How can I save my view settings for everything between reinstalls? It the most painful aspect.

Like, I have to set view>large icons, and then ADD sort by date modified (my god why doesn't it sort it by default after you enable it) then I need to right click and sort by date. This is only for folders where I need to see the latest first etc.

Howerevr there's an annoying thing where folers are before files in it, I read a 'fix' for that here once but I can't find it.

I've been trying WinSetView but it's quite limited not to mention the GUI could be moved from 1998.

I just want to backup my entire view settings (registry keys??) so I can restore it after format and not spend days setting up specific folders etc.

You can backup a few pieces of Windows... any version, but a simple export feature hasn't ever been included in Windows.


The closest thing I've seen is Winaero Tweaker. That program will allow you to export all the Winaero settings.
So any Windows things you set with that can be exported and then imported.

I know unfortunately, but surely by now we know where in the registry things like this are saved and wecan just export > import on new installs?

paradoxum said:

I know unfortunately, but surely by now we know where in the registry things like this are saved and wecan just export > import on new installs?

Click to expand...

Unfortunately, Windows personalizations are splattered all over the registry.
I guess you could export the entire registry, and use that as your import.
BUT... that will only work on the exact same hardware and Windows version.

I think a new Windows install would choke if you tried to import an entire registry.

Also... since Windows installs generic drivers (that change over time), even that might not work.

There are quite a few people on here that "build" custom installers that would sort of do what you want.
But you'd have to "build" your own ofc, and it still wouldn't do... everything.
Also... it's not very easy.

And these custom installers, don't really deal with "personalizations" that much.



I do a lot of tweaks to a freshly installed Windows OS.
Since there isn't an easy method to export all my settings... I keep a folder on a storage drive with text files where I tell myself, "what I did last time".

That's the easiest and fastest method I've found.

Ghot said:

. I keep a folder on a storage drive with text files where I tell myself, "what I did last time".

That's the easiest and fastest method I've found.

Click to expand...

I also have a text file, but just one. Has taken me a year to list things and it is forever changing. It’s numbered 1 to xxx of everything I do from windows first opening, in sequence. But it would serve nobody else. I also believe it is the best way.

paradoxum said:

Like, I have to set view>large icons, and then ADD sort by date modified (my god why doesn't it sort it by default after you enable it) then I need to right click and sort by date. This is only for folders where I need to see the latest first etc.

Howerevr there's an annoying thing where folers are before files in it, I read a 'fix' for that here once but I can't find it.

I've been trying WinSetView but it's quite limited not to mention the GUI could be moved from 1998.

I just want to backup my entire view settings (registry keys??) so I can restore it after format and not spend days setting up specific folders etc.

Click to expand...

Yes, you can achieve what you're asking for.

First, we need to clarify if you're only trying to set the default views for each folder type or differing views for folders of the same type.

For example, if you want Details view (with columns of Name, Size, and Type) for General items, Downloads ,and Documents, but want Large icons, sorted by Date modified, with folders first, for folders of type Pictures, well, that's exactly what WinSetView was designed to let you do. Once set up, it would just be a matter of running WinSetView again, after doing a build (or creating a new user), and clicking Submit. Everything will be remembered.

If, however, you're looking to set up different views for various folders that are all the same type, then you'll need to backup and restore the BagMRU/Bags registry keys. For example, if you have certain folders of type Pictures that you want in Details view and other folders of type Pictures that you want in Large icons view, then the backup and restore procedure will be needed.

Let me know which scenario we're talking about and I'll step you through the procedures.

antspants said:

I also have a text file, but just one.

Click to expand...

I have three tweaks folders, but most of the stuff is in the Win 10 folder...

paradoxum said:

I know unfortunately, but surely by now we know where in the registry things like this are saved and wecan just export > import on new installs?

Click to expand...

This applies to Windows 11 as well as Windows 10.
How to Backup and restore Default folder views - TenForums
And I use the procedure
- to ensure I can get my folder views back to the defaults for each folder type that I set up, and
- to ensure other computers & other users can have the same default folder views as those I had set up then backed up in the first computer / the first user.

Do note that this is not quite the same as
Backup and Restore Folder View Settings - TenForumsTutorials
or
Reset Folder View Settings to Default - ElevenForumTutorials
which remove the particular customised folder view settings that have been imposed on folders rather than re-impose previously backed up default folder views.


All the best,
Denis

I'll do you one better.. almost all of my installation is on a second persistent partition on my drive, and I use junction links to link them to my windows install. For example I have everythgin in AppData/Local\Roaming saved there, and when I reinstall windows I just create the junctions there. Even my desktop is stored there and you just delete the folder in your profile area and drop the junction there and boom all your icons are there etc (although not organized properly which is another thing I'd love to be able to save.)

So when I reinstall windows aide from a lot of customization (which is made easier with things like winaero tweaker which I use) there's not much else to do but install things like redistributable libraries, drivers, and programs to get them setup properly (even though I have them all stored peristently too).

Ghot said:

There are quite a few people on here that "build" custom installers that would sort of do what you want.
But you'd have to "build" your own ofc, and it still wouldn't do... everything.
Also... it's not very easy.

And these custom installers, don't really deal with "personalizations" that much.



I do a lot of tweaks to a freshly installed Windows OS.
Since there isn't an easy method to export all my settings... I keep a folder on a storage drive with text files where I tell myself, "what I did last time".

That's the easiest and fastest method I've found.

Click to expand...

Never crossed my mind before. You could have a look in

usrclass.dat\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows

or in ntuser.dat

Since I received no further clarification from the OP, I'll just provide some general information for anyone who happens to visit this thread.

For most users, backing up and restoring Explorer's saved views is unnecessary, since we have Windows reset options that preserve all data.

When setting up new profiles, IMO, it makes more sense to just set your preferred default folder views and leave it at that. You can shortcut this process in a couple of ways.

One way is by clicking the "Apply to Folders" button for each folder type and then exporting the Streams/Defaults key to create a reg file that can be imported whenever you create a new user profile.

Another way is to use WinSetView to set the defaults. Since it's a portable app, this only has to be done one time (hint: run it from a flash drive). Then it's just one click to apply your preferred defaults for any new user profile.

In regards to the OP stating that WinSetView is "quite limited"... Its purpose is to set Explorer folder view defaults for all available folder types. It allows adjusting everything that can possibly be set as a default. Therefore it's not limited. Perhaps the OP neglected to click the "Columns" button where many of the settings can be found. Another explanation is that the OP was trying to use WinSetView to set the views for specific folders. That's not it's purpose. As stated, it's purpose is to set the default view for each folder TYPE.

In regards to the "1998" interface... It's one thing to imagine a better interface and quite another to program it. Interfaces are really hard work and WinSetView is a free tool. Since it's not something you're going to be looking at every day, like your file manager or editor, it really only needs to be functional. As long as you follow the provided quick start guide, it's pretty straightforward. Yes, it could be prettier. No, I'm not going to risk breaking it by trying to make it prettier.