Can't set my own default folder view--buttons grayed out.

I am trying to set "list view" as my default folder view in Windows 7; but, the "Apply to Folders" and "Reset Folders" buttons are grayed out. I am relegated to changing it ad infinitum.

How do I 'un-gray' this button?

Thinking enabling the Administrator account might help, I enabled it per these steps:

Typed secpol.msc in a Command window.
Local Security Policy appeared.
Clicked Local Policies> Security Options where I saw an entry that read "Accounts: Administrator account. "
I double-clicked the entry and enabled it
Logged off.
Logged on as Administrator.

Still, nothing changed. I tried it in My Computer, Documents and Program Files folders. "Apply to Folders" and "Reset Folders" buttons are still grayed out.

 

I'm not sure which route your taking to get to the folder options so, if Arie's suggestion doesn't work for you, open Windows Explorer and click on the organize button in the upper left corner. Then go to layout and select menu bar. In the menu bar, select tools>folder options. You should be able to do it from there. Works for me no matter what folder I'm viewing at the time.

 

Arie,

Thanks, that worked for most folders; but, Control Panel still is not in list view and I can't set list view for Documents, either. Since Documents is a folder intended for heaviest use by the individual user, this doesn't make sense.

Zander,

My menu bar is already enabled; but, it doesn't work for me the way you suggest. The buttons are still grayed out.

This is a new installation of Windows 7 so I don't think anything has been installed that would screw things up like this.

Rant: This was so easy on 2000/XP. I can't fathom why it has to be so difficult in Win7.

 

After doing a little more searching, I am finding that what people are calling "List View" in Control Panel for Win7 is not the same list view that is experienced in WinXP.

What I want is vertical alphabetical order. Example:
A D G
B E H
C F I

This was so easy in WinXP.

I do NOT want horizontal alphabetical order as follows:
A B C
D E F
G H I

 

I know what you mean about the alphabetical order. I prefer it the way you do too. It's been my choice of views for years. But, I dislike the new order so much I quit using it. Using details for now and I can't say I'm all that fond of that either.

I haven't really done any searching to see if the alphabetical order can be changed or not. I just haven't wanted to take the time. I guess maybe it's time though. If I come up with something, I'll let you know.


Edit:
Well, this is kind of odd. Right after I posted this, I opened Windows Explorer to see if I could figure out a way to get things to display the way I wanted them. I opened the windows\system32 folder. Wanted one with lots of files and lots of sub folders. Anyway, I selected list view and now it's exactly the way I've always had it. Like your first example. I checked a bunch of folders and every one of them shows that way in list view now. I have no idea what has changed since the last time I used list view. It's been a while now.

The only way I could get it to show like it did originally was to select small icons. Then the folders and files would be displayed like your second example. Clicking list put them back the way I like them. Anyway, apparently, there is a way to get them to be displayed the way you want them. Guess I'm not much help though because like I said, I have no idea what has changed to make them display that way. Guess I'll do a bit of searching and see what I can come up with.

 

Thanks for the comments. It is at least comforting I'm not in this alone.

 

I haven't tried this; but, it looks interesting.

It's a Windows XP shell for Windows 7--supposedly makes Windows 7's menus look like Windows XP.

It's from PC Magazine on-line.