# Win98 doesn't know how to list files

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-doesnt-know-how-to-list-files/93274>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 14, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-doesnt-know-how-to-list-files/93274 "2001-11-14T05:36:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-doesnt-know-how-to-list-files/93274/1 "2001-11-14T05:36:32Z")

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Aye.

My pal has Win98 and likes to list his files by File Type. Win98 prefers File Size. Even when he changes them to be arranged by File Type, and sets the folder to remember the setting they “eventually” change back to being organized by File Save. Then, when he goes to Open or Safe a file in any program, the other existing files are shown in File Size arrangement.

Any way to fix this?

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**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-doesnt-know-how-to-list-files/93274/2 "2001-11-14T09:26:11Z")

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Well, first the open/save/ect common dialogs aren’t directly connected to windows explorer, they don’t share settings.

Second, try getting the sorting settings he likes, going to tools-\>folder options-\>view and click ‘like current folder’

I think that works with win98.

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**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-doesnt-know-how-to-list-files/93274/3 "2001-11-14T14:06:02Z")

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My problem is with how Windows alphabetizes the file names when you add a suffix to the name.

For example, I have a file called “testfile”, and I make backup copies of it every once in a while. I don’t like how Windoze adds the “Copy of” to the beginning of the file name, because then it is alphabetized under “C”, very far from the regular copy of the file. So I rename it, giving it a suffix at the end of the name.

I now have my regular file, and six copies of it, as follows:

testfile 001  
testfile 002  
testfile another  
testfile backup  
testfile  
testfile\_a  
testfile\_x

Can anyone explain why the plain “testfile” does not come up first in this list?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Toaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@Toaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster)\
**Post date:** [November 14, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/win98-doesnt-know-how-to-list-files/93274/4 "2001-11-14T14:47:22Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by SenorBeef \*  
> \*\*Well, first the open/save/ect common dialogs aren’t directly connected to windows explorer, they don’t share settings.
> 
> Second, try getting the sorting settings he likes, going to tools-\>folder options-\>view and click ‘like current folder’
> 
> I think that works with win98. \*\*

I had him do the second (he had done it before, he’s not computer illiterate) with no success. I will let him know of the first point though.