (I call mine CLEANUP.CMD) and put these lines in it:
REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg

REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\BagMRU.reg
REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Bags.reg

where <username> is your logon ID.

You can point to another folder if you want, but I'll keep it simple for the
example.


4. Using the Registry Editor (Regedit), delete the keys

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
and
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]

This is where your current layouts are stored.


5. Now, configure EVERY window you'd like to retain settings for. Go as
crazy as you want. I configure my Start menu (RIGHT CLICK,/OPEN), my trash
folder, and all folders I use repeatedly.
Arrange the columns/icons and windows settings to your preference.


6. When you have all your windows the way you want them, go into Registry
Editor again and EXPORT the keys
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
to your C:\Users\<username>\Documents folder.


7. To reset, just run your batch file CLEANUP.CMD and it will refersh your
folders to the preferences you saved in step 6.
If you later want to add a new folder to your cleanup, just run CLEANUP,
navigate to that folder, configure it, and do step 6 again.

To make it really easy, create a shortcut to your batch file and pin it to
your Start Menu.

My CLEANUP.CMD file does a lot more than this, but this is the part that
solves your problem.
It sounds complicated, but once it's set up, all you do is click your
shortcut, and voila! MS is foiled again!

Dave
 
Note: IGNORE THE LINE WRAPPINGS!
THE registry key values [HKEY_CURRENT_USER...], etc... were one line when I
wrote them, but got wrapped when I posted.
Make sure they're one line in your file.

****

DaveD said:
Well, if you're REALLY motivated, you could do what I did: write a batch
file to fix it.
I too am sick of MS deciding what's best for me. I've been doing my own
'clean ups' since the days of WinMe.
My method is a bit complicated to set up, but it works fine.

***
Here's what you do:

1. Make sure REMEMBER EACH FOLDER'S VIEW SETTINGS is checked.
(Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Folder Options\VIEW tab


2. Create a .reg file (I call mine CLEANUP.REG), and put these lines in
it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]

The '-' in front of the key name tells REGEDIT to delete the key when you
install the .reg file.

Save the file as C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg


3. Create a batch file (I call mine CLEANUP.CMD) and put these lines in
it:
REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Cleanup.reg

REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\BagMRU.reg
REGEDIT /s C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Bags.reg

where <username> is your logon ID.

You can point to another folder if you want, but I'll keep it simple for
the example.


4. Using the Registry Editor (Regedit), delete the keys

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
and
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]

This is where your current layouts are stored.


5. Now, configure EVERY window you'd like to retain settings for. Go as
crazy as you want. I configure my Start menu (RIGHT CLICK,/OPEN), my trash
folder, and all folders I use repeatedly.
Arrange the columns/icons and windows settings to your preference.


6. When you have all your windows the way you want them, go into Registry
Editor again and EXPORT the keys
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local
Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags]
to your C:\Users\<username>\Documents folder.


7. To reset, just run your batch file CLEANUP.CMD and it will refersh your
folders to the preferences you saved in step 6.
If you later want to add a new folder to your cleanup, just run CLEANUP,
navigate to that folder, configure it, and do step 6 again.

To make it really easy, create a shortcut to your batch file and pin it to
your Start Menu.

My CLEANUP.CMD file does a lot more than this, but this is the part that
solves your problem.
It sounds complicated, but once it's set up, all you do is click your
shortcut, and voila! MS is foiled again!

Dave
Click to expand...
 
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