Backup and Restore Folder View Settings in Windows 10  

Brake4bots said:

Hi Shawn,

I've written a totally new version of this script with several enhancements, such as... registry keys are only listed one time in the code, backup data now goes to a single file, added a new option to just clear settings to return to Windows defaults, added a 1 second delay between stopping and starting Explorer (fixes issue where it would sometimes get stuck on a gray screen), and added a fix for fail if Desktop path contains a space. Please let me know if I should just post it here or send it to you first or whatever. I don't want to do anything that's not in keeping with protocol.

BTW, I noticed your script was reposted without credit at TheWindowsClub. I can email the URL if you like.

Les

Hello Les,

Sure, you can post the script here if you like.

Please do send me the URL via PM or VM.

Brake4bots said:

... added a fix for fail if Desktop path contains a space

Les,

Sorry. I misunderstood your post. I now realise that you are saying that your script copes with a space in the Desktop folder path [as does Brink's script].

Why fail it? Why not just deal with it?

- Somebody with the username Brake 4 bots would be grateful for that change.

See my script referenced in post #41 of this thread and provided in full in Find the user Desktop folder path - PS, vbs, batch methods - TenForums

The batch script shown there can cope with spaces and with special characters in the Desktop folder path [I have only tested it for the presence of &].

- So somebody with the username Brake & bots would be grateful for that change.

Denis

Code:

Removed old code from here. See post further along in thread for new version.

Hi Denis,

In the original batch file, if you have, for example, "D:\Users\John Doe\Desktop" in the Desktop registry value, the For loop will return "D:\Users\John" in the [Desktop] variable. The code above will return the complete path with the space.

Les

Brake4bots said:

In the original batch file, if you have, for example, "D:\Users\John Doe\Desktop" in the Desktop registry value, the For loop will return "D:\Users\John" in the [Desktop] variable. The code above will return the complete path with the space.

Les,

Thanks for posting that.

When I extended Find the user Desktop folder path - PS, vbs, batch methods - TenForums last year to cope with spaces and ampersands, I did not appreciate that every one of my tests used a Desktop folder expressed in the form
%UserProfile%\Desktop
and I never tested paths containing explicitly-stated spaces and ampersands such as
C:\Users\Tom & Jerry\Desktop
I have now improved the batch file script in Find the user Desktop folder path - PS, vbs, batch methods - TenForums so it copes with both cases.

Does your script cope with ampersands in the Desktop folder path?
- There is nothing to tell Tom & Jerry to avoid using an ampersand in their UserName.

- Whilst I have never come across a Tom & Jerry UserName, I have seen several Tom Jerry UserNames for those who deliberately wanted a single account for both individuals.
- This might be their first computer so they would have no reason to think there was anything significant about a Tom & Jerry UserName.

Thanks,
Denis

---

@Brink - Your script's references to the [original or relocated] Desktop folder path would also fail for those containing explicitly-stated spaces and ampersands such as
C:\Users\Tom & Jerry\Desktop
so you might want to use Find the user Desktop folder path - PS, vbs, batch methods - TenForums as an aid in adjusting your script.
The changes are quite small but do affect each line of the Desktop folder path retrieval so you might want to
- replace your entire first block of code {which would also result in having better variable names and more easily maintainable code}
- do a global replacement of [Desktop] by DesktopFolder

Matthew Wai said:

@Brink, I have modified the code at Try3's suggestion above.
The highlighted variable %[Desktop]% (which is already used in your current script) stands for the correct desktop folder.

Code:

Set "+=HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders"
For /F "tokens=* " %%# in ('Reg Query "%+%" /V Desktop') Do (Set "#=%%#")
Set "#=%#:*REG_EXPAND_SZ    =%"
For /F "delims=" %%# in ('Echo "%#%"') Do (Set "#=%%#")
Set "[Desktop]=%#:~1,-1%"

echo The desktop folder is %[Desktop]%
Pause

Thank you Matthew. The .bat file has been updated for this.

Denis, Thanks for pointing out the issue with &. I have updated the code to handle both space and &. I also removed the 1 second delay between stopping and starting Explorer. It turns out the gray screen I was encountering was caused by running the script from within XYPlorer. That's a 32 bit file explorer, so not a good place to start and stop Explorer on a 64 bit system.

Matthew, I think it's best to keep the batch file clean and simple and instead make a new version entirely in Powershell that has added bells and whistles. I'll try to post a Powershell version here by end of next week.

Code:

REM CMD (batch file) script that will backup and restore user Explorer view settings.
REM For a GUI-less restore, simply go to Cmd line and run Reg Import YourSettings.reg
REM where YourSettings.reg is the settings file captured with the backup option.

@Echo Off

Set MyName=Folder View Backup

Set Desktop=
Set Key="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders"
For /F "Skip=2 Tokens=2*" %%A In ('Reg Query %Key% /v Desktop 2^>Nul') Do Set Desktop=%%B

If Not Exist "%Desktop%" Set Desktop=%UserProfile%\Desktop

Set BakD="%Desktop%\%MyName%"
Set BakF="%Desktop%\%MyName%\%UserName%.reg"

Set TmpF="%Tmp%\Tmp.reg"

Set R01="HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU"
Set R02="HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
Set R03="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU"
Set R04="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"
Set R05="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU"
Set R06="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags"
Set R07="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDOpen"
Set R08="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDSave"
Set R09="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32"
Set R10="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane"
Set R11="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer"
Set R12="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults"
Set R13="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes"
Set R14="HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel"

Title %MyName%

:Menu
Set Mode=
Cls
Echo.
Echo 1. Create a backup of current Explorer folder views
Echo 2. Restore Explorer folder views from backup file
Echo 3. Clear current Explorer views and return to Windows defaults
Echo.
Set /P Mode=Choose option or press Enter to Exit: 

If "%Mode%"=="1" Goto BakChk
If "%Mode%"=="2" Goto ResChk
If "%Mode%"=="3" Goto ResChk
If "%Mode%"=="" Goto End
Echo.
Echo Invalid input.
Echo.
pause
Goto Menu

:BakChk
IF Not Exist %BakF% Goto Backup
Echo.
Echo You already have a backup folder and file on your desktop.
Echo Please move or rename the backup file and try again.
Echo.
pause
Goto Menu

:Backup
If Not Exist %BakD% Mkdir %BakD% 2>Nul
If Not Exist %BakD% Echo Unable to create backup folder. & Pause & Goto End
Echo.
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R01% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R02% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R03% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R04% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R05% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R06% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R07% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R08% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R09% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R10% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R11% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R12% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R13% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul & Reg Export %R14% %TmpF% /y 2>Nul & More %TmpF%>>%BakF% 2>Nul
Del %TmpF% 2>Nul
Echo.
Echo Backup complete.
Echo.
Pause
Goto Menu

:ResChk
If Exist %BakF% Goto Clear
Echo.
Echo You do not have a backup folder and file on your desktop.
Goto %Mode%A

:2A
Echo Place the backup folder and file on your desktop and try again.
Echo.
pause
Goto Menu

:3A
Echo Are you sure you want to clear settings without a backup?
Echo.
Set Choice=
Set /P Choice=Enter Y to continue or Enter to return to menu 
If /I "%Choice%"=="Y" Goto Clear
Goto Menu

:Clear
Echo.
Reg Delete %R01% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R02% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R03% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R04% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R05% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R06% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R07% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R08% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R09% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R10% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R11% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R12% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R13% /F 2>Nul
Reg Delete %R14% /F 2>Nul
Goto %Mode%B

:2B
Reg Import %BakF%
Echo.
Echo Restore complete.
Goto Done

:3B
Echo.
Echo Clear complete.

:Done
Echo.
Echo Press Enter to restart Explorer and apply settings.
Echo.
Pause

Taskkill /f /im explorer.exe
Start Explorer.exe

:End

@Matthew Wai As promised, here is a PowerShell version of the Explorer Views Backup/Restore script. This version creates a new uniquely-named file each time the backup is run. The backup files are saved within a folder within AppData. The Restore option brings up a standard Explorer file dialog, where you can pick a file to restore or pick one or more backup files to delete (right-click for delete of course).

Code:

#  Powershell script that will backup and restore user Explorer view settings.
#  For a GUI-less restore, simply go to Cmd line and run Reg Import YourSettings.reg
#  where YourSettings.reg is the settings file captured with the backup option.

$MyName = "Folder View Backup"
$Host.UI.RawUI.WindowTitle = $MyName

If ($PSVersionTable.PSVersion.Major -lt 3) {
  Write-Host `n'Powershell 3 or higher is required.'`n
  Read-Host -Prompt "Press any key to continue"
  Exit
}

$BakDir   = "$env:APPDATA\WinViewBak"
$TimeStr  = (get-date).ToString("yyyy-MM-dd-HHmm-ss")
$TestFile = "$PSScriptRoot\$TimeStr.txt"
$TempDir  = "$env:TEMP"

$Key = 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion'
$Value = 'ProductName'
$WinVer = (Get-ItemProperty -Path $Key -Name $Value).$Value.SubString(8,2)
$WinVer = '   .' + $WinVer + '. '
$WinVer = ($WinVer -Replace '\.',' ').Trim()

Try {[io.file]::OpenWrite($TestFile).close()}
Catch {}
If (Test-Path -Path $TestFile) {
  Remove-Item $TestFile
  $BakDir = "$PSScriptRoot\WinViewBak"
}

Function SelectFolder {       

  Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms

  $FolderBrowser = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog
  $FolderBrowser.Description = "Select backup folder..."
  $FolderBrowser.ShowNewFolderButton = $True
  $FolderBrowser.SelectedPath = $BakDir

  $Handle = $Null
  If ($WinVer -eq '10') {
    $Handle = [System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow]::New()
    $Handle.AssignHandle([System.Diagnostics.Process]::GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle)
  }

  $Button = $FolderBrowser.ShowDialog($Handle)
  If ($Button -eq "OK") {$BakDir = $FolderBrowser.SelectedPath}

  Return $BakDir
}

Function SelectFile {       

  Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms

  $FileBrowser = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.OpenFileDialog -Property @{ 
    InitialDirectory = $BakDir 
    Filter = 'Registration Files (*.reg)|*.reg'
    Multiselect = $True
    Title = 'Select registry file to restore...'
  }

  $Handle = $Null
  If ($WinVer -eq '10') {
    $Handle = [System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow]::New()
    $Handle.AssignHandle([System.Diagnostics.Process]::GetCurrentProcess().MainWindowHandle)
  }

  $File = ''
  $Button = $FileBrowser.ShowDialog($Handle)
  If ($Button -eq "OK") {$File = $FileBrowser.FileName}

  Return $File
}

$RegKeys = @(
'"HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU"'
'"HKCU\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\BagMRU"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\Bags"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDOpen"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CIDSave"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ComDlg32"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\NavPane"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Modules\GlobalSettings\Sizer"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams\Defaults"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes"'
'"HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ControlPanel"'
)

Function DeleteUserKeys {
  ForEach ($Key in $RegKeys) {
    Reg Delete $Key /F 2>$Null
  }
}

Function DeleteTempFiles {
  For ($i = 0; $i -lt $RegKeys.Length; $i++) {
    Remove-Item "$TempDir\WinViewBak$i.tmp" 2>$Null
  }
}

Function RestartExplorer {
  Write-Host 'Press Enter to restart Explorer and apply settings.'`n
  Pause
  Get-process explorer | Stop-Process
  Exit
}

While($True){

  Clear-Host
  Write-Host ''
  Write-Host "1. Select backup folder (Current: $BakDir)"
  Write-Host "2. Create a backup of current Explorer folder views"
  Write-Host "3. Restore Explorer folder views from backup file"
  Write-Host "4. Clear current Explorer views and return to Windows defaults"

  $Mode = Read-Host `n'Choose option or press Enter to Exit'

  Switch($Mode){
  
    ""{Write-Host ''; Exit}
    
    # Folder
    "1"{
      $BakDir = SelectFolder
    }

    # Backup
    "2"{

      If (!(Test-Path -Path $BakDir)) {Mkdir $BakDir >$Null}

      If (-Not (Test-Path -Path $BakDir)) {Write-Host `n'Backup folder could not be created.'`n; Pause; Exit}

      DeleteTempFiles
      
      Write-Host ''

      $TimeStr  = (get-date).ToString("yyyy-MM-dd-HHmm-ss")
      $BakFile  = "$BakDir\$TimeStr.reg"

      For ($i = 0; $i -lt $RegKeys.Length; $i++) {
        $File = "$TempDir\WinViewBak$i.tmp"
        Reg Export $RegKeys[$i] $File /y 2>$Null
        If (Test-Path -Path $File) {$FileList = $FileList + "+$TempDir\WinViewBak$i.tmp"}
      }

      Cmd /c Copy $FileList.Trim('+') $BakFile >$Null 2>$Null
      
      DeleteTempFiles
      
      Write-Host `n'Backup complete.'`n
      Pause
    }

    # Restore
    "3"{
      If (-Not (Test-Path -Path $BakDir)) {Write-Host `n'Backup folder does not exist.'`n; Pause; Continue}

      $Count = (Get-ChildItem "$BakDir\*.reg" -file | Measure-Object).Count
      If ($Count -eq 0) {Write-Host `n'No reg files found in backup folder.'`n; Pause; Continue}
      
      $File = SelectFile
      If ($File -eq '') {Continue}

      Write-Host ''
      DeleteUserKeys
      Reg Import $File
      Write-Host `n'Restore complete.'`n
      RestartExplorer
    }

    # Clear
    "4"{
      $Count = 0
      If (Test-Path -Path $BakDir) {
        $Count = (Get-ChildItem "$BakDir\*.reg" -file | Measure-Object).Count
      }
      If ($Count -eq 0) {
        $Conf = Read-Host `n"Are you sure you want to clear settings without a backup?"
        if ($Conf -ne 'y') {Continue}
      }  
      Write-Host ''
      DeleteUserKeys
      Write-Host `n'Clear complete.'`n
      RestartExplorer
    }
  }
}

So, supposedly, I have run into this problem with Windows 10:
Fix Windows Not Remember & Save Folder Types or Folder Views Setting (Increase BagMRU Size Cache Memory Size) - Tech Journey

There is an app that I've used in the past to clean unnecessary "leftover" folder settings still saved in the Registry (called: ShellBag AnalyZer + Cleaner). Yet using that app, multiple times in the recent past, caused all my folder settings to reset. Hence I have not been using that specific app anymore.

Yet I came across the information posted on the link to that site (that I posted a link to), and apparently, for the past week or so, the settings of certain folders which kept resetting, no longer keep resetting anymore. Before I applied the information from that site to the Registry, I always have to use Brink's Folder Backup method to restore my last saved folder settings to fix the folder settings for the few folders' settings that kept resetting. I'm hoping that this "BagMRU Size Cache" is what my computer has been having an issue with though.

...so I just wanted to mention that info that I learned today. I'm assuming that it applies to this thread.