Folder Template - Default

Brink · Mar 19, 2013

No problem.

I'm not sure why either Folder Template - Default (Restore_Default_Folder_Templates.bat) is the same as Folder View Settings - Reset All to Default (Windows_7_Reset_All_Folders_To_Default_Folder_Views.bat) is not resetting them for you.

Something is interfering with the .bat on your system since they both reset all folder templates and views back to default.

See if right clicking on the .bat and clicking on "Run as administrator" may help if you have some sort of permissions issue.

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

Are the commands for Folder Template - Default (Restore_Default_Folder_Templates.bat) and Folder View Settings - Reset All to Default (Windows_7_Reset_All_Folders_To_Default_Folder_Views.bat) supposed to be different?

I downloaded both .bat files and took a look at the commands, the commands for both .bat files are identical.

:: To reset all folders to default folder views
Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
Reg Delete "HKCU\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F

:: To kill and restart explorer
taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
start explorer.exe

Brink · Mar 20, 2013

No, they are supposed to be the same since they both will reset all folder views and templates back to default.

Did you have any luck using "Run as administrator" on the .bat?

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

I tried "Run as administrator" and the results are the same. The "View" and "Sort by" are still remembered for each template.

I'll try to explain to the best of my ability on what's going on.

After I run the .bat file the only things that appear to have reset are window size and icon placement on my desktop.

I have my Music Template set as follows, View -> List and Sort by -> Name. The default view setting for Music Template is View -> Details and Sort by -> Name

I have my Pictures Template set as follows, View -> Extra large icons and Sort by -> Name. The default view setting for Picture Template is View -> Large icons and Sort by -> Type.

I expected the .bat file to reset Folder view settings AND Template settings back to their original default. It seems the .bat is resetting the Folder view settings but not Template settings back to default.

I also noticed the Note you have posted on Folder View Settings - Reset All to Default,

The included folder view settings that will be set back to default will be all Group by, Sort by, Arrange by arrangement , Icon Size, or View arrangement settings. This will not reset any changes made to the folder templates back to default though.

Now I'm really confused.

I thought I was told that the .bat files DID reset folder templates back to default.

Brink · Mar 20, 2013

LOL, now you got me confused.

I just tested it, and the .bat file does reset all folder views and templates back to default.

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

Maybe I should try manually deleting the reg keys?

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU

HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU"
HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"

HKCU\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
HKCU\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

Brink · Mar 20, 2013

Only if you are comfortable with working in the registry.

You might consider creating a restore point before doing so. This way if you make a mistake by accident, you could just do a system restore with the restore point to undo it.

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

Ok, I'll do a system image just in case. Will report back the results.

*edit*

The following registry keys don't exist:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU

HKCU\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
HKCU\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

I am pretty sure the .bat file does not reset Folder Templates (General, Documents, Music, Pictures & Videos) back to their default view and sort by settings, but I want to be 100% sure.

I have a machine that is due for a client this Friday, so I decided to put everything together and load the OS. It's a AMD A10 Trinity build (not that the hardware matters) running on Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 with all the latest updates and mobo drivers (drivers downloaded directly from OEM website).

This is what I did step by step, I have 2 folders on my desktop. One folder contains mp3 files and the other .jpg files.

The default Music Template settings are:

View as Details
Sort by Name

I changed the View settings from Details to List. I then went into Folder Options -> View tab and clicked "Apply to Folders" so everything associated with Music will be in List view.

The default Pictures Template settings are:

View as Large Icons
Sort by Name

I changed the View settings from Large Icons to Extra Large Icons and Sort by Name to Sort by Type. I then went into Folder Options -> View tab and clicked "Apply to Folders" so everything associated with Pictures will be viewed in Extra Large Icons and sorted by Type.

After that was set and done I went ahead and executed the .bat file (Windows_7_Reset_All_Folders_To_Default_Folder_Views.bat)

After Explorer was killed and restarted I rebooted the machine just in case.
After the machine was done rebooting I went and check my Music and Picture folders, their View and Sort by settings did not change, it did not reset to their default View and Sort by settings.

I am now 100% certain the .bat files do not reset All Folder Templates back to their default View and Sort by settings.

Brink · Mar 20, 2013

OpTicaL,

I don't know what to tell you other than that on every system and VM I use it on, that .bat resets all folder views and templates back to default.

So far, you're the only one that it hasn't worked for.

As a test, try this .bat file below. It can only be used in an administrator account, and has these entries added to the one above.

Code:

Reg Delete "HKCR\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKCR\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F
 
Reg Delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU" /F
Reg Delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags" /F

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

Hi Brink,

I urge you to try using the "Apply to Folders" setting on a template and you will understand what I am talking about. I am very meticulous when it comes to troubleshooting and do not leave anything to chance, I zero out all possibilities.

I tried this on a fresh install of Windows 7 x64, there's no way the results could be wrong. There's nothing installed on the machine but the OS, updates and motherboard drivers.

For example, the Music folder and Pictures folder I have on the desktop in which Windows auto detected the template. If I make changes to the View and Sort by settings and NOT use the "Apply to Folders" option your .bat file will reset everything back to each templates original default, because their defaults did not change in the first place.

What I observed with the "Apply to Folders" option is that it sets a new default therefore your .bat file will only reset to the default set by "Apply to Folders" and does not have the same effect as "Reset Folders".

In my previous example, The default Pictures Template settings are, View as Large Icons, Sort by Name. If I change View to Extra Large Icons and Sort by Type and hit "Apply to Folders" the new default is Extra Large Icons and Sort by Type. Therefore running the .bat file as admin makes no difference, the default has been changed.

Try the following steps to reproduce the results I'm experiencing:

In this example I'm going to use the Pictures template which is currently defaulted to Extra Large Icons and Sort by Type.

1) First, reset the folder template to it's original default using "Reset Folders" option.

2) Verify the template has been reset, in this case the Picture template's original default is View as Large Icons and Sort by Name.

3) Restart the OS

4) Open the Picture folder and verify it's detected as the Picture template (right-click, Customize this folder…)

5) Change View to Extra Large Icons and Sort by Type

6) Go into Folder Options -> View and click Apply to Folders, close the folder

7) Execute your .bat file

8) Go back into the Pictures folder and you can see the View and Sort by settings did not reset the Pictures template back to it's original default (which is Large Icons and Sort by Name)

Brink · Mar 20, 2013

Ok, I see what you mean now. I got a bit turned around last night.

You are correct that if you used "Apply to Folders", then the only way to reset it is to use "Reset Folders" per template.

I added a note for this at the top here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/15692-folder-view-settings-reset-all-default.html

0pTicaL · Mar 20, 2013

No problem I know I have trouble expressing my thoughts sometimes. Glad to see it all work out in the end.

Your guides have been very helpful, where's the Donate button?

Brink · Mar 20, 2013

You pointing that out is the best donation.

voiceartistusa · Sep 28, 2013

This is the worst windows 7 feature!

First, because of some reg hacks I did, I need to (would like to) reset all folders to factory default for each type of file...not all folders to the same headers.
General Items
Documents
Pictures
Video

The factory default for those is fine.

Then, for folders that have at least one of the following type;
MP3
WAV
OGG
WMA
FLAC

And Windows STOPS trying to force Contributing Artist etc etc...

The headers should say [file name] [bit rate] [length] [file type] [date created] etc. or anything else I pick.

I work with a lot of audio files. This includes music files (where I don't care what the track number is much less the Contributing Artist. For those who need to know, yes I use song files legitimately, work related.

Let's say I also use audio files with dry voice for training or radio commercials.
Contributing Artist ???

I'm surprised someone hasn't figured this out yet, because every time I try to set the folder "of this type" then I create a new folder and drop an MP3 in it, guess who pops up? Mr Contributing Artist !!

There has to be a way to turn off auto discovery permanently!
It's absolutely insane!

Will the people at Microsoft post a reply? Somebody, anyone, Bill...help??
At least confess that this was a mistake like Ctrl + Alt + Del, then I'll stop.

So tonight, so that I can get some sleep, I'll have a dream the MS board members asked Steve to leave because HE WAS THE ONE who screwed up the Contributing Artist headers. It will actually be a nightmare, a continuation of the real life nightmare.

If anyone can shed more light, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Brink · Sep 28, 2013

Hello Voiceartistusa,

Automatic Folder Type Discovery is when Windows will automatically change the folder template of a folder to match the file type of the last file added or saved in the folder. For example, if your folder contains music files and you add a picture file, then Windows may change the folder template and view to the "Picture" template to match the new picture file.

By setting a specific template (steps 2 to 6 in tutorial on first page) to be the default, you will disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery. Afterwards, you will still be able to set folder views, columns, and templates how you like, but without Automatic Folder Type Discovery changing them for you.

By restoring the default templates (step 1), you will enable Automatic Folder Type Discovery.

Hope this helps,

Shawn

voiceartistusa · Sep 28, 2013

If I have a folder of audio files and I want to add one jpg, I cannot have the headers change to accommodate the jpg, that's not the way a customizable system should behave.

Windows WILL change the headers on any subsequent folders, It's driving me nuts!

Now I'm stuck with [bit rate] [length] [date modified] for ALL folders...

But I made an IMAGE of my disk today

I'll be back in 40 minutes

with a complete restore!

Brink · Sep 28, 2013

Did you do what I posted above to do either steps 2 to 6 in the tutorial to disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery?

If so, it should stop the issue you are having. Afterwards, you are still able to manually set the folder to have the folder template etc... you want instead again, and still have Automatic Folder Type Discovery disabled.

voiceartistusa · Sep 28, 2013

I thought I did...thats why that PC is doing a disk restore

Brink · Sep 28, 2013

You might try again if you like if it's still doing it after the restore.

Folder Template - Default

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