FIXING THE SELECT ALL FILES FUNCTION IN WINDOWS VISTA

Did you just upgrade to Microsoft Windows Vista from XP and notice that many folders in the new Vista Operating System only allow you to copy or move files one at a time because the Select All Files function has been disabled? Good news, we've discovered the fix!

After installing Windows Vista Ultimate on one of our office machines, we immediately noticed that we weren't able to open a folder and select all the files using Control+A or drag selecting them using the mouse. Using the CLI or command line option to move *.* to a different directory works without a problem as well as moving the entire folder into a new location. However moving the folder still leaves you the problem of having a sub folder in the new destination.

The problem, though we didn't research it to a great extent, seems to stem from what type of folder it is and the contents being of a certain file flag like "read only". One of the tests made was creating a brand new folder and placing files in it and testing to see if Select All Files could be performed. This did yield success. However other folders wouldn't allow the action, even by selecting it from the menu the option was grayed out!

After studying the flags the OS placed on the folder, the FFlags Dword seemed to vary from the folders that wouldn't allow it and the ones that did.

The Select All Files Fix

IMPORTANT!: Registry edits need to be made to remedy the situation. Make all registry edits to your computer at your own risk!

There are a few options you have on this. Since everyone browses their file structure differently we need to address a few details and fill you in on exactly what will happen because registry edits will need to be made to correct the problem.

Fix 1 - Individually edit each folder

Microsoft stores a record of folders and how they are displayed in the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

There will be numerous sub keys under the "Bags" key. Each of the numbered sub keys represent a folder somewhere on your file system. Inside each key there will be an entry for the "FFlags" flag that will indicate a numeral which will either turn on or off the Select All Files function. The entry that fixes each folder to turn it on needs to read: "40200001"

The issue here, if you haven't already opened up regedit and viewed the keys, is there could be hundreds or thousands of folders saved under the Bags key! The good news is, they are only display settings and if the key doesn't already exist, it will be created when you open the folder again. If you want to fix every folder individually you can, however its much easier to just delete the "Bags" key and recreate it again.

Now scroll down this page and do the "Final Step"

Fix 2 - Reset All Current Folder Views

This fix will remove saved settings on current folders so that from now on, all folders visited will act correctly.

Find and remove the Bags key located:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

By removing this key, you are only erasing the storage on how the folder views were saved. For example, key Bags/10... might say that your pictures folder was set to thumbnail view instead of detail. The only drawback to removing this key is you are resetting all saved folder views. You will be able to go back to the folder and set it back to how you like to view it. Once you've done so, Windows will create a key under Bags again for that folder.

Now that you've reset your folder views, complete the "FINAL STEP" below.

FINAL STEP - AUTO SET NEW FOLDER KEYS

Save the file as "folderfix.reg"

Now run the folderfix.reg file you created and it will install a new key called AllFolders under your Bags Registry Key that will set the correct flag on every new folder key it creates from now on.

The AllFolders key isn't one that is created by default by Windows Vista, however it serves as a template for any folder key the OS creates under Bags. So if you have other tweaks that you would like to apply to all folders, you can place the entry inside this key and it will propagate to all folder views from now on.

To enable the fix, log out of windows and log back in.

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