| http://support.microsoft.com/kb/813711
|
| I upped mine to 8000. Note that I've seen this data item's name
| referenced as "BagMRU Size" and "Bag MRU Size". I've added both since
| whichever is the wrong one won't have an effect.

There are several issues going on there. One is the
option to increase the cache limit for remembering
folder settings. If you really open 8,000 folders then
there's no reason not to set the cache that big, but
just picking a gigantic number won't provide any
improvement.

The various "bags" keys are where the settings are
stored. Usually the display type (details, list, etc.) will
hold if you've set it and if the folder is of type "Documents".
The setting doesn't apply to other folder types. (The
various specialty folders that MS cooked up for folders
that contain mostly images, for instance.)

The actions Microsoft suggests work because it involves
deleting the entire record of folder settings. The cache
then starts fresh. That might work for J. P. Gilliver if the
problem was that he went over the cache limit. (It won't
change the specialty folder behavior that designates some
folders to show thumbnails.)

Aside from that there are entirely different issues. The
settings to choose the folder view for all folders only
specify the display type. (details, list, etc.) And they don't
always work unless the cache is first deleted. Not just
because of cache limits but also because the whole system
is not designed properly. The bags settings are actually
designed to store window sizes, display type, folder style,
etc. Explorer writes those settings at every folder close
and checks those settings at every folder open. But Explorer
doesn't save the settings correctly in the first place, so
it doesn't read them back properly!

The point of the utility I wrote is to fix all current settings
and add settings to apply to future folders. It records folder
window size settings, display type, and provides the option
to override all special folder types. (Never show thumbnails
unless they're selected in a given folder window.) By recording
all of the necessary settings properly it causes Explorer to
actually use those settings when a folder window is opened.

If you don't care about folder size or imposed thumbnail
view then Microsoft's advice should work to fix wrong
style display. (Though after you delete the cache settings,
when you open the first folder, you should set the style and
then go to Tools - Folder Options - View - Apply to
All Folders)

If you want more control then you have to do something
like what my utility does. You have to fix the settings. My
utility fixes all existing settings for thoroughness, then sets
the standard settings values for future folders. But if you
wanted to do it yourself by hand it might also work
to first delete all of the bags subkeys and then create this
key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell NoRoam\Bags\AllFolders\Shell\

Then save your preferences in that key. But note that
you have to save them just so. The system is somewhat
nonsensical. If certain specific values are not added it
may not work, it may require two clicks to open a folder,
or you may see other odd behavior. (If you have any
familiarity with VBScript and/or with these settings, you
can find a fuller explanation of all this in the comments
inside the FolFix.vbs file in the utility download. But be
prepared for tedium. This is just one of many cases where
the Microsofties seem to have assigned the task to a
new intern and told him that he would be paid in direct
proportion to the level of complexity and abstruseness that
he could produce. This particular intern was quite bright.