Script/regedit: Explorer-View-Arrange Icons by-Show In Groups...

  • Thread starter Thread starter david.brightman
  • Start date Start date
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david.brightman

Hi

I am trying 'script' a customised default explorer view that is used
in a custom desktop build (i.e. I need to do this via reg fragments or
VBS - please don't post answers that require use of the gui!!)

I have managed to get put together a 'reg' file that puts Explorer
into Details view for AllFolders (using the [HKCU\Software\Microsoft
\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell] key - thanks to Keith
Miller for this!), but the default view seems to have the View-
Arrange Icons By->Show In Groups setting.
Click to expand...

This is great for 'My Computer', but not so good for browsing around
the drives (our machines have local C: and D:, as well as MAPped
network drives andvarious USB devices)

What i'd ideally like to do is set the AllFolders settings to View-
Arrange Icons By->Name (with details, etc.), but have a specified
Click to expand...
entry (Bags or Streams/Default, or whatever) that would work for My
Computer only, with View->Arrange Icons By->Show In Groups...

I've also tried working with [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults]
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} seems to represent My Computer
{F3364BA0-65B9-11CE-A9BA-00AA004AE837} seems to represent Shell File
System
but the Arrange Icons by-Show In Groups settings do not seem to get
set via these registry keys....

I'd be really grateful if anyone could give me any tips and
pointers... We are soooo close to a really great solution! (which I
will be happy to post up here! ;-)

Regards and thanks

David
 
David,

Take a look at these keys.

HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\MenuOrder\Favorites","Order"
HKCU,"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams","Settings"

When I was making the .INF files that create the default Windows
environment in RescueBoot I was constantly perplexed by not being able
to determine what undocumented registry keys controlled a specific
setting. I discovered that if I simply dump the entire registry
contents into a text file before and after changing a Windows setting
I could use something like WinDiff to compare the 2 files and quickly
see which registry keys had been changed. For user specific settings
like these you only need to dump HKCU\Software.

I quickly found that this method works best if I'm working on a
relatively clean install of Windows otherwise it takes a too long to
dump the registry. I eventually setup a clean install of Widows XP in
Virtual PC just for doing this.

Good luck,
John Hensley
www.resqware.com

Hi

I am trying 'script' a customised default explorer view that is used
in a custom desktop build (i.e. I need to do this via reg fragments or
VBS - please don't post answers that require use of the gui!!)

I have managed to get put together a 'reg' file that puts Explorer
into Details view for AllFolders (using the [HKCU\Software\Microsoft
\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell] key - thanks to Keith
Miller for this!), but the default view seems to have the View-
Arrange Icons By->Show In Groups setting.
Click to expand...

This is great for 'My Computer', but not so good for browsing around
the drives (our machines have local C: and D:, as well as MAPped
network drives andvarious USB devices)

What i'd ideally like to do is set the AllFolders settings to View-
Arrange Icons By->Name (with details, etc.), but have a specified
Click to expand...
entry (Bags or Streams/Default, or whatever) that would work for My
Computer only, with View->Arrange Icons By->Show In Groups...

I've also tried working with [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults]
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D} seems to represent My Computer
{F3364BA0-65B9-11CE-A9BA-00AA004AE837} seems to represent Shell File
System
but the Arrange Icons by-Show In Groups settings do not seem to get
set via these registry keys....

I'd be really grateful if anyone could give me any tips and
pointers... We are soooo close to a really great solution! (which I
will be happy to post up here! ;-)

Regards and thanks

David
Click to expand...
 
Cheers John

Still no joy I'm afraid... I have tried comparison of HKCU using
BeyondCompare and can't find anything that seems to do the trick....

I just can't find how to disable the View->Arrange Icons By->Show In
Groups setting. I'm quite happy to do it for all folders and folder
types!

I have tried various settings within

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams
\Defaults]
{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
{F3364BA0-65B9-11CE-A9BA-00AA004AE837}

and the

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams
Settings

you suggested...
I really thought one of these would hold this pesky setting!

Does anyone know have the decodes for these binary strings?

Perhaps it is how/when I am applying the settings?
In my test, I:
delete the profile of a test user
login as that user
run up cmd and regedit
close explorer (Shutdown, CTRL+ALT+SHIFT and cancel
import the reg file with the 'new' settings
run up explorer

Any other suggestions?
Getting really frustrated now.... so close and yet so far!!

Cheers

David
 
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