I have filled in the values in the ID3 fields as I want them, but XP doesn't always see them. Example: I encoded 3 Doors Down: The Better Life using LAME -aps -Y, and edited the tags of the mp3s weith Mp3tag 2.16. I then changed the file names from (ex) 02 - Loser.mp3 to Loser.mp3 and told Explorer to order the files by Track #. Excellent.

When I edited the fields for the next CD, the Annie soundtrack, and saved them, XP did not recognize either that they are mp3s, or did not recognize the tags. The only ordering options I have for the Annie folder is by Name, Size, Type, Modified.

I then used GodFather and Rio Music Manager to edit the tags, to no success.

Edit: I noticed that in the 3DD folder the XP music beat is present in the bottom right hand corner, but is not there in the Annie folder...

Edit II: I changed the template of the folder to Music, but it still will not let me arranged tracks based on the ID3 tags.

What gives?

Do you use ID3v1 or ID3v2?

i had a similar problem. all my mp3 are tagged but some woulnt show up in windows xp explorer view?????/

what i found out was that they where id3v1 tags but used to be id3v2 tages. so i had to convert them to id3v2 tages, edit them using this save them and then resave them as id3v1 tages.

or something along the lines. now it works

I wouldn't worry so much about what XP can't do. It can't do a lot of things it should be able to do. But I'll give you a few tips I've found useful:

You won't need tags to find music when you name them a good way. My prefered method is this: (all in a common directory)
[Artist Name] \ [Album Name] \ [Track #] - [Track Name].mp3

This has the added benefit of ordering tracks in the same order as the cd within the folder.

Also, MusicMatch, though most likely not a favorite on these boards, has some handly tagging tools (tag lookup, file renaming (based on tags)). Winamp's id3 editor shows both id3v1 and id3v2 tags in the same window, and allows quick copying from one to the other. Using Winamp's Media Library eliminates the need to browse in the explorer anyhow.

I think the ID3v2 plugin is not implemented right, I am going to start a topic about this.