Sorting Files and Folders

[Barefoot_Tom]

My wife uses Win98SE as her OS, and recently she has seen a change in the way files and folders are presented for selection. She has no idea what has occasioned the change.

When looking for Files or Folders using Windows Explorer or "My Computer" the folders and files are sorted alphabetically, the folders being presented first, and then the files. However, when trying to select a file, if she uses the "Run" and "Browse" copmmands, the files are presented in what appears to be a random order. This is also true when she uses many of the applications, such as word processors, etc.

What could have caused this change, and how can it be corrected?
Tom

[NEO]

just a right click and go to sort by and select the option how u want to sort the files and the folders

[Barefoot_Tom]

just a right click and go to sort by and select the option how u want to sort the files and the folders

Thanks for the quick response. I should have made my question clearer in my first post. When any of the programs are accessed, and the "File" button is clicked, the files and folders appear in a random manner. It's easy to get them re-sorted, as you suggest, but they don't stay that way. The next time the program is accessed, the files are presented randomly once more.

How can we change things so that they are always presented in a properly sorted manner?
Tom

[NEO]

can u be more specific pls? what program?

[Barefoot_Tom]

can u be more specific pls? what program?

Any program that allows one to select files for use: AbiWord, Microsoft Word, Kodak Imaging, Photoshop, Audacity, etc. etc. The only places where the files are permanently sorted by name, are Windows Explorer, My Computer, and the Start>Run>Browse function. These are correctly sorted, I presume, because that was the option chosen when the OS was installed, and it hasn't been changed since.
Tom

[NEO]

look word doesn't sort the files is the folder that u can sort them just like i said to u

[Barefoot_Tom]

look word doesn't sort the files is the folder that u can sort them just like i said to u

Your reply is incomprehensible. Please try it again in grammatically constructed English.
Tom

[Broni]

When looking for Files or Folders using Windows Explorer or "My Computer" the folders and files are sorted alphabetically

This is regular default.

if she uses the "Run" and "Browse" copmmands, the files are presented in what appears to be a random order

By default, they are sorted by last access date, that's why the order looks random.

[Barefoot_Tom]

When looking for Files or Folders using Windows Explorer or "My Computer" the folders and files are sorted alphabetically

This is regular default.

if she uses the "Run" and "Browse" copmmands, the files are presented in what appears to be a random order

By default, they are sorted by last access date, that's why the order looks random.

How can one change the  option so that the files are sorted alphabetically?
Tom

[Spoiler]

Win 98 been a long time for me so I my remember this wrong....

hit the Win E keys at the same time. This will open windows explore. Click on your "C" drive and than sort the files as you like.

Than click on tools up on the top of the window and open folder options. Click on view and than the Apply to all folders button.

[Barefoot_Tom]

Win 98 been a long time for me so I my remember this wrong....
hit the Win E keys at the same time. This will open windows explore. Click on your "C" drive and than sort the files as you like.
Than click on tools up on the top of the window and open folder options. Click on view and than the Apply to all folders button.

You remember it very well. However, this doesn't solve the problem. There is no difficulty in arranging folders and files alphabetically when viewed by Windows Explorer or by "My Computer". The problem is when the files are accessed by some other program (as far as I've been able to determine - any other program. ) It's possible to arrange the files and folders from within the program, by using the Right mouse button, but the change lasts only for the one session. Next time the program is started, the files and folders are unsorted once more.
Tom

[Broni]

You may want to read through couple of threads:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,65733.msg424326.html#msg424326
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?p=1241108#post1241108

[Barefoot_Tom]

You may want to read through couple of threads:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,65733.msg424326.html#msg424326
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?p=1241108#post1241108

Thanks, some of this looks promising, I'll report the results.
tom

[Barefoot_Tom]

You may want to read through couple of threads:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,65733.msg424326.html#msg424326
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?p=1241108#post1241108

Problem Solved!! The instructions found in your post, Broni, re-sorts the files in a permanent fashion. Briefly, here's the answer:
  Go into Windows Explorer and open a folder such as My Documents. Now choose View|Details. Along the top of the file listing area, you see Name, Type, Size, Modified. If you click any one of these, it will change how your files are sorted in the list. Then click the button that allows you to make all folders like the current one.

  Now...here’s the part that made Windows save this sorting information everywhere. Hold down the Ctrl key and click the X in the upper right-hand corner of the Window to close it.

Simple when you know how.
Tom

[Broni]

Very good