Mastering the default Explorer views for Windows XP and 2003

I finally mastered the Windows Explorer views under Windows XP and 2003!

The following script is fully documented.

Enjoy!

‘================================================================================
‘
‘ This script sets the Details view for all folders.
‘
‘ Release 1.3 on 22nd April 2009.
‘ Created by Jeremy@jhouseconsulting.com on 6th February 2007.
‘
‘ On a Per-User basis, folder views are managed under two registry keys:
‘ 1) Network Folders – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell
‘ 2) Local Folders – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam
‘ Just so you don’t get confused let me explain that drive mappings are considered
‘ to be local folders. Network folders are UNC paths.
‘
‘ How to configure the default Folder Type template for users
‘ Create the AllFolders key under the following key:
‘ – HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders
‘ – Then create a Shell key under that.
‘ – Set the following values…
‘ – DWORD value WFlags set to 0
‘ – DWORD value Mode set to 4
‘ – String value vid set to “{137E7700-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}”
‘
‘ Note the following table can be used to configure the above values (WFlags
‘ should always be 0)
‘ View Mode vid
‘ Icons (medium) 1 {0057D0E0-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}
‘ Icons (small) 2 {0057D0E0-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}
‘ List 3 {0E1FA5E0-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}
‘ Details 4 {137E7700-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}
‘ Thumbnail 5 {8BEBB290-52D0-11D0-B7F4-00C04FD706EC}
‘ Tiles 6 {65F125E5-7BE1-4810-BA9D-D271C8432CE3}
‘ Filmstrip 7 {8EEFA624-D1E9-445B-94B7-74FBCE2EA11A}
‘
‘ Note that if you don’t want to show the status bar in the default folder view
‘ create a Status DWORD value and set it to 0
‘
‘ Rather than creating this individually for each user you may choose to create
‘ it globally by setting the exact same values in the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry
‘ hive instead. The ShellNoRoam key does not exist in the HKLM hive by default.
‘
‘ This script will also set/reset the view of any existing cached folders. To do
‘ this it uses WMI to enumerate all the registry subkeys under the following keys:
‘ – “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags”
‘ – “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags”
‘
‘ It then uses WMI to create/modify the Mode and Vid values under the following
‘ keys, where Nodeslot_number is the enumerated subkey:
‘ – “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags\Nodeslot_number\Shell”
‘ – “HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags\Nodeslot_number\Shell”
‘
‘ You can choose to leave existing folder views as they are by setting the
‘ blnChangeExistingFolders value to False. This allows users to change the view
‘ as they wish, without it being overwritten next time they log in.
‘
‘ Note that you must close and reopen Windows Explorer to see the changes.
‘
‘ Usage:
‘ cscript.exe //nologo SetExplorerViews.vbs
‘
‘ This script was based on…
‘ 1) A kixtart script written by Rick Mack.
‘ 2) A blog by Nicholas Dille from Sepago found here:
‘ http://blogs.sepago.de/nicholas/2009/02/17/preserving-windows-explorer-folder-views-in-roaming-profiles/
‘ 3) An article by “Snakefoot” found here:
‘ http://smallvoid.com/article/winnt-default-folder-view.html
‘
‘================================================================================

Option Explicit

Dim objShell, objReg, strComputer, strKeyRoot, strKeyPath, strValueName, strValue
Dim Return, blnDebug, arrSubKeys, subkey, i, strSystemRoot, strCommandLine, strView
Dim arrKeys, item, intMode, strVid, blnChangeExistingFolders

Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001

blnDebug = False

arrKeys = Array(“ShellNoRoam”,”Shell”)

blnChangeExistingFolders = True

‘ Set strView to either medium icons, small icons, list, details, thumbnail, tiles
‘ or filmstrip
strView = “Details”

‘ Folder View Mode Values under Bags\Nodeslot_number\Shell. All values are DWORD
Select Case lcase(strView)
Case “medium icons” ‘The view should display medium-size icons
intMode = 1
strVid = “{0057D0E0-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}”
Case “small icons” ‘The view should display small icons
intMode = 2
strVid = “{0057D0E0-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}”
Case “list” ‘Object names are displayed in a list view
intMode = 3
strVid = “{0E1FA5E0-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}”
Case “details” ‘Object names and other selected information, such as the size or date last updated, are shown
intMode = 4
strVid = “{137E7700-3573-11CF-AE69-08002B2E1262}”
Case “thumbnail” ‘The view should display thumbnail icons
intMode = 5
strVid = “{8BEBB290-52D0-11D0-B7F4-00C04FD706EC}”
Case “tiles” ‘The view should display large icons
intMode = 6
strVid = “{65F125E5-7BE1-4810-BA9D-D271C8432CE3}”
Case “filmstrip” ‘The view should display icons in a filmstrip format
intMode = 7
strVid = “{8EEFA624-D1E9-445B-94B7-74FBCE2EA11A}”
End Select

‘ FFlags Values under Bags\Nodeslot_number\Shell. All values are DWORD
‘ – Autoarrange_Off_Align_to_Grid_Off = 220
‘ – Autoarrange_On = 221
‘ – Autoarrange_off_Align_to_Grid_On = 224
‘ – Autoarrange_On_Align_to_Grid_On = 225

‘ Sort Values under Bags\Nodeslot_number\Shell. All values are DWORD
‘ – Sort_by_Name = 0
‘ – Sort_by_Size = 1
‘ – Sort_by_Type = 2
‘ – Sort_By_Modified = 3

strComputer = “.”

Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
Set objReg = GetObject(“winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\” & _
strComputer & “\root\default:StdRegProv”)

strKeyRoot = “HKCU\”
strKeyPath = “Software\Microsoft\Windows\”

‘ New profiles will not contain the key structure, so we need to create them.
For Each item in arrKeys
If NOT RegKeyExists(strKeyRoot & strKeyPath & item) Then
Return = objReg.CreateKey (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & item)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “Create the ” & strKeyPath & item & ” key.”
Else
Wscript.Echo “Could not create the ” & strKeyPath & item & ” key.”
End If
End If
End If
If NOT RegKeyExists(strKeyRoot & strKeyPath & item & “\Bags”) Then
Return = objReg.CreateKey (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & item & “\Bags”)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “Create the ” & strKeyPath & item & “\Bags key.”
Else
Wscript.Echo “Could not create the ” & strKeyPath & item & “\Bags key.”
End If
End If
End If
If NOT RegKeyExists(strKeyRoot & strKeyPath & item & “\BagMRU”) Then
Return = objReg.CreateKey (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & item & “\BagMRU”)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “Create the ” & strKeyPath & item & “\BagMRU key.”
Else
Wscript.Echo “Could not create the ” & strKeyPath & item & “\BagMRU key.”
End If
End If
End If
Next

‘ The ShellNoRoam fix as per the Sepago article.
strValueName = “”
strValue = “%COMPUTERNAME%”
Return = objReg.SetExpandedStringValue (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam”,strValueName,strValue)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “SetExpandedStringValue succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “SetExpandedStringValue failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If

‘ Create the AllFolders key, and values within.
Return = objReg.CreateKey (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders”)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “Create the ” & strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam” & “\Bags\AllFolders key.”
Else
Wscript.Echo “Could not create the ” & strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders key.”
End If
End If
Return = objReg.CreateKey (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell”)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “Create the ” & strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell key.”
Else
Wscript.Echo “Could not create the ” & strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell key.”
End If
End If
Return = objReg.SetDWORDValue (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell”,”WFlags”,0)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “SetDWORDValue succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “SetDWORDValue failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If
Return = objReg.SetDWORDValue (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell”,”Mode”,intMode)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “SetDWORDValue succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “SetDWORDValue failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If
Return = objReg.SetStringValue (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & “ShellNoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell”,”Vid”,strVid)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “SetStringValue succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “SetStringValue failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If

‘ Enumerate and change existing folder values.
If blnChangeExistingFolders Then
For Each item in arrKeys
Return = objReg.EnumKey (HKEY_CURRENT_USER, strKeyPath & item & “\Bags”, arrSubKeys)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “EnumKey succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “EnumKey failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If
If blnDebug Then
‘ The next three lines for debugging purposes only to display the contents of
‘ the array elements.
For i = 0 to UBound(arrSubKeys)
Wscript.echo “Array element ” & i & ” contains a value of ” & arrSubKeys(i)
Next
End If
If IsArray(arrSubKeys) Then
For Each subkey In arrSubKeys
Return = objReg.SetDWORDValue (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & item & “\Bags\” & subkey & “\” & “Shell”,”Mode”,intMode)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “SetDWORDValue succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “SetDWORDValue failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If
Return = objReg.SetStringValue (HKEY_CURRENT_USER,strKeyPath & item & “\Bags\” & subkey & “\” & “Shell”,”Vid”,strVid)
If blnDebug Then
If (Return = 0) And (Err.Number = 0) Then
Wscript.Echo “SetStringValue succeeded”
Else
Wscript.Echo “SetStringValue failed. Error = ” & Err.Number
End If
End If
Next
End If
Next
End If

Set objShell = Nothing
Set objReg = Nothing

WScript.Quit(0)

Function RegKeyExists(ByVal sRegKey)
‘ Returns True or False based on the existence of a registry key.
Dim sDescription, oShell
Set oShell = CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
RegKeyExists = True
sRegKey = Trim (sRegKey)
If Not Right(sRegKey, 1) = “\” Then
sRegKey = sRegKey & “\”
End If
On Error Resume Next
oShell.RegRead “HKEYNotAKey\”
sDescription = Replace(Err.Description, “HKEYNotAKey\”, “”)
Err.Clear
oShell.RegRead sRegKey
RegKeyExists = sDescription <> Replace(Err.Description, sRegKey, “”)
On Error Goto 0
Set oShell = Nothing
End Function

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Jeremy Saunders

Technical Architect | DevOps Evangelist | Software Developer | Microsoft, NVIDIA, Citrix and Desktop Virtualisation (VDI) Specialist/Expert | Rapper | Improvisor | Comedian | Property Investor | Kayaking enthusiast at J House Consulting

Jeremy Saunders is the Problem Terminator. He is a highly respected IT Professional with over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Using his exceptional design and problem solving skills with precise methodologies applied at both technical and business levels he is always focused on achieving the best business outcomes. He worked as an independent consultant until September 2017, when he took up a full time role at BHP, one of the largest and most innovative global mining companies. With a diverse skill set, high ethical standards, and attention to detail, coupled with a friendly nature and great sense of humour, Jeremy aligns to industry and vendor best practices, which puts him amongst the leaders of his field. He is intensely passionate about solving technology problems for his organisation, their customers and the tech community, to improve the user experience, reliability and operational support. Views and IP shared on this site belong to Jeremy.

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