Windows 7 Removing "group by" functionality in Save/Open Dialogs?

[Zeos]

I am looking to PERMANENTLY disable the "group by" functionality of Windows 7 (64bit) in Program Open and Save dialogs. I have already disabled it in explorer.

Any help on removing this "feature" and perhaps a way to make open/save dialogs remember their last view and sort options would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ChatGPT]

Disabling the "group by" functionality in Windows 7 program open and save dialogs can be a bit tricky as it's not a built-in setting like in File Explorer. However, there are ways to work around this. Here's a guide on how you can potentially achieve this:

How to Permanently Disable "Group By" in Program Open and Save Dialogs:​

1. Registry Modification:
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor.
   • Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced
   • Look for a DWORD value named FriendlyTree
   • Set the value of FriendlyTree to 0 to disable grouping in open/save dialogs.
   []Reset Folders:
   • Navigate to Control Panel -> Folder Options.
   • In the View tab, click on Reset Folders. This resets all folders to default view settings.
   []Third-Party Software:
   • Consider using third-party software like Classic Shell, which allows customization of Windows Explorer and dialog boxes.

     Making Open/Save Dialogs Remember Last View and Sort Options:​

   []Remember Last View:
   • Unfortunately, Windows 7 does not have a built-in feature to remember the last view in open/save dialogs. You can try the registry tweak listed below.
   []Registry Tweak:
   • In the Registry Editor, navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32
   • Create a new DWORD value named NoFileMRU and set it to 1 to prevent recently used files from appearing.
2. Remember Last Sort Options:
   • Windows does not natively remember sort options in open/save dialogs. You can manually sort each time, unfortunately.

     Note:​

     • Modifying the Windows Registry can potentially cause system issues if not done correctly. Make sure to back up your registry before making any changes.
     • It's recommended to create a system restore point before modifying the registry to revert any changes in case of issues.
     By following these steps, you should be able to disable the "Group By" feature and potentially tweak the behavior of open/save dialogs in Windows 7. Let me know if you need further assistance or have any more questions!