Hopefully a quick'n'dumb question. I often have directories with only image-type files in them. Sometimes they include video files as well. No, this is not my pr0n collection! ). OP system is XP SP2

Occasionally, the lovely Windows explorer will offer a "View-Filmstrip" option when looking at these directories, even if there are non-image or video files mixed in. But mostly, not - only thumbnails, icons, list, details, the usual options for directories with mixed file types, even if there are ONLY image-type files in them.

Odd. I suppose I should mention that most image file types *(jpg's, tiff's, etc) are "registered" to open with Irfanview, does that interfere with the Windows "View-Filmstrip" option? I'm thinking perhaps the filmstrip option uses the Windows picture and Fax viewer in an explorer window...

Thanks all!

You probably need to tell it which folders you want to view this way and to remember more of these folder settings.
How can I activate the Filmstrip view for my Windows XP folder?

A. XP includes a new type of view for folders that contain graphics files (e.g., GIF, JPEG, TIFF). This Filmstrip view displays a large version of the selected picture in the top right-hand pane of Windows Explorer and a smaller version of all pictures in the folder in the bottom right-hand pane. To activate this view, you must configure the folder as either a Pictures type or Photo Album type by performing the following steps:

1. Right-click the folder and select Properties from the context menu.
2. Select the Customize tab.
3. Under "Use this folder type as a template:", select either Photo Album or Pictures and click OK.
4. From the Windows Explorer View menu, select Filmstrip to view the pictures from within the selected folder.

if XP forgets your folder view settings

Thanks, but I have to wonder why sometimes it chooses to do this by itself?

I take it you're a Rocky and Bullwinkle fan? Great stuff!

If it seems random, this is usually because of the default preference of how many folder settings xp will remember. When it fills up, it drops off some settings, therefor seeming to remember intermittently.
If you install TweakUI you can change this setting. Also there is a Registry hack to change it. The link above explains it.