Win 7 Explorer missing column headings

[Steve007]

Hi,

I have noticed recently that my Win7 Explorer no longer displays column headings. I know that Win7 now only displays it in "details" but nothing there either. I've tried resetting the folder options - no luck. I see when I googled the problem that others had this problem a year ago but even now, no one seems to have an answer. I tried a restore point but that did not correct it either.

If I have to go back to a factory reset (from D drive) how do I do that? I would prefer something less drastic however.

Thanks,

Steve

[kamatr]

You dont have do a factory reset for this minor problem. Try the following steps.

1)Type Regedit.exe in start menu search box and Open Registry editor

2)Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ Local Settings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Shell \ Bags.Right-click on the Bags key and choose Delete

3)Similarly Naviage to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ Local Settings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Shell \ BagMRU and delete BagMRU registry key

4)Restart your computer.

[Steve007]

Hi,

I had the same problem and when I tried you regedit solution it worked. The problem eventually recurred so I tried it again but this time it had no effect.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Steve

[Steve007]

Hi,

I too had the same problem. Your solution worked until I closed the explorer window and then returned when I opened it again. When I tried your solution again, it would not work. Any other ideas? Has it recurred for you?

Thanks,

Steve

[Cloud_Strider]

Steve007,

I understand your column titles are missing in Windows Explorer.

Are you seeing something like this?

It looks like Ramesh in this thread has a command that may help with this.

1.  Go to Start, search for CMD, right-click the result and select run as administrator.

2.  Enter "regsvr32 /i shell32.dll" without the " " marks.

3.  Press Enter and  you should not receive an error indicating it was successful.

Let me know what happens. 

Do you have a 64bit or 32bit Windows installed?

[Steve007]

Thanks for the help. It worked after a reboot but after closing Explorer and reopening it, the headings disappeared again.

I am using Win7 home premium 64 bit.

[Cloud_Strider · Accepted solution]

The issue continues to return even after it has been corrected in the registry.  This seems to be related to some unknown program or piece of software that is interfering with the registry.  

Run CCleaner from the link below.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Also, run Malwarebytes from the link below.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/

This should clean the system and identify if there is any malware interfering with the registry.  If there is malware detected in the registry, or just a registry issue, Malware bytes should correct it or identify what the issue is with it.  

[Steve007]

Hi Cloud Strider,

I ran the ccleaner program as you advised then rebooted. No immediate effect but I went back to a previous suggestion  by Kamat who is apparently an HP employee:

1)Type Regedit.exe in start menu search box and Open Registry editor

2)Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ Local Settings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Shell \ Bags.Right-click on the Bags key and choose Delete

3)Similarly Naviage to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Classes \ Local Settings \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Shell \ BagMRU and delete BagMRU registry key

4)Restart your computer.

The  bags keys deletions only worked once and would not stick. Once I closed and re opened Explorer the problem returned as did the two registry keys. Deleting them again did not work. Then I ran ccleaner, deleted them again and so far so good. The two Bag keys did return though. I am curious, what do you think is/was happening?

Thanks a lot for all you time and help. This has been a very aggravating problem. I hope it does not return! Especially, since I will be installing Win 7 Pro on the rest of my 6 machine network.

Steve 

[Steve007]

Hi Kamat,

The  Bags keys deletions only worked once and would not stick. Once I closed and re opened Explorer the problem returned as did the two registry keys. Deleting them again did not work. Then in another post, Cloud Strider suggested I run ccleaner.  I did so, deleted the Bags keys again, and so far so good. The two Bag keys did return though. I am curious, what do you think is/was happening?

Thanks to both of you for your time and help. This has been a very aggravating problem. I hope it does not return! Especially, since I will be installing Win 7 Pro on the rest of my 6 machine network.

Thanks,

Steve

[Steve007]

Hi,

Spoke too soon. The problem has returned. It does seem that if I keep deleting the Bags keys it temporarily solves it but I can't make the solution stick. Very aggravating.

Thanks.