How to Enable or Disable Folder Options in Vista or Windows 7

EXAMPLE: Before (Enabled) and After (Disabled)

METHOD ONE

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Through the Local Group Policy Editor

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Windows Explorer (See screenshot below)

3. In the right pane, right click on Removes the Folder Options menu from the Tools Menu, and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)

4. To Enable Folder Options -

A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)

B) Go to step 6.

5. To Disable Folder Options -

A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.

6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.

METHOD TWO

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With a REG File Download

1. To Enable Folder Options -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Enable_Folder_Options.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Disable Folder Options -

A) Click on the download button below to download the Disable_Folder_Options.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.

5. Click on the Run button for Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. Log off and log on or restart the computer to apply the changes.

8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (on Desktop).

METHOD THREE

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Through Registry Editor

1. Open the Start Menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. Click on the Continue button in the UAC prompt.

4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
NOTE: If Explorer is not there, then right click on Policies in the left pane and click on New and Key. Type Explorer and press Enter.

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

5. To Disable Folder Options -

A) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot below)

B) Type NoFolderOptions and press Enter.

C) Right click on NoFolderOptions and click on Modify.

D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

E) Go to step 7.

6. To Enable Folder Options -

A) In the right pane, right click on NoFolderOptions and click on Delete. (See screenshot below step 5C)

B) Click on Yes to confirm delete.

C) In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)

Code:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

D) In the right pane, repeat steps 6A and 6B if NoFolderOptions is there to.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on or restart the computer to apply the changes.