Problem with sorting windows explorer views

[pyroskliq]

I'm using Windows 98SE...

I have somehow managed to change the default view of my explorer windows to sort in reverse aphabetical order rather than the normal way. I've got no clue how it got this way, and no clue how to get it back to the original way.

Under the 'view' tab in the 'folder options' I've tried all combinations of 'remember each folder's view settings', make all folders look like 'current folder', and I've reset the folder views multiple times. I can sort them manually, but when the folder is closed and I reopen it sometime down the line, they are again in reverse order.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[paulwood]

Change the view to details, click on the heading, ie Name that you want to sort by, clicking again will sort in opposite direction.

 

[pyroskliq]

Thanks for the reply.

I can change the sort order for the current window (by name, type, date, etc...) with no problem. It's the default order that I can't fix. When the windows is closed and reopened, the view is switched back to reverse order.

 

[paulwood]

Are you using Custom, Classic or Web style views?

 

[pyroskliq]

I'm using custom view. Double click to open files, no web content in folders, open folders in same window, use windows classic desktop.

I've checked with the other IT people in my department, and they're as clueless as I on this one. I can get the folders to sort fine for the current "session", but when I restart they are all reset.

We don't have any kind of network policies in place that may be messing with it, we've already checked into that. (It's only on my workstation and none of the others).

I've got two workstations here that I work with and four Windows machines at home and so far I've been unable to recreate the problem on any other machine, even trying to on purpose.

I may just give up and live with it...

 

[paulwood]

It's weird, the best guess is that the registry has got messed up, possibly somewhere in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced ... but it is only a guess. Sorry

 

[mcconmw]

It might be worth the chance to delete your user.dat file. Warning....This will destroy all your personalized settings.

 

[woomf]

I've had the same default sorting files problem for months and haven't found anybody who can solve it. If somebody figures it out please post it.

 

[woomf]

I just found this in the Microsoft Knowledge Base, it solved the similar problem I was having:

Items in "Open" and "Save As" Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly

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The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98

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SYMPTOMS
When you use the Open command or the Save As command in one of the following tools in Windows 98, the items in the Open or Save As dialog box may be sorted incorrectly:

Notepad


Paint


WordPad


For example, files may be listed before folders, items may be sorted in descending order, and so on.



CAUSE
This behavior can occur if the sort order in Windows Explorer is changed from the default order.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this behavior, reset the default sort order:

Right-click Start, click Explore, and then click drive C.


On the View menu, click Details.


Click the Name column to sort items by name, press and hold down the CTRL key, and then quit Windows Explorer by clicking Close in the upper-right corner of the screen.


Release the CTRL key.


Restart your computer.


NOTE: You must perform these steps exactly as they are listed. For example, do not quit Windows Explorer by clicking Exit on the File menu.

Additional query words: sort alphabetical order

Keywords : kbui win98
Issue type : kbprb
Technology : kbWin98search kbWin98

 

[Guest_imported]

I found the answer in the help menu in the windows explorer folder. It involves going to the windows explorer folder, resorting that folder in the order you like, and then selecting from the pull down menu:

View
Folder Options
View

Click on the button "Like Current Folder"

This will force all of your explorer folders to be sorted in this 'New' order.

 

[michael519]

I had a little trouble with the "Like Current Folder" option. It didn't seem to change the descending sort order.

What finally worked, was I clicked on My Computer, clicked on View, clicked on Arrange Icons, and selected "By Drive Letter". Now I really don't ever remember seeing the Drive Letter option before, but that solved my problem. Everything is sorted properly again.