Windows Explorer (aka the Shell) in Vista (as in XP before it) provides folder templates which display the contents of folders in predefined ways.  The shell in Vista has been "improved" with a feature that "sniffs" the contents of a folder to determine which template to use if one has not been specified.

If you use Vista, you may have noticed that when you open or navigate to a folder that it thinks the folder contains photos.  Sometimes it gets it right but all too often it gets it wrong.

The folks over at HelpWithWindows.com have written an article describing this phenomenon and have a provided a solution along with more information on the "sniffing" feature".  The primary solution involves editing the registry to tell the shell not to sniff the contents.  Here are the instructions for doing that:

1. Start the Registry Editor
2. Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ Local Settings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Shell \ Bags
3. From the menu, click Edit > New > Key
4. Name the new key AllFolders (and keep this key selected)
5. From the menu, click Edit > New > Key
6. Name the new key Shell (and keep this key selected)
7. From the menu, click Edit > New > String Value
8. Name the new value FolderType, right-click it and choose Modify. Enter NotSpecified as the Value data
9. Close the registry editor.

I’ve provided this change in a .reg file that you can download from my site (see below).

Enjoy!

Resources

•   DisableAutoFolderTemplate.zip (359 bytes, 52 hits)