File order skewed in Save dialogue window (help, please)

Runing Windows 98SE on IBM AMD k-6.

How can I make the directory folders that appear in the Save/Save As
dialogue box appear in alpha order BY DEFAULT?

Previously when choosing to Save or Save As a file from various places
-- a Notepad document, an email in Outlook Express, an internet web
pages, whatever -- the Save or Save As dialogue box would present the
directory folders in alpha order. If first time in session I've saved
something, usually brings up C drive and alphabetized folders (or
depending on doc type, may bring up the My Documents directory rather
than c: directory)

That changed recently and I don't know why and don't know how to fix
it. Now the files come up willy nilly order (or so it appears) and
it is really inconvenient. To get alpha order, I have to click on
whichever ordering icon is not in use, then click on the subject bar
that appears above file names to alphabetize the files.

For all the years I have used this PC (since 1998), those files in the
dialogue window have appeared alpha BY DEFAULT. It is a pain in the
keester to have to scroll thru a non-alpha list or to stop and
alphabetize it. Never had to do this in the past and I never
previously messed with the ordering icons in that window.

I checked the C: directory and My Documents directories to see, for
example, whether the Save As folder order was reflecting the current
sort there. Those are alphabetized.

Can anyone help? I am not a technie, but I can follow clear
instructions to do things on the PC.

(1) Set the folder as you will.
(2) Even resize it, USING the mouse and dragging the borders.
(3) Hold Ctrl as you click to close the folder/window.
(4) Perhaps, reboot.

If you wish, also "START, Settings, Folder Options, View tab, Reset all
folders" before step (1). Then, "Like current folder" before step (3).
Of course, all individualized folder settings, except perhaps "thumbnail
view", will be lost. If still unhappy, try turning off "Remember each
folders' view settings" before step (1), and back on later.

Here are some articles that might have additional info.
Items in "Open" and "Save As" Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q229/0/70.asp

Contents of the Open and Save As Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q233/5/26.ASP

Items in Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/786/


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"BArun" wrote in message
om...
| Runing Windows 98SE on IBM AMD k-6.
|
| How can I make the directory folders that appear in the Save/Save As
| dialogue box appear in alpha order BY DEFAULT?
|
| Previously when choosing to Save or Save As a file from various places
| -- a Notepad document, an email in Outlook Express, an internet web
| pages, whatever -- the Save or Save As dialogue box would present the
| directory folders in alpha order. If first time in session I've saved
| something, usually brings up C drive and alphabetized folders (or
| depending on doc type, may bring up the My Documents directory rather
| than c: directory)
|
| That changed recently and I don't know why and don't know how to fix
| it. Now the files come up willy nilly order (or so it appears) and
| it is really inconvenient. To get alpha order, I have to click on
| whichever ordering icon is not in use, then click on the subject bar
| that appears above file names to alphabetize the files.
|
| For all the years I have used this PC (since 1998), those files in the
| dialogue window have appeared alpha BY DEFAULT. It is a pain in the
| keester to have to scroll thru a non-alpha list or to stop and
| alphabetize it. Never had to do this in the past and I never
| previously messed with the ordering icons in that window.
|
| I checked the C: directory and My Documents directories to see, for
| example, whether the Save As folder order was reflecting the current
| sort there. Those are alphabetized.
|
| Can anyone help? I am not a technie, but I can follow clear
| instructions to do things on the PC.

PCR, thanks much for taking the time to try to help me. I didn't know
where to even begin.

Unfortunately, the "easy" way you outlined has not worked. I followed
all the steps carefully. Several times, rebooting each time.

Next tried to get at it by making changes in the Folder Options. Wound
up with all the directories opening in Details BUT as a Web Page,
which I detest. Finally got all the folders reset to Details View
only without "as web page" checked. I don't try to custom-set
different folders. Having all folders in alphabetized Details View as
a default works for me. I can always click a column to resort as
needed. Rebooted.

Directory folders looked great in Explorer, but in the Save As
Dialogue box, the order still messed up.

I checked out each of the links you provided (agan, thank you). Since
one of the MS articles gave a registry value (presumably the Windows
folders default), I ran regedit to just see what that value was on my
PC. Didn't match the one in the article. No surprise there. I
figured my preferred folders view settings was not the default. But
they've worked so long, I don't remember what Windows defaults even
look like! laff

Because a registry edit is a formidable consideration for me, I
decided to again try restoring the Windows deault via the Folder
Settings. It's not entirely clear from the options what that would
be. I selected Windows classic web style(rather than Customized) and
on advanced settings (second tab), I clicked on restore to default.
(That makes changes I dislike, such as dropping known extensions on
file names, but never mind, the point here was to see what these
changes would do to the values in the registry. To see if I could get
to the default values without having to edit the registry myself.
Rebooted. Blast. The values changed, of course, but not to the one
in the MS article.

So here I am, faced with need to tackle a registry edit. Scary stuff
to me. I've only done it once it before, using a simple free editor
downloaded from internet and following very explicit instructions (to
change registry values in a game, not in a Windows system file). That
went well, but was so long ago, I no longer remember how to do it. I
don't know how to edit the registry using Regedit.

Looks as if I either have to live with this annoying problem or do
some homework on "how" to do a registry edit. Then back up all my
data files in case I crash the PC. Then take a snapshot of the system
config to use for a restore in case I screw up. Cheez. This is
really something. All these years, and first time this problem has
popped up.

Mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. grin

I don't much like the proposed solution, but I do thank you for
finding it for me!





"PCR" wrote in message ...
(1) Set the folder as you will.
(2) Even resize it, USING the mouse and dragging the borders.
(3) Hold Ctrl as you click to close the folder/window.
(4) Perhaps, reboot.

If you wish, also "START, Settings, Folder Options, View tab, Reset all
folders" before step (1). Then, "Like current folder" before step (3).
Of course, all individualized folder settings, except perhaps "thumbnail
view", will be lost. If still unhappy, try turning off "Remember each
folders' view settings" before step (1), and back on later.

Here are some articles that might have additional info.
Items in "Open" and "Save As" Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q229/0/70.asp

Contents of the Open and Save As Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q233/5/26.ASP

Items in Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/786/


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"BArun" wrote in message
om...
| Runing Windows 98SE on IBM AMD k-6.
|
| How can I make the directory folders that appear in the Save/Save As
| dialogue box appear in alpha order BY DEFAULT?
|
| Previously when choosing to Save or Save As a file from various places
| -- a Notepad document, an email in Outlook Express, an internet web
| pages, whatever -- the Save or Save As dialogue box would present the
| directory folders in alpha order. If first time in session I've saved
| something, usually brings up C drive and alphabetized folders (or
| depending on doc type, may bring up the My Documents directory rather
| than c: directory)
|
| That changed recently and I don't know why and don't know how to fix
| it. Now the files come up willy nilly order (or so it appears) and
| it is really inconvenient. To get alpha order, I have to click on
| whichever ordering icon is not in use, then click on the subject bar
| that appears above file names to alphabetize the files.
|
| For all the years I have used this PC (since 1998), those files in the
| dialogue window have appeared alpha BY DEFAULT. It is a pain in the
| keester to have to scroll thru a non-alpha list or to stop and
| alphabetize it. Never had to do this in the past and I never
| previously messed with the ordering icons in that window.
|
| I checked the C: directory and My Documents directories to see, for
| example, whether the Save As folder order was reflecting the current
| sort there. Those are alphabetized.
|
| Can anyone help? I am not a technie, but I can follow clear
| instructions to do things on the PC.

You are welcome. Yikes! Usually, that post of mine works, but I don't
know whether some of them had to do the Registry key. Did you abide the
note in one of them...?...
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q229/0/70.asp
Items in "Open" and "Save As" Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
.....Quote................
NOTE: You must perform these steps exactly as they are listed. For
example, do not quit Windows Explorer by clicking Exit on the File menu.
.....End of quote......

Well, for comparative purposes, here is my "ShellState". This is an
Export, & it looks a tad different from in the Registry, BUT the numbers
are the same. Note, my key does not precisely match what is in that
article, either.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer]
"ShellState"=hex:1c,00,00,00,03,0b,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0
0,00,\
01,00,00,00,0a,00,00,00

Careful in the Registry. If you decide to try this...

(a) Open the Registry to...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer
(b) "Registry menu, Export Registry file".

This will create a ".reg" file of the entire Key that is open...
all the items in the right pane & all sub-keys in the left pane (if
there is a plus sign). Give it a name & location of your choosing, even
to the Desktop or My Documents. Then, to undo the following, you will be
able to simply click that file, to Merge it's contents back into the
Registry. Don't click it otherwise. To view it, R-Clk it, & select Edit.

NOTE: This particular key is rather large. All you really need in it
is...
........After this.............................................. ...
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer]
"ShellState"=hex:1c,00,00,00,03,0b,00,00,00,00,00, 00,00,00,00,00,00,00,0
0,00,\
01,00,00,00,0a,00,00,00

.......Including that empty line above this.........

(c) R-Clk that "ShellState" key
(d) Select Modify
(e) R-Arrow to left of number to change
(f) Hit the DEL key to delete the number
(g) Type in the new two-digit number


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"BArun" wrote in message
om...
| PCR, thanks much for taking the time to try to help me. I didn't know
| where to even begin.
|
| Unfortunately, the "easy" way you outlined has not worked. I followed
| all the steps carefully. Several times, rebooting each time.
|
| Next tried to get at it by making changes in the Folder Options. Wound
| up with all the directories opening in Details BUT as a Web Page,
| which I detest. Finally got all the folders reset to Details View
| only without "as web page" checked. I don't try to custom-set
| different folders. Having all folders in alphabetized Details View as
| a default works for me. I can always click a column to resort as
| needed. Rebooted.
|
| Directory folders looked great in Explorer, but in the Save As
| Dialogue box, the order still messed up.
|
| I checked out each of the links you provided (agan, thank you). Since
| one of the MS articles gave a registry value (presumably the Windows
| folders default), I ran regedit to just see what that value was on my
| PC. Didn't match the one in the article. No surprise there. I
| figured my preferred folders view settings was not the default. But
| they've worked so long, I don't remember what Windows defaults even
| look like! laff
|
| Because a registry edit is a formidable consideration for me, I
| decided to again try restoring the Windows deault via the Folder
| Settings. It's not entirely clear from the options what that would
| be. I selected Windows classic web style(rather than Customized) and
| on advanced settings (second tab), I clicked on restore to default.
| (That makes changes I dislike, such as dropping known extensions on
| file names, but never mind, the point here was to see what these
| changes would do to the values in the registry. To see if I could get
| to the default values without having to edit the registry myself.
| Rebooted. Blast. The values changed, of course, but not to the one
| in the MS article.
|
| So here I am, faced with need to tackle a registry edit. Scary stuff
| to me. I've only done it once it before, using a simple free editor
| downloaded from internet and following very explicit instructions (to
| change registry values in a game, not in a Windows system file). That
| went well, but was so long ago, I no longer remember how to do it. I
| don't know how to edit the registry using Regedit.
|
| Looks as if I either have to live with this annoying problem or do
| some homework on "how" to do a registry edit. Then back up all my
| data files in case I crash the PC. Then take a snapshot of the system
| config to use for a restore in case I screw up. Cheez. This is
| really something. All these years, and first time this problem has
| popped up.
|
| Mumble, mumble, grumble, grumble. grin
|
| I don't much like the proposed solution, but I do thank you for
| finding it for me!
|
|
|
|
|
| "PCR" wrote in message
...
| (1) Set the folder as you will.
| (2) Even resize it, USING the mouse and dragging the borders.
| (3) Hold Ctrl as you click to close the folder/window.
| (4) Perhaps, reboot.
|
| If you wish, also "START, Settings, Folder Options, View tab, Reset
all
| folders" before step (1). Then, "Like current folder" before step
(3).
| Of course, all individualized folder settings, except perhaps
"thumbnail
| view", will be lost. If still unhappy, try turning off "Remember
each
| folders' view settings" before step (1), and back on later.
|
| Here are some articles that might have additional info.
| Items in "Open" and "Save As" Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
| http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q229/0/70.asp
|
| Contents of the Open and Save As Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
| http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q233/5/26.ASP
|
| Items in Dialog Boxes Sorted Incorrectly
| http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/786/
|
|
| --
| Thanks or Good Luck,
| There may be humor in this post, and,
| Naturally, you will not sue,
| should things get worse after this,
| PCR
|
| "BArun" wrote in message
| om...
| | Runing Windows 98SE on IBM AMD k-6.
| |
| | How can I make the directory folders that appear in the Save/Save
As
| | dialogue box appear in alpha order BY DEFAULT?
| |
| | Previously when choosing to Save or Save As a file from various
places
| | -- a Notepad document, an email in Outlook Express, an internet
web
| | pages, whatever -- the Save or Save As dialogue box would present
the
| | directory folders in alpha order. If first time in session I've
saved
| | something, usually brings up C drive and alphabetized folders (or
| | depending on doc type, may bring up the My Documents directory
rather
| | than c: directory)
| |
| | That changed recently and I don't know why and don't know how to
fix
| | it. Now the files come up willy nilly order (or so it appears)
and
| | it is really inconvenient. To get alpha order, I have to click
on
| | whichever ordering icon is not in use, then click on the subject
bar
| | that appears above file names to alphabetize the files.
| |
| | For all the years I have used this PC (since 1998), those files in
the
| | dialogue window have appeared alpha BY DEFAULT. It is a pain in
the
| | keester to have to scroll thru a non-alpha list or to stop and
| | alphabetize it. Never had to do this in the past and I never
| | previously messed with the ordering icons in that window.
| |
| | I checked the C: directory and My Documents directories to see,
for
| | example, whether the Save As folder order was reflecting the
current
| | sort there. Those are alphabetized.
| |
| | Can anyone help? I am not a technie, but I can follow clear
| | instructions to do things on the PC.