Sorting Filenames A to Z or Z to A

Ever since I began using XP, (as well as Win2000), the filenames are
always sorted the wrong way. (At least haf lf the time).

I have never had this issue with Win98, or earlier versions of Windows.

Sorting in XP has always been random, it seems. For example, if I sort
the files on a folder by NAME, I may get A to Z, or I may get Z to A
(not including files that have a numbered filename).

If I select Sort by Name, I either get A to Z, or I will get Z to A. If
I do this a second thme, it reverses.
So, I know how to reverse it, if it's sorted Z to A, but isn't there a
way to lock it, so it ALWAYS puts the "A" filenames first?

A to Z is the way I want it, the way I like it, and the way I'm used to
seeing files sorted in Win98. In XP, it seems that everytime I sort, I
have to take an extra step to check the sort order, and one more if it's
backwards (Z to A). Not the end of the world, but ANNOYING!!!

The same is true if I sort by DATE. I may get today's date at the top,
or the oldest date at the top. (I want today's date at the top)...

I have managed to get XP the way I like it, removed most of the
annoyances, and it all works pretty well, except for this.....

When I sort by name, I want numbered names, then ABC .... to XYZ. (not
backwards). When I sort by Date, I want the most recent dates at the
top, and the oldest ones at the bottom....

Does anyone know any way to lock this so it stays the way I want it?

As I said, in Win98, I have never had this issue. I cant intentionally
reverse it, but by default it sorts A to Z or newest date first. Or I
can sort by file size, and the smallest are always on the top.

We are all sort of programmed to think a certain way. For example, a
dictionary is sorted with all words beginning with "A" at the beginning
of the book. The same is true for encyclopedias, and usually catalogs,
etc... Even something like Ebay, you can sort by price. Lowest price
first, or highest first. Its good to have choices, but why would I want
the highest price first?

Microsoft gave us the choices, but it seems that they made it impossible
to lock it so that it's consistent.

I like consistency, and easily get annoyed by stuff like this. There is
no reason I should have to keep correcting this..... and like I said
this started in Win2000, and went to XP. I have never found any means to
correct it.... Yet, this was not a problem in earlier versions of
Windows. Is this a bug, which they introduced to the NT based Windows,
which has no "fix", or does this have a fix that I do not know?

In message ,
writes:
Ever since I began using XP, (as well as Win2000), the filenames are
always sorted the wrong way. (At least haf lf the time).

I have never had this issue with Win98, or earlier versions of Windows.

I've never had it with XP. It always defaults to A-Z.
[]
I do this a second thme, it reverses.
(Same here.)
So, I know how to reverse it, if it's sorted Z to A, but isn't there a
way to lock it, so it ALWAYS puts the "A" filenames first?

A to Z is the way I want it, the way I like it, and the way I'm used to
seeing files sorted in Win98. In XP, it seems that everytime I sort, I
have to take an extra step to check the sort order, and one more if it's
backwards (Z to A). Not the end of the world, but ANNOYING!!!

The same is true if I sort by DATE. I may get today's date at the top,
or the oldest date at the top. (I want today's date at the top)...

So do I, but it always comes up oldest first, so I know to click twice.

I have managed to get XP the way I like it, removed most of the
annoyances, and it all works pretty well, except for this.....

When I sort by name, I want numbered names, then ABC .... to XYZ. (not

There is a minor setting somewhere - I forget where, you may need
TweakUI (or a registry hack) to change it - that affects how it sorts
numbers, so that XYZ8, XYZ9, and XYZ10 appear in that order (I think
that's the default) rather than 10 coming before 8 (because 1 is less
than 8). But I can't imagine that being the cause of your problem.
[]
Does anyone know any way to lock this so it stays the way I want it?

No, but it doesn't exhibit _random_ behaviour to me. (I'd be mildly
interested if anyone _does_ know a way to lock what it sorts _by_ [and I
suppose the order too].)
[]
I like consistency, and easily get annoyed by stuff like this. There is
[We've noticed (-:]

no reason I should have to keep correcting this..... and like I said

It does seem to be just you/your machine. For the rest of us, the
default sort order is A-Z by name, as it was in '98.
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

A clean, neat and orderly desk is a sign of a sick mind. (G6JPG's mind is
clearly extremely healthy ...)

On Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:47:22 -0600, wrote:

Ever since I began using XP, (as well as Win2000), the filenames are
always sorted the wrong way. (At least haf lf the time).
Click "name" "date" or whatever. You will see a small arrow that
indicates what the sort order is. Click it again and it reverses.
That is a feature not a bug.
I usually keep things like "downloads" sorted by date with the most
recent at the top but I might reverse it if I am really looking for
something I know is really old.

On Thu, 30 Nov 2017 01:33:53 -0500, wrote:

On Wed, 29 Nov 2017 14:47:22 -0600, wrote:

Ever since I began using XP, (as well as Win2000), the filenames are
always sorted the wrong way. (At least haf lf the time).
Click "name" "date" or whatever. You will see a small arrow that
indicates what the sort order is. Click it again and it reverses.
That is a feature not a bug.
I usually keep things like "downloads" sorted by date with the most
recent at the top but I might reverse it if I am really looking for
something I know is really old.

I like my downloads sorted by date, with the newest at the top.
I like my music and videos sorted by name, A on top Z on the bottom.
Almost everything else on the computer is sorted by name also A to Z.

I am aware of the little arrows. But there is no reeason I have to
change my sorting everytime I open a folder.
On Win98, it defaults to A on the top. However if I last sorted a folder
by date, or file type, it remains that way the next time I go to that
folder.

On XP and 2000, its chaos. I may have last sorted the folder called
BOOKS and it was by name A to Z. The next time I open it, it's by name Z
to A, or sorted by date, or who knows what....

On Thu, 30 Nov 2017 00:35:02 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote:


It does seem to be just you/your machine. For the rest of us, the
default sort order is A-Z by name, as it was in '98.

I'm not doing anything other than selecting the sort order, which should
remain the same the next time I go to that folder or after a reboot.
SHOULD BE..... But it probably wont be.....

It's not "the machine". I have XP laptop, XP desktop, and I have Win2000
as a dual boot on my Win98 machine. Both XP machines and the 2000
(boot) causes me this problem....

James,

It's not "the machine".

No, but it sure sounds like its related to *you*. whistle

You see, I have 4 XP machines at home - and experience with at least 10
more - none of which exhibit the sympthoms you are mentioning.

Having said that, there is a setting under (file explorer toolbar) Tools -
folder options - view - (advanced settings) "remember each folders view
settings" (caveat, this is in classic view). Have you ticked it ?

Regards,
Rudy Wieser

On Thu, 30 Nov 2017 10:25:40 +0100, "R.Wieser"
wrote:

James,

It's not "the machine".

No, but it sure sounds like its related to *you*. whistle

You see, I have 4 XP machines at home - and experience with at least 10
more - none of which exhibit the sympthoms you are mentioning.

Having said that, there is a setting under (file explorer toolbar) Tools -
folder options - view - (advanced settings) "remember each folders view
settings" (caveat, this is in classic view). Have you ticked it ?

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


Now that you mention it, I recall setting Win98 to "remember folder
view". This could be the same for XP, but I sure cant find what you are
telling me to do. Where do I begin? Control Panel, or what???
I am not finding anything called (file explorer toolbar)...

On Thu, 30 Nov 2017 14:37:36 -0600, wrote:

On Thu, 30 Nov 2017 10:25:40 +0100, "R.Wieser"
wrote:

James,

It's not "the machine".

No, but it sure sounds like its related to *you*. whistle

You see, I have 4 XP machines at home - and experience with at least 10
more - none of which exhibit the sympthoms you are mentioning.

Having said that, there is a setting under (file explorer toolbar) Tools -
folder options - view - (advanced settings) "remember each folders view
settings" (caveat, this is in classic view). Have you ticked it ?

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


Now that you mention it, I recall setting Win98 to "remember folder
view". This could be the same for XP, but I sure cant find what you are
telling me to do. Where do I begin? Control Panel, or what???
I am not finding anything called (file explorer toolbar)...


Open windows explorer (click any drive in My Computer)
Go to tools then options then view. It is there, check the box, then
click the apply to all folders box.

While you are there look around and see if there are any other options
you want.