Restore Registry Database for each Folder's View Settings (EASIEST METHOD)

Within Explorer, in Folder Options/View tab/Advanced Settings, you can check the "Remember each folder's view settings". From this moment, each Explorer's window, including My Computer, Recycle Bin, Control Panel, Network Connections or Printers should always open itself at the same defined position, with the same defined size and selected columns.

In fact, Windows XP remembers those individual settings in a kind of database within the Registry, under :

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags

For some unknown reason, this database may however become corrupted from time to time (this is not a new problem in Windows). If this happens, you can’t anymore save the specific settings of each Explorer’s folder : each Explorer’s window will always open with the default size and columns settings, and at a random position on the screen, what is really annoying for people who like a well organized desktop, with constant windows size and position to suit their needs.

To solve this issue :

1. Start REGEDIT.EXE

2. Delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU"

3. Delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags"

4. Close REGEDIT.EXE

5. Open and customize each Explorer’s specific folder you wish (My Documents, Recycle Bin, My Computer, Printers, Network Connections, Control Panel,…), then close it : it will again open each time with your defined size, position and columns.

Alex P. P.S: I found this out by using the original instructions written by Oliver, and I'm sure it will work for you, because it defaults all the view values. It worked perfectly on my 3 computers and on my friend's computer.

Note from forum Administrator: The reason this happens is that the default setting is for 400 views. After that your customized settings may not be saved. The above tweak will reset to 400 views after the listed keys are deleted (they will recreate themselves upon reboot). If you would like to know how to increase the "memory" above the 400 views please visit our forum and do a search for "BagMRU".