Hello

This problem with XP has been reported all over the net, but I don't
seem to be able to find any real solution.

The problem is that '<User's> Documents' folder disappears from 'Files
Stored On This Computer' section of 'Computer' folder in Windows
Explorer. For example, I have 'Shared Documents' there, but no 'Andrey's
Documents' for account 'Andrey' from 'Power Users' group. The same issue
exists in all user accounts with less than 'Administrators' rights.

The standard advice everybody gives in this case is to go to

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths

and enter doc folder paths for each and every user on the machine. And
most everybody knows that this generally has absolutely no effect. On my
machine the doc folder paths for all users are entered correctly in the
above registry location, yet I can't see my own documents folder in
'Files Stored On This Computer' section of the Explorer.

The real root of the problem seems to be somehow related to the user
permissions. My account belongs to 'Power Users' group and I have this
problem in Explorer. If I login as 'Administrator' I'm able to see all
users' doc folders in 'Files Stored On This Computer' section (which,
BTW, indicates that the registry is set up properly), but anyone with
lesser permissions can only see 'Shared Documents' and nothing else.

Anyone has any idea about the real reason for this issue and how to fix it?

--
Best regards,
Andrey Tarasevich

You are welcome to browse these earlier threads about the issue:
http://groups.google.com/group/micro...2B+mvp+OR+msft

Other discussions:
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22my...e=utf8&oe=utf8

Andrey Tarasevich wrote:
> Hello
>
> This problem with XP has been reported all over the net, but I don't
> seem to be able to find any real solution.
>
> The problem is that '<User's> Documents' folder disappears from 'Files
> Stored On This Computer' section of 'Computer' folder in Windows
> Explorer. For example, I have 'Shared Documents' there, but no 'Andrey's
> Documents' for account 'Andrey' from 'Power Users' group. The same issue
> exists in all user accounts with less than 'Administrators' rights.
>
> The standard advice everybody gives in this case is to go to
>
> HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths
>
> and enter doc folder paths for each and every user on the machine. And
> most everybody knows that this generally has absolutely no effect. On my
> machine the doc folder paths for all users are entered correctly in the
> above registry location, yet I can't see my own documents folder in
> 'Files Stored On This Computer' section of the Explorer.
>
> The real root of the problem seems to be somehow related to the user
> permissions. My account belongs to 'Power Users' group and I have this
> problem in Explorer. If I login as 'Administrator' I'm able to see all
> users' doc folders in 'Files Stored On This Computer' section (which,
> BTW, indicates that the registry is set up properly), but anyone with
> lesser permissions can only see 'Shared Documents' and nothing else.
>
> Anyone has any idea about the real reason for this issue and how to fix
> it?

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> You are welcome to browse these earlier threads about the issue:

Great. But those threads that are actually relevant to the issue in
question, only suggest the 'DocFolderPaths' fix I mentioned before. As I
said in my previous message, this fix doesn't really fix anything, which
is what usually pointed out in those threads as well. At which point the
thread usually ends, because no one know what else to do. This is why
I'm asking: is there anything new on this old issue? Has anyone found
the actual fix?

--
Best regards,
Andrey Tarasevich

I've never encountered the problem personally.

Andrey Tarasevich wrote:
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> You are welcome to browse these earlier threads about the issue:
>
> Great. But those threads that are actually relevant to the issue in
> question, only suggest the 'DocFolderPaths' fix I mentioned before. As I
> said in my previous message, this fix doesn't really fix anything, which
> is what usually pointed out in those threads as well. At which point the
> thread usually ends, because no one know what else to do. This is why
> I'm asking: is there anything new on this old issue? Has anyone found
> the actual fix?

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> I've never encountered the problem personally.
>

The problem is actually quite old and 100% reproducible.

http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-446389.php

I believe an attempt to rename the 'My Documents' folder triggers it.

--
Best regards,
Andrey Tarasevich

Andrey Tarasevich wrote:

> The problem is that '<User's> Documents' folder disappears from
> 'Files Stored On This Computer' section of 'Computer' folder in
> Windows Explorer. For example, I have 'Shared Documents' there, but
> no 'Andrey's Documents' for account 'Andrey' from 'Power Users'
> group. The same issue exists in all user accounts with less than
> 'Administrators' rights.

The user or users probably does not have the proper file and folder
permissions to access other's "My Documents" folders which in turn will
not display other user's "My Documents" folder under "Files Stored On
This Computer".

If using Windows XP Home, go to one of the user's "My Documents" folder
properties page and de-select "Mark this folder private".

For Windows XP Pro, grant the Users or Groups to have access to these
folders.

How to set, view, change, or remove special permissions for files and
folders in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308419


--
William Crawford
MS-MVP Windows Desktop Experience

WTC wrote:
>
>> The problem is that '<User's> Documents' folder disappears from
>> 'Files Stored On This Computer' section of 'Computer' folder in
>> Windows Explorer. For example, I have 'Shared Documents' there, but
>> no 'Andrey's Documents' for account 'Andrey' from 'Power Users'
>> group. The same issue exists in all user accounts with less than
>> 'Administrators' rights.
>
> The user or users probably does not have the proper file and folder
> permissions to access other's "My Documents" folders which in turn will
> not display other user's "My Documents" folder under "Files Stored On
> This Computer".
>

This has nothing to do with _other's_ "My Documents" folders. I'm
talking only about the _current_ user's "My Documents" folder. The one
that's listed as "<User>'s Documents" in 'Files Stored On This Computer'
where '<User>' is the current user's name.

The current user is not even supposed to see the other user's "My
Documents" folders (unless he's from the 'Administrators' group). The
current user is supposed to see "Shared Folders" and his own "<User>'s
Documents" folder in 'Files Stored On This Computer' and under the "My
Computer" in the tree. That's it. What I observe is that "Shared
Folders" is there, but his own "<User>'s Documents" is not. That's the
problem. And that's been the 100% reproducible problem with all XP in
installations where at least one user's "My Documents" folder has been
renamed (renamed "correctly", through Windows Explorer, meaning that
everything else related to "My Documents" location works, except for
this little part). (Maybe there are other factors that trigger this as
well).

A quick research with RegMon shows that under any 'Administrators'
account, every time the 'My Computer' view is refreshed, Windows
Explorer re-reads the 'HKLM\...\DocFolderPaths' location from the
Registry. However, under any lesser account Windows Explorer does not
even attempt to access that location in the Registry. I.e. under any
lesser account Windows Explorer is not even trying to display the
"<User>'s Documents" entry anymore. I don't know at what point it gets
cut off.

There's no permissions issue with the current user's "My Documents"
folder - he has 'Full Control' access (and everyting else works as
expected). There's no permissions issue with accessing the
'HKLM\...\DocFolderPaths' location by the current user's. Windows
Explorer just doesn't want do do it for some reason.

--
Best regards,
Andrey Tarasevich

Patient (demonstrating): "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"
Doctor: "Don't do that."

Don't do that.

Andrey Tarasevich wrote:
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> I've never encountered the problem personally.
>>
>
> The problem is actually quite old and 100% reproducible.
>
> http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-446389.php
>
> I believe an attempt to rename the 'My Documents' folder triggers it.

Sounds as though the "Make this folder private" is set under Sharing and
Security.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Happy Birthday if today is your birthday!

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm


"PA Bear [MS MVP]" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Patient (demonstrating): "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"
> Doctor: "Don't do that."
>
> Don't do that.
>
> Andrey Tarasevich wrote:
>> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>> I've never encountered the problem personally.
>>>
>>
>> The problem is actually quite old and 100% reproducible.
>>
>> http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-446389.php
>>
>> I believe an attempt to rename the 'My Documents' folder triggers it.

PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> Patient (demonstrating): "Doctor, it hurts when I do this!"
> Doctor: "Don't do that."
>
> Don't do that.

That after all the effort the selfless overworked/underpaid MS
developers put into developing safely-renameable 'My Documents'
directory??? Sorry, but no. Besides, it's not really an option: nobody
can really use XP until these asinine 'My ...' prefixes are gone.

> Andrey Tarasevich wrote:
>> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>>> I've never encountered the problem personally.
>>>
>>
>> The problem is actually quite old and 100% reproducible.
>>
>> http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-446389.php
>>
>> I believe an attempt to rename the 'My Documents' folder triggers it.

--
Best regards,
Andrey Tarasevich