Windows Explorer – how can I get it to stop randomly choosing how to display folders

There seems to be multiple things that might cause this as an issue, and multiple resolutions as well, hopefully solving or making this "bug" appear less frequently.

1. Manually resetting the folder view cache/settings
   1. Start regedit. (Win+R, enter regedit, press Enter or click OK. )
   2. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell.
   3. Delete the keys Bags and BagMRU.
   4. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell, repeat step 3.
   5. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam, repeat step 3.

Trying some of these additional tweaks might help, mix it with it and see what you get.

• Disabling automatic folder type discovery
  1. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell in regedit.
  2. Create a new key under Shell, called Bags.
  3. Create a new key under Bags, called AllFolders.
  4. Create a new key under AllFolders, called Shell.
  5. Create a new string value under Shell, called FolderType.
  6. Set the string value of FolderType to NotSpecified.

You can increase the size of the folder view cache as well.

• Increasing the size of the folder view cache

  1. Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell.
  2. Set the DWORD value of BagMRU size to something higher than 5000.
     • Note: If it's not there, create it.

• After resetting the cache/settings + apply tweaks

  1. Log off/on or reboot.
  2. Open a Windows Explorer window and go to the Folder Options window.
     1. Select the View tab.
     2. Check Remember each folder's view settings.
     3. Uncheck Restore previous folder windows at logon.
     4. Hit the OK!

This should do it, or rather, perhaps improve the experience. Nevertheless, using an application as CCleaner with the wrong settings can disrupt and delete your settings, so be aware and checking before you use applications focused on "cleaning up".

This link provides some tweaks that might solve it

(but it's too long to copy-paste here)

Possible cause:

Vista sets the Explorer window view settings and folder type template according to what folder types are in the window.

This will show you how to reset the Windows Explorer folder view settings, turn off Automatic Folder Type Discovery, and increase the folder view cache to have Vista remember the view settings, folder type template, size, or position of a specific window for when it was last closed at the specific path location.

The exact cause of Vista losing it's memory on your folder view settings has not been found yet. This may just reset them for now to help Vista remember them again. It has been noticed that changing a lot of window folder view settings in combination with some unknown applications settings may be triggering this forgetfulness.

Make sure that you do not have a setting in a 3rd party program set to clear the folder view setting cache when it is used. (EX: CCleaner - Window Size/Location cache option under Cleaner -> Advanced)