arranging folders in 'My Computer'

running XPsp2...suddenly my folders display in a long single column rather than two side by side columns when opening Program files, WINDOWS, and I386. My view setting is typically in tiles with name and 'auto arrange' checked. How do I get them displayed as they were?

 

If they are in 'List' or 'Details', that would sound correctly. Right Click on the folder in a White Space area (nothing in that part of the folder), and see if it is set to arrange and in the toolbar if the folder icon is set for anything other then 'Icon'.

 

The view setting is auto arrange. Again I usually have the tile view selected for folders and they display in two side by side columns for the aforementioned local disk folders and their subfolders. I've seen this before but I can't remember how I got them restored to the side by side folder columns.

 

Once again, what is the folder setting in the 'View' selection (Thumbnail, Tile, Icon, List, Details)? If not Tile or Icon, then something changed, and probably was a global change. You can also check in Folder options that in the 'View tab' that 'Remember each folder settings' is checked.

 

Thanks, I'll keep working on it. I was in the midst of using the new iColor software just featured this week in MG when the change occured. Also when using iColor I noticed that as I configured it, the desktop icons suddenly shuffled their relative position as well. Why Windows converted two columns of folders to one long column is what I don't quite get.

 

Alot depends on the size of the window...if it can't fit two columns in the window, then windows will display one. You could try adjusting the size of the window, or upping your monitors resolution.

Or, more likely, as brownizs said, the view setting has changed. Right click and under VIEW (the auto-arrange setting you mentioned before is under ARRANGE ICONS BY) you can select what suits you best.

 

RESOLVED! ..Restarting in safe mode and back to normal Windows restored the folder columns to the desired default window display, with icon auto arrange checked.