File properties/explorer are not working in so many ways.

Sarcasm-6052 0 Reputation points
2024-10-28T17:05:19.06+00:00

Windows 11, MS office, problems persist across HP and Samsung laptops.

  • File and folder sizes rarely display
    • those that do display are in kb regardless of unit appropriate to size.
  • Most other properties also do not display in file explorer.
    • What happens is a bunch of unpopulated columns in File Explorer.
    • examples: author,creator, owner, date printed, date acquired, duration, length, comments
    • I can almost count on date modified, date created, date accessed to show up, but they won't be helpful/ accurate
      • date accessed shows when the system accessed it regardless of whether or not I did and it shows the current rather than the last accessed prior to the current.
      • author or owner becomes my computer regardless of who generated the file's contents.
      • date modified and date last saved shouldn't always be the same because modified is to account for property modifications, right? But it hasn't.
    • It doesn't matter what property I add, or if it is already a property set to display as a column in file explorer.
  • Date created displays literally the date the file was created instead of actually displaying the date that its contents were created.
    • This happens regardless of internal move from one folder to another on the same computer or if receiving a file from an external source.
    • This is for all types so far (word, excel, images, audio files, etc).
  • Preview pain often does not display
    • and often only displays after I've clicked the file open.
  • In the file's properties, it never recognize its previous versions.
    • I have found images that are somehow saved multiple times on multple occasions to the the same folder and what shows is the name of the file followed by parantheses that include the new date and time UTC that it was (mysteriously re-)saved.
    • I have worked on word documents that intermittently are/have to be saved as a new file rather than its own update, so I do a Save As and then add on to the title a version indicator.
      • Neither of those are recognized as previous versions.
  • The defaults that I attempt to have for the View in File Explorer don't stick. Not at all. Not ever. They go away once I leave that windown of File Explorer, including going to a sub folder and then returning, regardless of setting the default for all subfolders or just modifying the columns in a single folder.
    • Columns I choose to not show reappear, such as the file's Status always reappears

The AI offered the following, but did not resove the issues:

Here is a possible answer to your question

It seems you're experiencing multiple issues with file properties and display settings in File Explorer on Windows 11. Here are some potential insights based on common problems and settings:

  1. File and Folder Sizes: If sizes are not displaying correctly, ensure that the "Display file size information in folder tips" option is enabled in the Folder Options under the View tab.
  2. Missing Properties: The properties like author, creator, and owner may not display if the files do not have that metadata set. For files like images or documents, this information is usually embedded, but if it's missing, File Explorer won't show it.
  3. Date Properties: The behavior of date properties can be affected by how files are saved or modified. For example, the "Date accessed" property may not reflect user actions accurately if the system accesses the file for background tasks.
  4. Preview Pane Issues: If the preview pane is not displaying content correctly, check if the option is enabled in the "View" menu of File Explorer. Sometimes, file types may not support previewing.
  5. Version History: The inability to recognize previous versions may relate to how files are saved. If using "Save As," ensure that versioning is enabled in your application settings.
  6. View Defaults Not Sticking: If your view settings are not being retained, it may be due to a glitch in File Explorer. You can try resetting the folder views by going to Folder Options and selecting "Reset Folders" under the View tab.

If these issues persist, consider checking for updates or repairing your Windows installation, as these problems can sometimes be resolved through system updates or fixes.

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Other
{count} votes

Your answer

Answers can be marked as Accepted Answers by the question author, which helps users to know the answer solved the author's problem.