Stop Vista's "Folder Sniffing"

In Windows Vista, "sniffing a folder" means that the OS decides the folder type based on the files it contains. For example, a folder with MP3s is determined to be "music" and a folder with JPGs would be determined to be "pictures." However, if any corruption occurs (like if you did something crazy like putting MP3 files at the root of C:) there is no easy way to reset the view. However, there is a reg hack* that will fix this problem.

*Note: before hacking the registry you should try the Reset Folder in Folder Options (Organize -> Folder and Search Options and then go to View tab)

With this hack, any and all remembered folder settings in Explorer for view state, window position, sort order, column information, folder type, toolbar toggles, and search result views will be lost and reset to the original defaults.

This hack with delete and reset Windows Vista Folder Views and Folder Types Settings to their Clean, Default State:

1. Click on Start
2. Type regedit in the Start Search box, and press Enter to run Registry Editor.
3. Click Continue on User Account Control dialog prompt.
4. In Registry Editor, navigate to the following registry branch: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags
5. Right click on the "Bags" registry key in the left pane, and click "Delete."
6. Click "Yes" when prompt for confirmation to delete the registry key and all its subkeys.
7. Next, navigate to the following registry key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
8. Right click on "BagMRU" registry key in the left pane, and click "Delete."
9. Click Yes when prompt for confirmation to delete the registry key and all its subkeys.
10. Close Registry Editor.
11. Log off and log on again or restart computer so that the registry keys can be rebuilt and recreated.
12. After logged on, open Windows Explorer, go to Folder Options (Organize -> Folder and Search Options) View tab, and make sure the Remember each folder’s view settings is checked.
13. To ensure that any changes to Folder settings in Explorer window, close the Explorer window after changes to save the settings. Windows Vista will only remember the state of folders of the window is closed.

If you don't like to hack your registry yourself, you can download reset-vista-folders.reg in a zip file from the My Digital Life forum.

(Thanks to My Digital Life for this tip!)