There are threads about this all over Google, but the only one I could find here at Technet had some pretty asinine posts in it, so I'm starting a new (hopefully) levelheaded post. Please, bring back the option to disable Auto-Arrange of our folders in Explorer. A lot, lot of people have ways of organizing their folders other than the prescribed options given to them by the operating system. However, it was not until Windows 7 that Microsoft actually took away the option for us to arrange folders as we see fit. For the love of all that is good and holy, please don't waste your life and my time by replying "Why would anyone need to arrange their folders other than alphabetically?" Such statements and their like add absolutely zero value to the discussion. A whole bunch of people do. End of story.

Come to think of it, I can'tunderstandwhysomeone decided to remove it. Every timeI bring this up I get those snyde answers you just discussed. That's why I gave up. I'm glad you decided to post this and hopefully we can get a better explanation then the childish responses Irecieved in defence of thispoor decision.Seesons greetings!

Hmmmm, I don't totally agree with you bengalaxy when you say "a lot" of people used it. I have used pc ever since windows 95 (my first OS) and I don't recall one time that i needed to use it. I agree it was a nice feature there to have JUST incase you wanted to use it but like Mr. Seven, I don't really know why microsoft removed it. Intresting point you bring up bengalaxy.

There are threads about this all over Google, but the only one I could find here at Technet had some pretty asinine posts in it, so I'm starting a new (hopefully) levelheaded post.Please, bring back the option to disable Auto-Arrange of our folders in Explorer. A lot, lot of people have ways of organizing their folders other than the prescribed options given to them by the operating system. However, it was not until Windows 7 that Microsoft actually took away the option for us to arrange folders as we see fit.For the love of all that is good and holy, please don't waste your life and my time by replying "Why would anyone need to arrange their folders other than alphabetically?" Such statements and their like add absolutely zero value to the discussion. A whole bunch of people do. End of story. HiPlease understand that these forums are focused primarilyon technical support, helping fix problems withcomponents that are not working as they were designed. However, any member can post about any subject that they wish to discuss and any other member can reply with their thoughts as long as the forumsCommunity Code of Conduct and Terms Of Useare not violated.Feedback is encouraged as sometimes we are asked by the product teams about what are the top issues that members are discussing. Also, some of the Microsoft SupportProfessionals who post here can pass along design changerequeststhat fit into certain design categories.If this issue is important to you and you would like to participate in an officialfeedback program where your thoughts and requests go directly to the people at Microsoft who make the design decisions, please check out the officialWindows Feedback Program.Hope this helps. Thank You for using Windows 7 _________________________Ronnie Vernon MVP Forum Moderator

Hey.Are you seeing the big 1024x768 picture http://gimmecorn.com/images/cow_1024.jpgOr are you being redirected here http://gimmecorn.com/I keep getting the redirected page instead of the jpg. I linked the jpg. After I (manually) view the jpg by cut-n-pasting that shortcut link, then the link here works right. IE8 makes me nutz. When you click the first link you go to the send link. From their just click the the empty box. Whats weird is first time I clicked the first link is I got redirected so i just clicked the empty box and it loaded the pic. Second time I just saw the pic. Weird.

Hi genericcuser123, I understand that you personally have never used it, but that's exactly the point. For those who, like you, don't use the feature it's no big deal. Unfortunately, some of those people think that just because they never had a need for it, then nobody else has the right to need it. It's like if I said, "I don't like football, therefore nobody in America should have the right to watch it." Pretty ridiculous. But those who *do* use it, use it all the time. And there are indeed a lot of us. Just google "disable auto arrange windows 7", you'll see. P.S. Thanks for the levelheaded reply.

I understand where you guys are comming from. I believe the more features the better. It simply makes people more happy. I was just stating that I never even realized it went missing. Either ways, I am truly sorry to hear about this and I do hope microsoft fixes this to make people who like this feature and miss it, their computing experience a happier, and a better one.

Waiting impatiently for a Fix..

Possible workaroundhttp://help.lockergnome.com/vista/kill-Auto-Arrange--ftopict71356.html.

Im not confident enough, maybe not competent enough to give that a go.

Work arounds are nice, but why should we have to do that? Everyone paid good money for windows 7, so it should be MS that should be fixing it, not us!

Well Service Pack 1 Release Candidate is out and I don't see this blocking problem fixed in it. Working with files is impossible without auto sort and auto arrange turned off. I have formatted and gone back to Windows XP SP3. No problem with that OS. Microsoft can't take any action or notice but I definitely can.

I'm with you on that too, I can't believe it's gone. I work alot with images and constantly group choices and rename. It's so annoying. I'm going to look for another picture program now. XP rocks! but I'm not going back now.

use this workaround: http://www.unawave.de/windows-7-tipps/disable-sorting-auto-arrange.html?lang=EN "A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/

Oddly that feature was disabled. As far as I know there will be a formal investigation as to why.

In addition to Andre's link above, here are two other guides for disabling Auto Arrange: 1. Auto Arrange Option #1 - How to disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 2. Auto Arrange Option #2 - How to disable Auto Arrange in Windows 7 Microsoft intentionally removed the option to disable Auto Arrange, but it's still possible with the above workarounds. Microsoft's answer for not being able to disable auto arrange: Can I manually arrange files within folders? From Microsoft: Working with files and folders Let Microsoft know you want Windows Explorers features returned: Since many people seem to agree that some or all the changes made to Windows Explorer have actually made it less user friendly, you can go to the Windows 7 Feedback page and (politely) let them know your suggestions for improving it: http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Feedback.aspx?formID=195 Note: don't make the message too long, there is a size limit to your message even though the page doesn't tell you about it. Have Questions About Installing Windows 7? FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

This feature is horrible. I'd love MS to fix this properly so I can turn auto-arrange off!

Any plans in giving back this removed feature in Windows 8 ?

Any plans in giving back this removed feature in Windows 8 ? we can't answer this. Send as much as possible Feedback: http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows 7/Feedback.aspx?formID=195 and request it back."A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" Want to install RSAT on Windows 7 Sp1? Check my HowTo: http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=150221

I will, but why I need to spam feedback post to get it back ? You guys shouldn't remove or more likely like HIDE used features from us, because it's very disappointing to upgrade your system to new version.

Enforcing auto arrange was probably a virus.

I guess it's never going to be fixed because even the Windows 8 Developer Preview doesn't have it fixed. The issue cropped up in Vista, wasn't fixed for some reason in Windows 7 (probably getting a working stable OS out was more important) but you'd think surely now Windows 8 would fix this but apparently Microsoft doesn't care nor does it understand how this is an issue. They had several opportunities to fix this problem for good in service packs, hotfixes or new Windows versions. So much for all the $$$ spent on user interface research and development, they still don't get usability, they still don't get ease of use and making users' lives easier, not harder. Just have to accept Windows 8 won't be fixing this issus either. I am moving over to Debian Linux.

Please voice your support in this thread if you want this fixed in Windows 8: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsdeveloperpreviewgeneral/thread/27314d0a-9c70-4b79-93e7-23fe60e7e374