Why does Win7 File Explorer sometimes 'group' files?

[jsteph]

Hi all,
Sometimes--usually with DVD's but it just started happening with mapped network drivers--the right pane of windows explorer will have the files 'grouped', as if I'm 4 years old and need them 'grouped' or I might just get confused so Microsoft has to 'help' me.

How can I put a stop to this? I went to the View menu and under "Group By", I *can't* un-select the grouping that's selected (by 'type'). I did not select this, ever.

In my Folder Options I haven't changed anything, aand although it has always does this for DVD's, now it's spreading like a putrid virus.
Thanks for any help on this,
--Jim

 

[linney]

Try Safe Mode (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

If you cannot reproduce the errors in Safe Mode see if you can further isolate the cause.

How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929135

If you test with another user in Normal Mode, how is it?

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer, OR try the System File Checker.

How to repair the operating system and how to restore the operating system configuration to an earlier point in time in Windows Vista (or 7)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/936212/#appliesto

How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Try it first by not checking either box (Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems. If it does, start by ticking both boxes, in any further rerun.

 

[jsteph]

linney,
Thank you very much. I'm going to look into those, especially SFC, which I'd completely forgotten about. I'd recently done some installs and I think one of the installs may have done some messy things.
---Jim

 

[Freestone]

It sounds too easy, and I don't mean to offend, but when I turned on grouping, I then found in the View->Group By menu an option (None).

 

[jsteph]

Freestone,
Yes...that would be too easy

No "(None)" or any similar option in my View-->Group By list.

There is a "More..." button, that goes on to list about a hundred different categories from "Camera Type" ot "Telex" an all sorts of arcane grouping options, but nothing that turns it off.

It is off in *most* folders...but it's just the occasional folder that all of a sudden is grouped and won't un-group.
--Jim

 

[Freestone]

Seems like this random grouping appearance was also present in Vista. No comfort there I know.

From an unaffected Windows Explorer window, Folder Options View tab, have you tried selecting Apply To Folders or Restore Defaults and then Apply To Folders? This isn't a solution as to why grouping gets randoming turned on, but perhaps a solution to folders where you can't turn off grouping. It may not be desirable to reset all your folders and their view, but....