Make Windows 7 remember window positions and size!

[helmutcheese]

Hmm, I always opened its GUI and choose to save current window lol.

Possibly that's why mines works.

 

[zrxer]

Free Software

I got annoyed with this, and eventually downloaded the DeskSoft software. However, I'm not a huge fan of proprietary software, and it was doing more than I needed.

So, I wrote WindowsWhere (windowswhere - Project Hosting on Google Code), which puts Windows Explorer windows where you want them. It is just alpha software right now (I hacked it up a few nights ago, only tested on Windows 7 32bit on a 32bit machine, namely, my machine, and no one else's). WindowsWhere is released under the GPL v3, and is written in C++ and C#.

If you are a developer who has been annoyed by this problem too, give it a try; maybe you'll even want to contribute. If you are just looking for some Free software to put your windows where you want them, you can give it a try too -- but you might want to wait until a beta release!

 

[rsvr85]

I got annoyed with this, and eventually downloaded the DeskSoft software. However, I'm not a huge fan of proprietary software, and it was doing more than I needed.

So, I wrote WindowsWhere (windowswhere - Project Hosting on Google Code), which puts Windows Explorer windows where you want them. It is just alpha software right now (I hacked it up a few nights ago, only tested on Windows 7 32bit on a 32bit machine, namely, my machine, and no one else's). WindowsWhere is released under the GPL v3, and is written in C++ and C#.

If you are a developer who has been annoyed by this problem too, give it a try; maybe you'll even want to contribute. If you are just looking for some Free software to put your windows where you want them, you can give it a try too -- but you might want to wait until a beta release!

And a Beta release is expected........?

 

[zrxer]

And a Beta release is expected........?

Haha, quicker response than I expected! I will try to test it on a few friends' machines and clean up the roughest edges in the next few days; I'll shoot for next Monday.

And, apologies all around if this doesn't do what you want, or doesn't work: I just got it working how I wanted and decided to post it in case someone else was interested. Currently my windows stay where I want them, which is all I was looking for!

 

[rsvr85]

I'm looking forward to next Monday then, if it works it'll be a very handy app for me!
Thanks zrxer!

 

[zrxer]

Less Alpha-y Alpha

Hello again. I've released a slightly less wild alpha, which should be "safe enough" to try. Find it at windowswhere - Project Hosting on Google Code

If you do try it out, let me know how it works, or if there are any (and there will be) bugs. It would really help if you posted them to the issues list at the google code site listed above. Thanks!

 

[rhomboid1]

The problem is the same as vista and XP usually. The BagMRU size isn't big enough to accomodate all the folders, When it runs out of space, it loses folder settings. The following registry file ups the MRU size to 20,000 folders:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00004e20

Hey, Thanks for the tip, it seemed to work for me so far.
For those of you who claim not to see "BagMRU" in the "SHELL" place holder, you have to create the entry, i.e; create a DWORD (32bit) value. At least that's how I did it.

Cheers!

 

[Dixon Butz]

BagMRU has nothing to do with 7 not remembering window size and postion. 7 was designed to remember only the window size and position of the last closed window.

 

[MarkAtHome]

The solution was posted here: http://www.sevenforums.com/customiz...-folder-window-positions-size.html#post396744

I have installed it on Window 7 64-bit and have Open Each Folder In Its Own Window selected.

 

[HighTechGeek]

I only read pages 1, 11 & 21 of this post, so I don't know if this has been suggested, but perhaps an acceptable solution to this thread would be Fences for Windows 7:
Stardock Fences website

It is free for personal use and organizes your icons on the desktop nicely. It works with 32 and 64 bit Windows.

For gfwalker's request for folder with only icons, You can create a fence on the desktop called Games with 50 icons inside the fence. The fence can be shrunk down to only show 1 icon and you can scroll through the list rather nicely.

It may not be exactly what people are looking for, but I think it's actually a better solution... and it's FREE!

I just re-read this and it sounds like an ad! haha! It's not: I've been looking to have Windows save my icon positions since Windows 95 & I was really pleasantly surprised by this product! I didn't know about the BagMRU hack for Windows XP, but apparently it doesn't work in Windows 7 anyway...

 

[Dixon Butz]

I love fences! I have the pro version.

 

[The111]

The solution was posted here: http://www.sevenforums.com/customiz...-folder-window-positions-size.html#post396744

OMFG. Why is this solution not posted in the OP?!?! It works! And apparently it was created way back in November, and because I only monitor this thread, I never found out about it.

Thank you THANK YOU!

EDIT: Thanks for putting it in the OP, Brink. Many people like myself did not want to use WindowManager since it is not free.

 

[MarkAtHome]

The solution was posted here: http://www.sevenforums.com/customiz...-folder-window-positions-size.html#post396744

OMFG. Why is this solution not posted in the OP?!?! It works! And apparently it was created way back in November, and because I only monitor this thread, I never found out about it.

I am glad that it worked for you.

Note that it was not found due to my reading other threads. Since no one was coming up with a good (IMO) solution, I did a google search and found myself back here!

 

[videobruce]

Read the negative reviews on CNet regarding 'Fences' (Other than having it reported as a virus), namely the EULA,

 

[Dixon Butz]

Stardock would not do that on the free version. Paid for pro and fences is extremly usefull on my multi monitor setup.

 

[Cameron2849]

how to make windows 7 or XP remember window size and position

I know this sounds wierd but it works. 1. Open the window that you want to resize. 2. Close or minimize other windows. 3. Right click on task bar and then left click on "show windows side by side". 4. Resize/position the window to the way you want it. 5. Close the window.

This works with most windows/programs but not all. Once you try it a few times, it's easy, and requires no extra little programs. Works with IE but all websites will open in same remembered position.

 

[Dixon Butz]

That does nothing to make windows remember the position when they are re-opened. And it makes a mess when using multiple monitors.
Even windows 8 doesn't save explorer window positions.
Still the best solution is window manager from Desksoft. I couldn't live without it.

 

[jagooch]

I know this sounds wierd but it works. 1. Open the window that you want to resize. 2. Close or minimize other windows. 3. Right click on task bar and then left click on "show windows side by side". 4. Resize/position the window to the way you want it. 5. Close the window.

This works with most windows/programs but not all. Once you try it a few times, it's easy, and requires no extra little programs. Works with IE but all websites will open in same remembered position.

But what you need to move/resize the window while you are working, and then close it? Will it still open where you want it to the next time? I think it remembers the last position and size, and not the desired opening position and size, which are 2 different things.

I want my window to always open in the same location and size, regardless of what those settings were when I last closed it.

 

[BuddyLama]

FAIL: Still no solution from Microsoft?

This thread is over 2 years old and Microsoft has FAILED to fix the problem??
All that Microsoft has offered is ShellFolderFix, which is NOT a solution at all.

Every prior version of Windows supported this capability, yet not Windows 7 or 8.
Third party developers have engineered a solution, but Microsoft cannot or will not.

The only viable solution for consumers who want and need the feature are forced to spend an additional 10% - 20% more than the retail price of the operating system to buy a 3rd party strap-on just to replace a feature that's older than most of the employees at Microsoft... Gee, thanks.

 

[cdrobsonjr]

You got a RED Close button??? - I don't - just boring gray

I am running Windows 7, 7100 x64 and have been using an old windows trick to make window's remember location and size of opened windows...

When you get the window the size and location you want and are ready to close it, Use the red Close (X) button in the upper right corner while holding down the shift key! This has always worked for me!

Marvin!

No "RED" close buttons and your trick has no effect. Sorry.