Hovering over blank space in my folders selects the files

thanks2you · 26 Dec 2015

Edit 2 in case this helps someone — This particular list view issue was the result of disabling auto-arrange.

Of course, disabling auto arrange in W7 lets you sort files and/or folders like this - https://i.imgur.com/Vu71MxH.png

…But, you can *only* choose whether to gain the ability to arrange files & folders as you wish, *or* preserve the original appearance and behavior of list view. So far, it doesn't seem possible to have both.
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Screenshot - https://i.imgur.com/GLd9t1U.png

For some reason, whenever I move the mouse over the blank space in my folders, it immediately selects the files. This has been driving me nuts for quite a while, as it makes it a real pain to select only a specific range of files or folders.

I was unable to reproduce this issue on a new account using the same 'Folder Options', theme, mouse settings, 'Visual Effects' (under 'Performance Options') et cetera— so the issue lies elsewhere.

Does anyone know which settings control this? Many thanks in advance for any and all help! :)

Edit: recorded the behavior, in case this makes the issue more clear—

New account (this is what I want) - https://i.imgur.com/2Ol0zQG.gif
Old account - https://i.imgur.com/vxvw4Ak.gif

Ranger4 · 26 Dec 2015

Have you tried another mouse?.

thanks2you · 26 Dec 2015

Thanks for taking the time to reply, Ranger4.

My mouse lets me interact normally with the blank space in a new account— https://i.imgur.com/rybNqaT.png

…so this is why I think I'm overlooking some obvious setting.

Ranger4 · 26 Dec 2015

You could have a look at the 7 Forum link that has a solution, but you will need to edit the Register. Read through it as the solution is one of the last posts.

How to Disable Hover-to-Select with Single-Click Mode?

thanks2you · 26 Dec 2015

Thanks again for your help! Thought a couple screen recordings might help to show the differences in action—

Mouse & blank space behavior in new account: https://i.imgur.com/2Ol0zQG.gif
^This is what I want.

Mouse & blank space behavior in old account: https://i.imgur.com/vxvw4Ak.gif

Concerning the registry change in the other post, I noticed that both my new and old accounts have the same 'mousehover' width/height registry settings. I edited the old account's registry anyway, but it didn't have any effect. : (

event3horizon · 26 Dec 2015

are you using list view or detail view? list view does what you want, detail view doesn't

thanks2you · 26 Dec 2015

Thank you for the response, event3horizon. : ) I'm only using list view.

P.S. To be clear, all the images above are only showing list view as well.

event3horizon · 26 Dec 2015

i would try just to go to folder options and click the view tab and hit reset folders, along with restore defaults in general and view tabs.

Layback Bear · 26 Dec 2015

Maybe be this will help.

Hovering over blank space in my folders selects the files-capture.pnmouse-hover.png

Ranger4 · 26 Dec 2015

thanks2you said:

Thanks again for your help! Thought a couple screen recordings might help to show the differences in action—

Mouse & blank space behavior in new account: https://i.imgur.com/2Ol0zQG.gif
^This is what I want.

Mouse & blank space behavior in old account: https://i.imgur.com/vxvw4Ak.gif

Concerning the registry change in the other post, I noticed that both my new and old accounts have the same 'mousehover' width/height registry settings. I edited the old account's registry anyway, but it didn't have any effect. : (

After you made the Registry changes, did you restart your computer. The changes wont take effect until you do