I have a question about Set Defaults in Explorer:

The fix in this article doesn't work, but my problem is similar: I've got a really annoying problem that I've been dealing with for a few months, and I don't know how to correct it. First of all, let me tell you that this problem cropped up suddenly a few months ago. My computer is a Dell Dimension 4100 running Windows '98. It seems that every time I look at my files in Windows Explorer or via My Computer, they appear in random order. I'm not talking about my Start Menu or Favorites, but all files regardless of how I view them (Icons, List, Details). They will appear in a correct sorting order when I click on a sorting option (Names, Type, Date Modified), but they will never be in any kind of order when I first look into a folder. Therefore, every time that I open a directory, do an import or export from any program, I must first sort all of the items. While it seems rather trivial, seeing as the problem can be corrected with one or two clicks each time, it actually amounts to thousands of clicks each day. While this problem is driving me crazy, I'm not willing to reinstall Windows because backing up everything on this computer would take forever (2 Hard Drives totalling 160 GB). I've never seen any documentation or bug reports related to this problem before. Is this a known glitch with the operating system? Do you have any ideas, other than reinstalling Windows? I'd really appreciate the help.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

You are not alone mate, I have the same trouble on my home PC... No idea what causes it. If I track it down this forum will be the first to know!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

On Monday, February 11, 2002 at 8:05 am, Eric Wenger wrote:
>I have a question about Set
>Defaults in Explorer:

>
>The fix in this article doesn't work, but my problem is similar:
>
>I've got a really annoying problem that I've been dealing with for a few months,
>and I don't know how to correct it. First of all, let me tell you that this problem
>cropped up suddenly a few months ago. My computer is a Dell Dimension 4100 running
>Windows '98. It seems that every time I look at my files in Windows Explorer or
>via My Computer, they appear in random order. I'm not talking about my Start Menu
>or Favorites, but all files regardless of how I view them (Icons, List, Details).
> They will appear in a correct sorting order when I click on a sorting option (Names,
>Type, Date Modified), but they will never be in any kind of order when I first look
>into a folder. Therefore, every time that I open a directory, do an import or export
>from any program, I must first sort all of the items. While it seems rather trivial,
>seeing as the problem can be corrected with one or two clicks each time, it actually
>amounts to thousands of clicks each day. While this problem is driving me crazy,
>I'm not willing to reinstall Windows because backing up everything on this computer
>would take forever (2 Hard Drives totalling 160 GB). I've never seen any documentation
>or bug reports related to this problem before. Is this a known glitch with the operating
>system? Do you have any ideas, other than reinstalling Windows? I'd really appreciate
>the help.
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save, or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft. You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written. 1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C. 2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS. 3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key, and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu). 4. Release the CTRL key. 5. Restart your computer. Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

You're my hero!


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Oh my god, you're a life saver. I was about to go berserk on my computer and everytime I tried to find a troubleshooter for this online I came up with zilch...and now it's finally fixed. May you win the lottery for all your good deeds. :-) Kerri


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thank you thank you thank you!!! This has been making me nuts for weeks. I am SO glad you posted the fix. Have a great day, no, have a great LIFE! You deserve it. Aloha

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I can only echo the sentiments of all the previous readers. Thank you for putting me out of my misery. I have downloaded various programs like DocCommander in an attempt to get round the problem.


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Dear Eric, Just wanted to say Thanks a million for helping me out with this "Explorer Default Sort Order" problem. I read how you felt and the others too and I felt exactly the same way. I have experienced this problem once before and it drove me nuts back then too. This time, the problem just came up again and I decided to try the web for an answer. I found your post very quickly. The solution worked perfectly. I am so happy about this. Man, thanks a lot.!!! This has made my day. So, I wish good things come to you for what you have done by putting up the posted solution. Peace, Love, Joy, Lawrence.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hey Erik............ What they said.......... no really.......... thanx a bunch, I was in the same situation and this was an "annoyance" maybe because it was so trivial........... it just never went away and I was about ready to start over cause it had annoyed me for so long........... you deserve a prize........... again.......... thanx


On Monday, February 11, 2002 at 8:05 am, Eric Wenger wrote:
>I have a question about Set
>Defaults in Explorer:

>
>The fix in this article doesn't work, but my problem is similar:
>
>I've got a really annoying problem that I've been dealing with for a few months,
>and I don't know how to correct it. First of all, let me tell you that this problem
>cropped up suddenly a few months ago. My computer is a Dell Dimension 4100 running
>Windows '98. It seems that every time I look at my files in Windows Explorer or
>via My Computer, they appear in random order. I'm not talking about my Start Menu
>or Favorites, but all files regardless of how I view them (Icons, List, Details).
> They will appear in a correct sorting order when I click on a sorting option (Names,
>Type, Date Modified), but they will never be in any kind of order when I first look
>into a folder. Therefore, every time that I open a directory, do an import or export
>from any program, I must first sort all of the items. While it seems rather trivial,
>seeing as the problem can be corrected with one or two clicks each time, it actually
>amounts to thousands of clicks each day. While this problem is driving me crazy,
>I'm not willing to reinstall Windows because backing up everything on this computer
>would take forever (2 Hard Drives totalling 160 GB). I've never seen any documentation
>or bug reports related to this problem before. Is this a known glitch with the operating
>system? Do you have any ideas, other than reinstalling Windows? I'd really appreciate
>the help.
>
>

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Hey Erik............ What they said.......... no really.......... thanx a bunch, I was in the same situation and this was an "annoyance" maybe because it was so trivial........... it just never went away and I was about ready to start over cause it had annoyed me for so long........... you deserve a prize........... again.......... thanx


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thanks for the fix. I don't have the option 'Right-click the Start button and choose Explore', it's greyed out on my Win98SE computer. So, I ran Explorer normally and selected C: and then chose View/Arrange Icons/by Name then I Control-clicked the X to quit Explorer. This method worked equally as well as the Microsoft KB article. It seems that it is the 'Control-click the X to quit Explorer' that is the the key to this. Control-clicking saves the choices made regardless of how you run Explorer or how you make the choices. One other thing I noted was that it only saves the options for that particular hard drive or partition. As I have several partitions and two drives, I had to do the procedure above for *every* drive/partition. tim


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Eric - I rarely take the time to participate in these forums but I am driven to express my deep appreciation and gratitude as all the previous folks have - your "fix"...it's almost spiritual in a strange way... ;-) Thanks for your kindness!


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Your gift keeps on giving - THANKS for posting this! (I tried for 2 months to fix this).

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Bravo !! Many thanks for this tip, it saved me from nervous breakdown. Note that I had the same problem with Windows NT 4, or with Windows XP ( where it's no need to restart Windows to get the fix working ). Congratulations !!

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Eric, This has been driving me crazy for months. Like the others, I can't thank you enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Eric, I know its almost a year since you posted your message, but I only just discovered this forum. I too was going around the bend trying to resolve the sort order problem and am gratefull for your info. Les


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I happened by chance on your fix, and it works!! THANKS SO MUCH. What an annoyance this has been. This fix should be posted everywhere. I've tried other bulletin boards, but never got a good answer. Thank you so very much.


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Just add me to the long list of grateful beneficiaries of your great cyber wisdom. Following the detailed instructions in the referenced Microsoft article did indeed solve this very annoying problem. It does raise another question, however: Why, after working flawlessly for several years, did my WIN 98 SE system suddenly act this way? Or, put another way: Just what did I do to cause this sort of annoying behavior? Thanks again. - Also, a special thanks to annoyances.org for providing this very helpful forum. eb


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Fantastic, Eric - the gift that keeps on giving. I've been struggling with this for over a month now. I finally hit the right search combination on Google and found this article.

Bless you, and the people who kept this online!

Google search terms:

microsoft windows 98 "explorer default sort order"

>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q2290 0

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

2 years later Eric, we are still thanking you! Have had this problem for a couple months now and thought I had a virus or something! Thank you, thank you, thank you!


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I found that for some settings, for example the one under tools > Internet options > privacy > advanced ... If I have it set to "overrided automatic cookie handling, and Ive checked "block" under third party cookies, it doesnt mean it will stay that way. I think when I get a new download from Microsoft, some defaults are returned to their old settings. I only learned this, today. Now if I could get that to stay put...

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Thank you.


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Three years, later, still making people happy -- greatly relieved that I found this thread today.


On Tuesday, February 26, 2002 at 1:04 pm, Eric Wenger wrote:
>Thank God, I finally found a fix for this problem. This is a fix for Windows wherein
>your files will not sort by name automatically anymore. Whenever you import, save,
>or whatever, your files will not be sorted alphabetically. Is this driving you absolutely
>crazy? It drove me insane for months. Today I have the cure, direct from Microsoft.
> You must perform these instructions EXACTLY as they are written.
>
>1. Right-click START button, click EXPLORE, and then click drive C.
>
>2. On the VIEW menu, click DETAILS.
>
>3. Click the NAME column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key,
>and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking the X (close button) in the upper-right
>corner of the screen (do NOT exit via the FILE menu).
>
>4. Release the CTRL key.
>
>5. Restart your computer.
>
>Here is the link to the Microsoft article just in case:
>
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q229070

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

dear great sir its dec 01 2005 
you should have gotten payed.

P.S
please god in heaven someone post 
the location this is hidden in the OS (reg ini ?)
so WE can set defaults forever

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I didn't have this problem till I started using thumbnails. (another annoyance to solve -- I have to set each folder for them) The sort order fixed itself for a few weeks, but started rearranging the files again. My start menu also grayed out the explore option. THANKS TIM!!!


On Sunday, October 6, 2002 at 4:52 pm, tim wrote:
>Thanks for the fix.
>
>I don't have the option 'Right-click the Start button and choose Explore', it's greyed
>out on my Win98SE computer.
>So, I ran Explorer normally and selected C: and then chose View/Arrange Icons/by
>Name then I Control-clicked the X to quit Explorer.
>This method worked equally as well as the Microsoft KB article.
>It seems that it is the 'Control-click the X to quit Explorer' that is the the key
>to this.
>Control-clicking saves the choices made regardless of how you run Explorer or how
>you make the choices.
>
>One other thing I noted was that it only saves the options for that particular hard
>drive or partition. As I have several partitions and two drives, I had to do the
>procedure above for *every* drive/partition.
>
>tim

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

FOUR years later, lol.....Sincere thanks. I've had two people who work in I.T tell me it can't be done. As others have said, it's such a trivial thing but when you have to re-arrange the icons to your liking every time you change folders it becomes a real problem. Thank you Btw, how did you suss this out please?

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

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