strange folder views are appearing in my folders .. [solved]

[vhelp]

solved - see post # 7

specs: windows 7 home premium, 64bit, on dell inspiron laptop

I don't know how or why I am getting folder views like this, but they are starting to pop up almost everywhere in my hdd and externals and flash drives now.
I don't know what changed or when this started happening. I just want to get the old way of folder views back, for everything.

Looking at the example layout below, that is how almost all my folders are showing. This is very annoying to look at not to mention frustrating. Even the sorting is incorrect. It appears to only allow sorting "with-in" the segmented groups. Note the "*" and also the folder name (path) and are grouped. And the folder path is displayed withing the listing. This listing used to be one contiguous list of files.

hint/theory: I wonder if this is a "glitch" via sharing external usb hdd's and flash drives with windows 10.

How can I get back the original folder view ?

My Documents (222)* ---------------------------
c:\Users\dell 
file 1
file 2
file 3
.
.
file 25
file 26

Public Docuements (14)* ------------------------
c:\Users\Plublic
file 1
file 2
file 3
.
.
file 25
file 26

SyncUP (1)* -------------------------------------
c:\Users\dell
file 1

[jagabo]

Malware encrypting all your files?

[vhelp]

No. I have malwarebytes premium installed two months ago. Here's an actual example.

[zing269]

Looks like the files are being grouped by type. There should be an option under the Organize menu to change it.

[ndjamena]

Right-Click->group by->file type.

It's possible you somehow made that the default for "video" folders.

[jagabo]

Oh, I though your files were literally named file1, file2...

It looks like you have Arrange By Type selected. You probably want Arrange By Folder.

[vhelp]

solved, success..

guys, i got it! finally! I must have somehow ticked the wrong settings or who knows. anyways. its fixed! Thanks to all of you.

1. find an blank area in the folder and right-click it.
2. select 'customize this folder..'
3. move selector to 'general items'
4. apply / done