ShellFolderFix: Restore Window Locations in Windows 7

Addressing Window Placement Issues in Windows 7

Do you recall earlier iterations of Windows automatically restoring the size and position of Explorer windows upon reopening? A change occurred with Windows 7, where this functionality was discontinued. However, a useful application exists to resolve this inconvenience. Constantly repositioning folder windows each time they are relaunched in Windows 7 can be frustrating.

Consider a scenario in Vista, where multiple folder windows are open. Upon closing these windows, they reopen to the same locations and dimensions. Windows 7, conversely, typically remembers only the last closed window, necessitating readjustment. This can lead to windows stacking, maximizing to full screen unexpectedly, or appearing in undesirable locations.

Introducing ShellFolderFix

ShellFolderFix is a practical utility designed to rectify this issue. It effectively remembers the size and placement of your open windows. Simply extract the application's files to a readily accessible directory, such as C:\Users.

From there, you can pin the application to your Taskbar for convenient access.

Once launched, the application resides in the system tray, diligently tracking the size and location of all your open folder windows. Configuration options are available to tailor the application to your specific requirements.

Additional Features and Functionality

Beyond its core function, ShellFolderFix offers several supplementary benefits. For tasks involving consistently opened folder windows, you can save them as a dedicated workspace. To do so, right-click the tray icon and select "Save Workspace." For instance, if you have three Explorer folder windows open for a particular task, you can save their arrangement as a workspace.

Right-click the tray icon again and choose "Save Workspace."

Assign a descriptive name to the workspace.

With the workspace saved, right-clicking the tray icon reveals the option to "Close All Folders." This is similar to a previously discussed application, "Close All Windows," but it only affects open folders, not program windows. You can also choose to "Minimize All Folders."

A confirmation screen will appear when you select to close all folder windows.

When you need to resume the task, right-click the icon and select "Restore Workspace."

The windows will then be restored precisely as they were saved.

Technical Specifications and Considerations

ShellFolderFix can manage up to 200 open folder windows and allows for a configurable database size ranging from 300 to 10,000 folders. However, it's important to note a couple of limitations. The application does not interact with program windows and cannot restore special folders like "My Computer," "My Network," or certain network locations. Despite these limitations, it remains an excellent tool for managing folder window positions and sizes.

This project is under continuous development, suggesting future updates and enhancements. Ideally, Microsoft will address the issue of Windows 7 not remembering folder window sizes and positions natively. Even if they do, the added benefit of workspace creation may make this utility a valuable addition to your toolkit. It is available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions and can be downloaded from Seven Forums.