Change how Explorer sorts files with number in name

In Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008, if files have only number in filename, Explorer sorts them by the number.

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How can I change this sort to trully alphabetic, ie.:

etc.

Tschareck

Posted 2012-09-17T11:05:05.047

Reputation: 838

Answers

@Dave: I don't recommend telling people to edit the Registry unless as a last resort when there's no easier/better way.

@Tschareck: Here's what you can do:

Type gpedit.msc in the Start menu's search box and then press Enter.
Navigate to User Configuration / Administrative Templates / Windows Components, then select Windows Explorer in the left pane of the Group Policy editor.
Double-click Turn off numerical sorting in Windows Explorer in the Settings section of the Group Policy editor.
Select Enable and then click OK to save the changes.

Karan

Posted 2012-09-17T11:05:05.047

Reputation: 51 857

2Did you give Dave the -1 vote for using the registry? If so, that's a shame. – palswim – 2013-08-13T21:31:11.590

To change this behavior open your registry and find the key below.

User Key: [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
System Key: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\
Explorer]
Value Name: NoStrCmpLogical
Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (1 = Windows 2000 method)

Create a new DWORD value named "NoStrCmpLogical" and set it to "1" to use the Windows 2000 sorting method.

Dave

Posted 2012-09-17T11:05:05.047

Reputation: 24 199

1I prefer the registry method. Unfortunately, Windows still sorts in its "special" way when using "Sort by Type". Also, on my machine at least, I can't modify my HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer key. – palswim – 2013-08-13T21:30:34.293