Your view settings or customizations for a folder are lost or incorrect (813711)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2003
  • Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition Version 2002
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Tablet PC Edition
Important This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

Your view settings or customizations for a folder may be lost or incorrect. For example, you may experience any one or more of the following symptoms:
  • Microsoft Windows does not remember your view settings for a folder when you reopen it.

    Note The view settings include Thumbnails, Tiles, Icons, List, and Details.
  • Windows does not remember the size or position of a folder window when you reopen it.
  • The wrong thumbnail image appears for a folder, or no thumbnail image appears.
Note This problem may occur even if you have selected the Remember each folder's view settings check box under Advanced Settings on the View tab of Folder Options in Control Panel.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because Windows stores each folder's view settings and customizations in the registry. By default, this data is limited to 200 local folders and 200 network folders, for a total of 400 folders. The data for folder view settings and customizations is stored in the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Microsoft Windows XP. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

WORKAROUND

Warning If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this problem, create a BagMRU Size DWORD value in both of the following registry keys, and then set the value data for both values to the number of folders that you want Windows to remember the settings for. For example, for Windows to remember the settings for 5000 local folders and 5000 network folders, set both values to 5000.

You must create the new value for the following registry keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

Important You may have to adjust the BagMRU Size values for your specific situation. If you increase the BagMRU Size values, the information that is stored in the registry increases. When you use roaming user profiles, registry information is copied to a server when you log off and copied to your local computer when you log on. Therefore, you may have performance issues if you increase the BagMRU Size values for roaming user profiles.

Follow these steps, and then quit Registry Editor:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell

  3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
  4. Type BagMRU Size, and then press ENTER.
  5. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  6. Type 5000, and then click OK.
Follow these steps:
  1. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

  2. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
  3. Type BagMRU Size, and then press ENTER.
  4. On the Edit menu, click Modify.
  5. Type 5000, and then click OK.

STATUS

This problem was first corrected in Windows XP Service Pack Service Pack 2.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows can remember the folder settings for view state, window position, sort order, column information, folder type, status bar setting, toolbar toggles, and search results.

REFERENCES

For additional information about how to modify your folder view settings or customize a folder, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

812003 How to modify your folder view settings or to customize a folder

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:11/30/2004
Keywords:kbtshoot kbbug KB813711
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