XP Windows Explorer - Open in Simple View

reply no 3, okay on avast, possibly because you have it checked to monitor yourself, if you want to have the security center monitor it, you can add avast to the listing in regedit.

okay on windows defender and avast.

Tweak UI was recommended, but I have not used it as I did not have this problem. Thought it might be worth a try for you.

 

We have to slow this down because now I am getting confused. Too many solutions at once without a proper sequence.

First, the troubleshooter I tried and commented on was at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813711. You had suggested it in a reply yesterday. On that page is a "Run now" link under the heading of "Diagnose and fix the problem automatically". That is a download and running it caused the error I mentioned.

Therefore, I went to the next section which states "Fix the problem manually", also on that page. It is then that I became uncomfortable about how to recreate a registry key as the instructions call for after deleting some subkeys. You sent me an email today (my time) telling me how to recreate a key. I understand your instruction, however, the first step in this manual fix is to delete the registry subkeys as stated in the manual fix section on that web page.

"1. Delete the following registry subkeys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags"

Now, here is my confusion: Bags is a subdirectory under Shell. If I delete Shell then wouldn't Bags automatically be deleted since it is a subdirectory. If that is true then why would these instructions explicitly state to delete HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags when it is already deleted by deleting Shell? I can apply the same logic to ShellNoRoam with its subdirectories.

I won't go further with this manual fix until I am comfortable with the instructions. I have created a restore point, but I really don't want to mess up the registry.

 

Okay, then lets start with the kb article 812003

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812003

Note: 8000 is the max you can go in xp

In this article troubleshooting section, it is only to increase the BagMru size, reboot and check effect.

KB803711
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813711

Windows XP

Delete the following registry subkeys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags

Re-create the following registry subkeys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam

Create and then set the BagMRU Size registry value to 5000 in the registry subkeys that you created in Step 2.

When you get to the Windows KEY , you will delete the subkeys listed above

(The only keys I have listed here on my pc, xp pro, are Current Version, Shell and ShellNoRoam.)

When you delete all the subkeys above you are clearing Windows memory for this issue

when you recreate the subkeys, any sub-subkeys necessary under those subkeys will be recreated by windows as necessary, after a reboot and after you have chosen your folder settings.

for registry backup it is better to use ERUNT:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/erunt/

To delete a subkey, right click and choose delete, if you cannot delete, check permissions when you right click and give yourself permission

If you are still not clear post back, it is 8:44 am here right now, I am fixing to leave will check back tonight.

Sorry for all the confusion.

 

I followed all your instructions very carefully and was able to delete and recreate the required keys. I set the BagMru size in both keys to 5000 and rebooted. I then repeated the procedure I have done so often to keep the folders pane open and it still doesn't. Folders open in simple view the way I wanted in the first place but I can't go back to the way I originally started this thread, i.e., with the folders pane open. It just doesn't work.

I think I will just give up at this stage. I can always right click on a folder and select "explore". That keeps the folders pane open. I just have to remember to do it rather than unconsciously double-clicking a folder they way I have done for 20 years.

Many thanks for all your help, but I'm not sure any fix is going to work. I will follow through on running scans on my computer in Windows safe mode, but I really don't think it is malware causing the problem.

Paul

 

you should run checkdisk with the /r parameter:

if you do not have Recovery Console installed, then run from the start menu

go to start, run, type in cmd

in cmd type in chkdsk c: /r and press enter

type Y for yes and press enter

type exit and press enter

restart pc, allow checkdisk to finish and run again

this is a lengthy process depending on the size of your harddrive, the percentages will fluctuate, this is normal, you can view report in the event viewer.
go to start>run> and type in eventvwr.msc, click on the applications directory, and in the right hand panel choose winlogon.
======================

I will keep searching, but I understand your frustration. If you get an email that I have replied check back here as I may have found a fix.

 

I ran malwarebytes and superantispyware both in safe mode and no threats were found with either scan.

I ran the chkdsk process as well. Here is the log file. It looks okay to me but maybe you will see something that isn't kosher.

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Winlogon
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Date: 21/02/2014
Time: 15:11:22
User: N/A
Computer: DELL-MAIN
Description:
Checking file system on C:
The type of the file system is NTFS.

A disk check has been scheduled.
Windows will now check the disk.
Cleaning up minor inconsistencies on the drive.
Cleaning up 993 unused index entries from index $SII of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 993 unused index entries from index $SDH of file 0x9.
Cleaning up 993 unused security descriptors.
CHKDSK is verifying Usn Journal...
Usn Journal verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying file data (stage 4 of 5)...
File data verification completed.
CHKDSK is verifying free space (stage 5 of 5)...
Free space verification is complete.

153035189 KB total disk space.
121173300 KB in 253588 files.
162156 KB in 31155 indexes.
0 KB in bad sectors.
779821 KB in use by the system.
65536 KB occupied by the log file.
30919912 KB available on disk.

4096 bytes in each allocation unit.
38258797 total allocation units on disk.
7729978 allocation units available on disk.

Internal Info:
30 a9 04 00 52 58 04 00 9b 48 06 00 00 00 00 00 0...RX...H......
a9 cc 02 00 04 00 00 00 b2 06 00 00 00 00 00 00 ................
fc 23 4e 1e 00 00 00 00 ac af dc b0 02 00 00 00 .#N.............
b6 13 6a 8f 00 00 00 00 e6 5e 16 5f 0e 00 00 00 ..j......^._....
26 24 92 03 02 00 00 00 06 03 a9 c6 13 00 00 00 &$..............
a0 b6 7a a6 00 00 00 00 90 38 07 00 94 de 03 00 ..z......8......
00 00 00 00 00 d0 d4 e3 1c 00 00 00 b3 79 00 00 .............y..

Windows has finished checking your disk.
Please wait while your computer restarts.

 

main points,

zero kilobytes in bad sectors, if there ever are any then look to replace your hard drive.

you will always see this, maybe not so many, but these happen when files are changed, moved, and or deleted.

There are no errors to correct and this is good.

checkdisk looks great, I had been thinking that maybe a file had become corrupted or something that would cause your issue, we have done all the fixes that I know of short of a reinstall.

 

reply 2

above from here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/29057-45-sticky-folder-pane-explorer

 

Thanks again for all your help. I'll stay subscribed to this thread in case you come up with something in the future.

 

okey dokey.