HOW-TO: Disable Automatic Folder Type Discovery

By default, Windows Explorer
in Windows Vista will try to automatically detect the contents of a
folder and display the correct detail settings, however in some
situations you may wish to disable this behavior and customize the view
settings manually as desired.

This article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, 32-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 32-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business, 32-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, 32-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise, 32-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Business, 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate, 64-bit
• Microsoft Windows Vista Enterprise, 64-bit

NOTE: This involves editing the registry. It is
always recommended to create a back-up of the registry before making
any modifications. Before performing any of the actions below, please
save your work and close any Windows Explorer windows, as you will need
to log off for these changes to properly take effect.

Automatic method

• Download the command script
  that I have created and extract the files to your Desktop. Once you
  have extracted the files, simply double click on
  “disable_automatic_foldertype_discovery.cmd” and read the precautions
  in the command prompt window that appears.

  This file has been scanned for viruses and does not perform any
  malicious tasks, it simply automates the task required to reset the
  Windows Explorer view settings and then proceed to disable the
  automatic folder content discovery.

Manual method

• Click on Start, and in the Start Search field type “REGEDIT”, and then press Enter.
• If User Account Control prompts you, provide consent by clicking on Continue or entering a password.
• In the left hand pane, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
• Right click on the “Bags” sub-key and click on Delete. When asked to confirm the operation click on Yes.
• Right click on the “Shell” sub-key and from the menu that appears click on New, and then click on Key.
• Give the new key a name of “Bags” (without the quotes).
• Right click on the “Bags” sub-key and from the menu that appears click on New, and then click on Key.
• Give the new key a name of “AllFolders” (without the quotes).
• Right click on the “AllFolders” sub-key and from the menu that appears click on New, and then click on Key.
• Give the new key a name of “Shell” (without the quotes).
• Select the “Shell” key that you just creaited.
• In the right hand pane of the Registry Editor, right click on an empty area and from the menu click on New, and then click on String Value.
• Give the new REG_SZ (String Value) a name of “FolderType” (without the quotes).
• Double click on the FolderType String Value and give it a value of “NotSpecified” (without the quotes).
• Close the Registry Editor.
• Click on Start, press the arrow next to the power buttons, and select Log Off from the menu that appears.
• Log back in and customize your Windows Explorer folder view settings as desired.

If you would like to reset Windows Explorer back to the way it should act by default:

• Click on the Start button, and in the Start Search field paste the following bold text command: REG DELETE “HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\AllFolders” /f
• Press the Enter key to execute the command.

Folder content auto discovery will be enabled on any folders that
have not been previously opened. However, if you would like to reset
the view settings on all folders so that auto-sensing is automatically
enabled, simply download the “Reset Windows Explorer View Settings” command script,
extract the .cmd file from the Compressed Folder (ZIP file) and execute
the command script, paying attention to the on-screen information.

Source

Vista and USB Bluetooth Adapter

Today, I purchased a new iNex USB Bluetooth Adapter instead of my lost one. I plugged it into my Windows Vista based laptop, and tried to install the software bundled with the adapter. As I expected, installation failed since the driver doesn’t support Vista OS.

I tried to use Windows Vista driver search feature to look for a driver online. For the first time, Windows succeeded to find generic driver for USB Bluetooth, WOW. A good point score for Vista.

Windows Cannot Connect to Windows Service: System Event Notfication Service

At first, I’d like to say it was my fault. It was a normal update for Vista that required reboot. after reboot, a service tried to update some registry keys and Mcafee poped-up a message to ask permission. It was supposed to choose ALLOW. but the fault is that I selected BLOCK, and the disaster happened.

After few minutes, I restarted the system, and I noticed that the startup is very slow, and no activity is happening. After the long login, a message appeared saying Windows Cannot Connect with Windows Service, with some long text containing System Event Notification Service.

Windows Update not working, Event Log not Working, System Restore not Working, and even Boot from Last Working Configuration Startup option is also not working. Creating new account (Administrator) is also not working. nothing is almost working !!!

Oh, Internet connection is also not working, Network connection is disabled !!!

After some long search on internet, here is the solution:
Start-> SEARCH for cmd -> press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER (to run as admin) and type netsh winsock reset

Simply, the problem was solved !!!

Installing Vista Business with SP1

Although I stayed last week in installing and running Windows Vista, and I was very angry from it due to the very slow response I found, and The long update process that occur after installing the operating system. I decided yesterday to install Windows Vista with integrated SP1.

Windows Vista SP1 is completely different from the normal Vista, it comes with service pack updates integrated inside the operating system, and such updates are installed automatically with the installation of the operating system. SP1 makes Vista acceptable with huge difference in the performance, and this is the main issue. Vista Performance is the most important issue.

The installation I performed was an upgrade to my Windows XP, so files and settings are not touched. One of the great notes I noticed is that I was putting My Documents folder on driver D, and after the upgrade, it still on D, and the operating system recognized that and kept it on D, which I’m normally accessing it from Computer.

After installation, I stopped some services like Windows Search, which I don’t need. I tried to install Mcafee 2004, but compatbility issue appeared which prevented me from completing the installation. Then, I installed Mcafee Antivirus and Firewall, which stopped the Windows Defender service without any notification from the operating system.