Default view is broken

Question

And always has been.

No matter how many times you set it to details, or right click on a volume and use customise to set the view for all sub folders, Windows will find an excuse to show you thumbnails. Especially if you use search.

Please Microsoft, I would like to NEVER, EVER, see the thumbnail view. I don't want it, I don't need it, it actually is unproductive to the way I work. I like details and lists. Thumbnails have no use. ZERO USE. The only view I EVER want to see is details. I don't know why it is so hard for MS and Windows to implement this. 

Windows 10 (and 7 for that matter) seems to think in certain circumstances, even after changing settings, that I want to see thumbnails again. I would love the option to completely turn this off. Forever, I mean forever and not until another update or some obscure reason.

Answer 1

Sorry for the delay -- busy few days.

I've wrapped everything up in PowerShell commands. Download the text file:

SetFolderViewDefaults

You will only need to edit the path variable to point to a folder on your PC (for backup of registry values) and possibly the integer value that corresponds to the view mode you want. Close all Explorer windows before proceeding.

Once you've made the necessary edits, copy all the text and paste into PowerShell. Then press <Enter> to execute the code.

Here is the content of the text file:

#

# *** Change the value of $Backup to the path of an existing folder

# *** where you want to registry backups saved to.

#

$Backup   = 'C:\Users\keith\Documents\Sandbox\Folder View Defaults'

# ----------------------------------------------------------------

# Paths for Powershell commands use the registry drives, hence the ':'

#

$source = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes'

$dest   = 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes'

$TVs    = "$dest\\TopViews\"

# ----------------------------------------------------------------

# Paths for reg.exe commands don't use a ':'

$bagMRU   = 'HKCR\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU'

$bags     = 'HKCR\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags'

$defaults = 'HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults'

# ----------------------------------------------------------------

# Backup & then delete saved views and 'Apply to folders' defaults

reg export $BagMru "$Backup\bagMRU.reg"

reg export $Bags "$Backup\bags.reg"

reg export $Defaults "$Backup\defaults.reg"

reg delete $bagMRU /f

reg delete $bags /f

reg delete $defaults /f

reg delete ($dest.Replace(':','')) /f

#-----------------------------------------------------------------

#------------------* The Magic is here *--------------------------

#

# Copy HKLM...\FolderTypes to HKCU...\FolderTypes

copy-item $source "$(split-path $dest)" -Recurse

#

# Set all 'LogicalViewMode' values to the desired style

# 1 = Details   2 = Tiles   3 = Icons

# 4 = List      5 = Content

# Edit "$key2edit.SetValue('LogicalViewMode', 4)" as desired

get-childitem $TVs |

%{$key2edit = (get-item $_.PSParentPath).OpenSubKey($_.PSChildName, $True);

$key2edit.SetValue('LogicalViewMode', 4) # <-- Edit here

$key2edit.Close()

}

Get-process explorer | Stop-Process

You should be good to go, but post back with any questions.

Keith

Answer 2

Yup, I see that.

(sorry, I didn't get a notification on this one)

Answer 3

Cool. Most of what we'll be doing is via PowerShell -- it makes mass changes easier. But often, something like deleting key is quicker via regedit.exe.

Let's see how you do with PowerShell:

1. Press WinKey+X
2. Click Windows PowerShell
3. Copy the entire command from my previous message --- gci...)}}
4. Paste into PowerShell & press <Enter>

You should get a long list similar to this:

Template Name

-------------

Searches

Pictures.Library

ControlPanelAllItems

Contacts.SearchResults

Videos.LibraryFolder

Printers

Documents.SearchResults

OtherUsers.SearchResults

Music.Library

Documents.LibraryFolder

...

Does that work for you?

Keith

Answer 4

Thanks Keith,

   I have generally shied away from messing with the registry, but I may have to take that deep dive just out of frustration!

Matt

Answer 5

I've experimented with this & believe I can help. Detailed instructions will have to wait until this evening --- not at my Win10 machine right now. Some questions:

1. What's your comfort/expertise level in general?
2. Are you familiar/comfortable with Registry edits?
3. are you familiar/comfortable with PowerShell (similar to Command Prompt)

If you're comfortable with PowerShell, copy & paste the following command (one long command - may wrap here) to see a list of the various folder templates & start thinking about which folders you want to default to List & which you want to default to Details.

gci HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes | select @{N='Template Name';E={$_.GetValue('CanonicalName')}}

Will check back later....

Keith