Other symptoms I encountered:
- Select All option in Organize button is disabled (greyed)
- Select All option in Edit menu is disabled (greyed)
- Mouse highlight over and drag does not work.
I ran a search through the Internet and found out that some people were facing a similar problem. There were some suggestions to do a Reset on the folders but that didn't work for me.
I contacted my IT support and they said they have not received any reports on this before and therefore, could not provide me with a solution. Nothing showed up when I checked support.microsoft.com. Looks like I have no choice but to contact our 'MCS Vista grandmaster'.
This morning I received an e-mail detailing a fix. This is what you can do to bring Explorer back to its sanity.
- Open Regedit
- Navigate to HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\
- Delete the Bags & BagMRU keys
[Updated]
If you did the above and it doesn't work, try killing the Explorer process first and then run RegEdit.exe from Taskmgr to delete the keys. Reboot your system after that.
Disclaimer: If you don't know what's all that, don't do it ya. Messing with the registry is no play play.
53 comments:
Which version of vista that you are using now?
RTM lor.
Hey firedancer!
I've tried this "fix" ond my Ultimate x64, but it didn't do anything... can't still select multiple files :( Have you done some other things before?
Doriman,
I did the Reset on Folder thingie before I tried this out. did you delete the Bags and BagMRU keys or just the keys below it?
GOD...
Thanks, It works.
You really help me a lot, thank you, thanks to the Internet.
Thanks for this solution. It was a pain in the ass, until I found this!
hmmm, dont work for me... Vista Ultimate 32bit German. same Problem, can´t select multiple Files, STRG-LeftMouseClick - not working, deleting Bags and BagMRU Keys - no Effekt !! Help !!!
Same here tried 'everything going' and still can't swlect all files in Vista... I upgraded from XP SP2 so don't know of that makes any difference * really annoying prob * come on Microsoft - jeez!
Thank you. Works fine. Microsoft didnt have a clue...
Me again, German Vista32bit, its boring, searching for handle a bug from Microsoft. Now i take UltraExplorer (Freeware) and ahhh, now i can select multiple Files in Vista. Good Luck to all, i´ve give up to look for a fix.
Did you notice my updated instructions?
"If you did the above and it doesn't work, try killing the Explorer process first and then run RegEdit.exe from Taskmgr to delete the keys. Reboot your system after that."
Good luck!
this isn't a BUG, it's a FEATURE, isn't it?
Multiple files selecting disabled for read-only folders and system protected ones.
We should find better solution to the problem, rather than killing keys in registry with unforseen consequences...
Using Vista Ultimate x32. Killed Explorer, deleted keys, rebooted. Still cannot select multiple files. This is ONLY in special folders with templates for things such as "Pictures And Videos" or "Music Icons"
Thanks! I were suffering from this explorer crippling, and now it works again!
I tried your fix, but it didn't work. Using Home Premium.
Try to delete the 'desktop.ini' file in the folder, then close the Explorer and open it again.
Just create a REG file with this and run. Just set 1 to BagMRU size:
This fix everything!
Enjoy ;) (wack-o)
-------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00000001
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell]
"BagMRU Size"=dword:00000001
------------
On Vista 64 deleteing the reg key has no effect.
Also i deleted every copy of desktop.ini on the c drive - no effect.
When is shitpack 1 coming out ?
I have a similar but different problem. I do a lot of work with audio files (conversion, etc.) and cannot perform "open with" on multiple files, for example sending multiple files to Monkeys Audio. Even enabling the "open with" option for associated programs is a bear. Anyone have a solution?
Hi again,
"When is shitpack 1 coming out ?"
LOL :)
Anyway after trying everything above, I still have this annoying problem. I noticed today that when I created another user account on my vista machine the problem was fixed once logged into the new account... as soon as I log back into the older account it comes back.
Hopefully vista shitpack 1 as the other guy said will fix this one for good for everybody as it really 'kin bugs me!
I had the same problem, and this worked perfectly for me!!
So thanks to the poster of this!!
I have a problem with "windows explorer" too but it just appears sometimes... I'm just on my computer and suddenly the taskbar stops working, everything on it moves from its original place when I put the mouse over, I can't select more than one icon on the desktop and I can't right click anything :S:S and finally a box appears and it says: "windows explorer has stopped working, check for online solutions or reset windows explorer" and when I click it the problem solves, but comes again unexpectedly.
Right-click on (not in) the folder and make sure Read-Only is off. That fixed my problem, and you don't need to go key hunting or delete every system file.
Works well.
After deleting the keys, end the process "explorer.exe" in task manager then file\New Task (run) and launch "explorer" and the magic happened
Started regedit, killed explorer.exe, deleted the keys and started a new explorer.exe from task manager and it worked! Perfect, thank you!
Thanks !
I had the same problem and the fix that is posted works.I am using vista business. I am thinking its because I didn't have permissions of the file previously so I changed the permission but somehow registry settings weren't changed. some of them I was able to select all and some of them not previously. but It's working now.
I deleted the registry keys and now it just works fine again.
I'm sure the reason for this "feature" is one of the latest updates... ;-/
THX for your help!
Regards
Chris
It didn't help me really, but I got another fix for that, that worked with my vista.
Go to the system control, there click on the Folder options.
On the second page check the point
"Use Checkboxes to select ..." and apply.
After that I could select more than one file at the time.
Sorry for the bad translations, but I don't have an english Vista
Thanks! This solution worked for a few minutes! ;)
When I delete these regkeys everything works fine again. But as soon as I reconnect to any network drive via an UNC-path (\\server\share) the problem comes back again (until I delete these regkeys again, etc...).
However the more interesting fact is that connecting to a mapped network drive doesn't seem to have any negative effect. So after mapping the network share that I've tried previously with the "net use x: \\server\share" command everything works fine.
That's ridiculous :)
- Michael
Vista Ultimate 32bit.
Ran the .reg file and waited for the 'Are you sure to add .reg file to the registry.
Killed all explorer.exe's and pressed YES in the RegEdit box.
Ran a new explorer and all works ok (for now) Thanks !!!
Last time I had to restore an older ghost image :-)
Worked for me as well. Thanks a ton!
OMG Microsoft!!!
I am having the same problem in XP Home. This is new to because before I could utilize this a select multiple folders but now I can't this sucks.....
FireDancer!!!
YOU ARE THE GODDESS!!!! No really. Thanks!!!
go to the folder properties and uncheck read only. 'andrey' was right telling this is a feature.
go to pholder properties and CHECK the 'hide the protected system files'
anyway it worked for me.
to take off the read only attribute for the whole drive open a command box then enter:
attrib d:\* -r /s /d
(replace the d: by the drive letter you need) if thid doesn't work try :
attrib d:\* -r -s -a -h /s /d for read only and system files (dont use it on c: drive)
here the solution from microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.administration_accounts_passwords&tid=afb1df54-1028-48ba-8a17-17b68c8d3656&p=1
worked for me :-)
This thing doesn't work! I don't know what is the problem..
Worked great. Thanks.
Home Premium, Worked without reboot, just deleted the keys, closed 1 explorer window and opened a new one.
worked great! thanks alot, I never knew how dependent I was of this until it stopped working! /bow
Works like described. Thanks a lot!
Thank you.
You saved the life of my vista. Now it can stay a bit longer on my computer.
Works fine on "Windows Vista Ultimate 64 Bit - German Version". I opened "Task Manager", opened "RegEdit", exported both nodes, shut down "explorer.exe", killed registry nodes and finaly started new "explorer.exe" process with "Task Manager"
Worked.. again. Now that I repeated the procedure for the 3rd time: thank you for describing it in your blog! Peter
I tried the fix higher on the list that is on the Microsoft site (repeated here). Very easy, worked for me, and the script can just be left on your desktop to run again if needed. No need to get into the registry, SIMPLE.
http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.windows.vista.administration_accounts_passwords&tid=afb1df54-1028-48ba-8a17-17b68c8d3656&p=1
Using Windows Vista Business
Thanks for the blog, Firedancer
I have tried all of this, and none of it works. Also it seems as if those nasty files keep coming back.
I also have this problem. When it arises, I temporarily change the name of the folder; with a different name, things get back to normal (reseting the previous name will bring the problem back, though)
Googled problem, hit your blog, solved my issue. Love ya.
hi firedancer,
i am using vista home. your solution works for me. thanks man!
cheers,
sur
Thanks very much , you help me to solve this problem .
THANK YOU MY SAVIOR!!!!
fantastic, you saved me
Thank you!
Wonderful. Thank you very much!
i couldnt access the microsoft script link, so i took a chance and tried the registry edit suggestion (may 3 2007), and it worked like a champ.
dont know whats going to happen when i restart the computer, etc. but for the immediate results, thumbs up!
thanx for the tip.
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