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Sometimes in Windows Explorer, users may not be able to select more than one file or folder. Using the Select All option, SHIFT + Click or CTRL + Click key combos to select multiple files or folders, may not work. Here is how to fix the single select problem in Windows Vista Explorer.
Option 1: Clear all saved folder views
Resetting the saved folder views will resolve the problem. Download resetfolderviews_vista.reg and save to Desktop. Close all Explorer windows. Right-click on the REG file and choose Merge. Click Yes when prompted for confirmation.
Alternately, you can also open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe) directly and delete the Bags value manually. To do so, use these steps:
1. Close all folder windows.
2. Click Start, type Regedit.exe and press ENTER
3. Navigate to the following branch:
4. Select the Bags key and choose Delete.
4. Exit the Registry Editor
If the above does not fix the problem right away, you need to terminate and restart explorer.exe process, or logoff and login back.
Option 2: Script to repair this problem
MVP Keith Miller has a VBScript that can fix the single select problem without clearing saved folder views and customizations. Visit Keith’s Windows Stuff, download FixSingleSelect.zip, unzip and run the VBScript file enclosed in the Zip file.
You should be able to select multiple files now in Windows Vista Explorer.
See also
Fixing Folder Type problems in Windows Vista
Enable or Disable Full Row Select feature in Explorer in Windows Vista
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- I tried all three of the above fixes with the same result: When I hold down the Ctrl key and select with a mousepad tap, I can select two non-adjacent files, but on the third select without letting up on the Ctrl key, it selects just the third file and the previous two files become unselected. I’m still looking for fix for this.
- I accidentally discovered a functional replacement for holding the Ctrl key down: If I let up on the Ctrl key between each selection, I can select as many non-adjacent files as I want. This is annoying, but it works.