# XP: How to reset "My Computer" to "Category View" in explorer?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-how-to-reset-my-computer-to-category-view-in-explorer/441238>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 13, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-how-to-reset-my-computer-to-category-view-in-explorer/441238 "2008-03-13T14:21:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-how-to-reset-my-computer-to-category-view-in-explorer/441238/1 "2008-03-13T14:21:53Z")

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Not only can’t I figure out how to restore My Computer to the nicer-looking category view, but google doesn’t seem to know either. I’m not positive it’s called category view; that term may be confined to Control Panel. It looks similar, though.

Anyone know how to do it?

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-how-to-reset-my-computer-to-category-view-in-explorer/441238/2 "2008-03-13T14:53:11Z")

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I’m not familiar with that; can you elaborate? What do you want displayed?

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**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-how-to-reset-my-computer-to-category-view-in-explorer/441238/3 "2008-03-13T15:06:28Z")

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I’m not sure if this is exactly what you mean, but try:

**View \> Arrange icons by \> Show in groups**

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [March 13, 2008, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xp-how-to-reset-my-computer-to-category-view-in-explorer/441238/4 "2008-03-13T16:15:46Z")

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[QUOTE=mhendo]  
I’m not sure if this is exactly what you mean, but try:

**View \> Arrange icons by \> Show in groups**  
[/QUOTE]  
I tried that before but it didn’t seem to work. I figured it out now, though. In addition to checking Show in Groups, you have to arrange them by type and select details view.

Thanks much.