Windows 7 - can I disable auto-optimizing?!!!

I'm really really really starting to get annoyed when I try to run a search and the search result columns are unhelpful because the folder has been optimized

I think one work-around could be to just change what the search result display is for a given optimization (so that all searches return results with the same 'file size/folder/modified/etc.' information, irrespective of optimization) (e.g., if I don't want to see the '5 stars' column for mp3s, can I untick that and it will not default back to displaying that tab next time I search for something optimized for music?)?

but is there something I can do to stop the optimizing so I don't have to do this? (I don't know if this keeps annoying me because 'apply to all subfolders' fails to work/last, or because I keep making new folders and it keeps making a choice I don't want it to make)

I have never heard yout "auto-optimizing" but i understand the problem.
I can only imagine that you use Ccleaner and when you run a clean it restores the default setting, do u use Ccleaner?

no.

by 'auto-optimizing' I mean the behavior of Windows recognizing that a folder has mostly/only videos or mp3s, and displaying the contents of the folder in the according "optimization" when you go into it

Hi, please backup your registry: you will need OPTION ONE \ METHOD TWO from the tutorial below

Registry - Backup and Restore

Then follow this other tutorial carefuly: (I know it is for Vista, but it work on Windows 7 as well, trust me)

Fix Vista Unable or Fail to Remember or Save Folder Types/Views

hey, thanks for your reply -- I've been putting this off and putting it off time and again because I hate unfamiliar and risky things...but I'm finally going to do this... hopefully

how much of the registry should I back up? (the link says how to back up a KEY, but not which are relevant to this) --I don't know what any of that stuff is or does or means.

they note "If you prefer not to edit the registry yourself, download reset-vista-folders.reg in zip format from the forum. It’s a 3-in-1 registry file that will reset all saved folder customizations on types and views, disable auto template type discovery for folders and then set folder settings memory size to 10000."

a. do you recommend this option for such a novice as myself?
b. is there any way to tweak this before or after running it -- I'm going to need a minimum of 25,000* if I can't get Windows to ignore/apply no settings to/Globalize the 20,000+ folders I wish it would just leave alone and not especially waste effort saving individual information about. ...hell, I want _everything always to be in list view_ -- I only want to tweak to prevent the "auto-guessing which display you might want based on file type", is this really what I have to do to stop that interference?

*the exact number I haven't bothered to check--I only know for sure that I have at least 19,000 folders on my main partition

You should back up everything by selecting file > export at the top. (i don't know why the tutorial shows a partial backup)

Use the file that can be found here please.

Worst case scenario:
If anything goes wrong you can enter safe mode at startup (keep pressing f8 until a screen comes up). Open regedit and select file > import to restore the trsuty registry file