I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
don't know how this happened.

If I try to delete a folder from the Favorites window in IE, it deletes the
corresponding folder from Windows directory on my hard drive.

I don't recall doing anything that should have caused this to happen.

I've run Norton Antivirus, AdAware, Spybot, and AOL Spyware detector - but
nothing shows up. I upgraded to SP2 - but the problem persists.

I've searched all the folders and subfolders in C:\Documents and Settings\
looking for a hidden \Windows directory, but there is none.

FYI - the C:\Documents and Settings\ has four folders: Administrator, All
Users, (one with my username), Administrator, and a hidden folder: Default
User.

For what it's worth, the folder icon for Favorites in All Users and the one
with my username do not
have the star icon - just the regular folder icon. I thought that this might
be the problem, so in the folder I renamed Favorites, copied the folder from
the Administrator folder, deleted the contents and copied the contents of my
Favorites to the new star icon'd folder - but it made no difference.

Two questions:
1. How could this have happened (my Windows subfolders now being in IE
favorites)?
2. How do I get it back to just showing my favorites from my Favorites
folder - and not showing the Windows directory and folders (and I'd prefer an
answer that doesn't involve reinstalling everything)?

Thank you.

In news:5604F2D7-9396-47E5-8DA4-(E-Mail Removed),
jb <(E-Mail Removed)> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

> Two questions:
> 1. How could this have happened (my Windows subfolders now being in IE
> favorites)?
> 2. How do I get it back to just showing my favorites from my Favorites
> folder - and not showing the Windows directory and folders (and I'd
> prefer an answer that doesn't involve reinstalling everything)?
>
> Thank you.

Err... You're welcome... Actually this post might not help you at all. What
I am posting for is to ask if you have used some sort of "tweaking" utility
to change the path or some sort of registry editing utility to alter the
path for the favorites. That's the first question's answer? To the second
the only way may very well be to repair it manually (not an option until we
know more) or to reverse the changes with any application that you might
have used. Have you use X-Setup or anything like that to change the path to
your %WinDir%?

Another idea, this is reaching VERY far though, is malware... Possible? Sure
if the person creating the installer wanted to edit the path to favorites.
Seems pretty insane but it's possible. Have you tried looking for various
forms of malware?

Galen
--
Signature changed for a moment of silence.
Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.

Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?

You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

Have a look at this extract if you have XP:

For Windows 2000/XP:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]
Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites

The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ

Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFA*Q.htm#favorites
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/user*shellfolders.htm



....Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/index.html

In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
>Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
>links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
>don't know how this happened.
>

Ok, I did all you suggested. The result is that my Windows folders no longer
appear in the Favorites window. Unfortunately, nothing does now. When I
click Favorites on the toolbar, the Favorites window opens as a greyed out
panel - can't add any favorites to it.

So I'm halfway there - no more Windows folders. But now I need to get my
Favorites functioning again.

Next steps?

"Alan Edwards" wrote:

> Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?
>
> You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
> two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)
>
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
> Folders
>
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
> Shell Folders
>
> Have a look at this extract if you have XP:
>
> For Windows 2000/XP:
> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
> Shell Folders]
> Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
>
> The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
>
> Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAÂ*Q.htm#favorites
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/userÂ*shellfolders.htm
>
>
>
> ....Alan
> --
> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>
> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
> >Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
> >links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
> >don't know how this happened.
> >
>

Nope - no tweaking utility.
Nope - no registry editing utility.
Nope - no X-Setup
No Malware that is detected by Norton, AdAware or Spybot.

So, beyond what Alan suggested (see my reply to him), and my current (but
changed) state of affairs - what is next?


"Galen" wrote:

> In news:5604F2D7-9396-47E5-8DA4-(E-Mail Removed),
> jb <(E-Mail Removed)> had this to say:
>
> My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
>
> > Two questions:
> > 1. How could this have happened (my Windows subfolders now being in IE
> > favorites)?
> > 2. How do I get it back to just showing my favorites from my Favorites
> > folder - and not showing the Windows directory and folders (and I'd
> > prefer an answer that doesn't involve reinstalling everything)?
> >
> > Thank you.
>
> Err... You're welcome... Actually this post might not help you at all. What
> I am posting for is to ask if you have used some sort of "tweaking" utility
> to change the path or some sort of registry editing utility to alter the
> path for the favorites. That's the first question's answer? To the second
> the only way may very well be to repair it manually (not an option until we
> know more) or to reverse the changes with any application that you might
> have used. Have you use X-Setup or anything like that to change the path to
> your %WinDir%?
>
> Another idea, this is reaching VERY far though, is malware... Possible? Sure
> if the person creating the installer wanted to edit the path to favorites.
> Seems pretty insane but it's possible. Have you tried looking for various
> forms of malware?
>
> Galen
> --
> Signature changed for a moment of silence.
> Rest well Alex and we'll see you on the other side.
>
>
>

Exactly what do you now have in those two keys?
What operating system?
If XP, did you take note of the "REG_EXPAND_SZ value" bit?
Your favorites are unlikely to function if you ignored it.

....Alan

--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/index.html

In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Ok, I did all you suggested. The result is that my Windows folders no longer
>appear in the Favorites window. Unfortunately, nothing does now. When I
>click Favorites on the toolbar, the Favorites window opens as a greyed out
>panel - can't add any favorites to it.
>
>So I'm halfway there - no more Windows folders. But now I need to get my
>Favorites functioning again.
>
>Next steps?
>
>"Alan Edwards" wrote:
>
>> Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?
>>
>> You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
>> two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)
>>
>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
>> Folders
>>
>> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
>> Shell Folders
>>
>> Have a look at this extract if you have XP:
>>
>> For Windows 2000/XP:
>> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
>> Shell Folders]
>> Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
>>
>> The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
>>
>> Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFA*Q.htm#favorites
>> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/user*shellfolders.htm
>>
>>
>>
>> ....Alan
>> --
>> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
>> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>>
>> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
>> >Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
>> >links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
>> >don't know how this happened.
>> >
>>

XP. I took note, but in that key it is shown as REG_SZ, not REG_EXPAND_SZ.
How do I change it from one to the other type?

"Alan Edwards" wrote:

> Exactly what do you now have in those two keys?
> What operating system?
> If XP, did you take note of the "REG_EXPAND_SZ value" bit?
> Your favorites are unlikely to function if you ignored it.
>
> ....Alan
>
> --
> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>
> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >Ok, I did all you suggested. The result is that my Windows folders no longer
> >appear in the Favorites window. Unfortunately, nothing does now. When I
> >click Favorites on the toolbar, the Favorites window opens as a greyed out
> >panel - can't add any favorites to it.
> >
> >So I'm halfway there - no more Windows folders. But now I need to get my
> >Favorites functioning again.
> >
> >Next steps?
> >
> >"Alan Edwards" wrote:
> >
> >> Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?
> >>
> >> You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
> >> two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)
> >>
> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
> >> Folders
> >>
> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
> >> Shell Folders
> >>
> >> Have a look at this extract if you have XP:
> >>
> >> For Windows 2000/XP:
> >> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
> >> Shell Folders]
> >> Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
> >>
> >> The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
> >>
> >> Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAÂ*Q.htm#favorites
> >> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/userÂ*shellfolders.htm
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ....Alan
> >> --
> >> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
> >> http://dts-l.org/index.html
> >>
> >> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >>
> >> >I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
> >> >Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
> >> >links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
> >> >don't know how this happened.
> >> >
> >>
>
>

BH.
Delete it and recreate it in Regedt32.exe

....Alan

--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/index.html

In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>XP. I took note, but in that key it is shown as REG_SZ, not REG_EXPAND_SZ.
>How do I change it from one to the other type?
>
>"Alan Edwards" wrote:
>
>> Exactly what do you now have in those two keys?
>> What operating system?
>> If XP, did you take note of the "REG_EXPAND_SZ value" bit?
>> Your favorites are unlikely to function if you ignored it.
>>
>> ....Alan
>>
>> --
>> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
>> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>>
>> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >Ok, I did all you suggested. The result is that my Windows folders no longer
>> >appear in the Favorites window. Unfortunately, nothing does now. When I
>> >click Favorites on the toolbar, the Favorites window opens as a greyed out
>> >panel - can't add any favorites to it.
>> >
>> >So I'm halfway there - no more Windows folders. But now I need to get my
>> >Favorites functioning again.
>> >
>> >Next steps?
>> >
>> >"Alan Edwards" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?
>> >>
>> >> You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
>> >> two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)
>> >>
>> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
>> >> Folders
>> >>
>> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
>> >> Shell Folders
>> >>
>> >> Have a look at this extract if you have XP:
>> >>
>> >> For Windows 2000/XP:
>> >> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
>> >> Shell Folders]
>> >> Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
>> >>
>> >> The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
>> >>
>> >> Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFA*Q.htm#favorites
>> >> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/user*shellfolders.htm
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ....Alan
>> >> --
>> >> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
>> >> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>> >>
>> >> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
>> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
>> >> >Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
>> >> >links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
>> >> >don't know how this happened.
>> >> >
>> >>
>>
>>

Pardon my ignorance. What should I delete and recreate, and what does it
mean to recreate it in Regedt32.exe?

"Alan Edwards" wrote:

> BH.
> Delete it and recreate it in Regedt32.exe
>
> ....Alan
>
> --
> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>
> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >XP. I took note, but in that key it is shown as REG_SZ, not REG_EXPAND_SZ.
> >How do I change it from one to the other type?
> >
> >"Alan Edwards" wrote:
> >
> >> Exactly what do you now have in those two keys?
> >> What operating system?
> >> If XP, did you take note of the "REG_EXPAND_SZ value" bit?
> >> Your favorites are unlikely to function if you ignored it.
> >>
> >> ....Alan
> >>
> >> --
> >> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
> >> http://dts-l.org/index.html
> >>
> >> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >>
> >> >Ok, I did all you suggested. The result is that my Windows folders no longer
> >> >appear in the Favorites window. Unfortunately, nothing does now. When I
> >> >click Favorites on the toolbar, the Favorites window opens as a greyed out
> >> >panel - can't add any favorites to it.
> >> >
> >> >So I'm halfway there - no more Windows folders. But now I need to get my
> >> >Favorites functioning again.
> >> >
> >> >Next steps?
> >> >
> >> >"Alan Edwards" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?
> >> >>
> >> >> You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
> >> >> two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)
> >> >>
> >> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
> >> >> Folders
> >> >>
> >> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
> >> >> Shell Folders
> >> >>
> >> >> Have a look at this extract if you have XP:
> >> >>
> >> >> For Windows 2000/XP:
> >> >> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
> >> >> Shell Folders]
> >> >> Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
> >> >>
> >> >> The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
> >> >>
> >> >> Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAÂ*Q.htm#favorites
> >> >> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/userÂ*shellfolders.htm
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> ....Alan
> >> >> --
> >> >> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
> >> >> http://dts-l.org/index.html
> >> >>
> >> >> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
> >> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> >I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
> >> >> >Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
> >> >> >links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
> >> >> >don't know how this happened.
> >> >> >
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>

The value that is shown as REG_SZ, not REG_EXPAND_SZ that you wanted
to change from one to the other.

It means you use Regedi32.exe as I don't believe you can do it in
Regedit.exe

....Alan

--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
http://dts-l.org/index.html

In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>Pardon my ignorance. What should I delete and recreate, and what does it
>mean to recreate it in Regedt32.exe?
>
>"Alan Edwards" wrote:
>
>> BH.
>> Delete it and recreate it in Regedt32.exe
>>
>> ....Alan
>>
>> --
>> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
>> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>>
>> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >XP. I took note, but in that key it is shown as REG_SZ, not REG_EXPAND_SZ.
>> >How do I change it from one to the other type?
>> >
>> >"Alan Edwards" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Exactly what do you now have in those two keys?
>> >> What operating system?
>> >> If XP, did you take note of the "REG_EXPAND_SZ value" bit?
>> >> Your favorites are unlikely to function if you ignored it.
>> >>
>> >> ....Alan
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
>> >> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>> >>
>> >> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
>> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> >Ok, I did all you suggested. The result is that my Windows folders no longer
>> >> >appear in the Favorites window. Unfortunately, nothing does now. When I
>> >> >click Favorites on the toolbar, the Favorites window opens as a greyed out
>> >> >panel - can't add any favorites to it.
>> >> >
>> >> >So I'm halfway there - no more Windows folders. But now I need to get my
>> >> >Favorites functioning again.
>> >> >
>> >> >Next steps?
>> >> >
>> >> >"Alan Edwards" wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >> Perhaps the reference in the Registry is wrong?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> You can change the value of Favorites in the Registry in these
>> >> >> two keys: (ignore the second if the value is not there)
>> >> >>
>> >> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
>> >> >> Folders
>> >> >>
>> >> >> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
>> >> >> Shell Folders
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Have a look at this extract if you have XP:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> For Windows 2000/XP:
>> >> >> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
>> >> >> Shell Folders]
>> >> >> Set the Favorites path to : %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
>> >> >>
>> >> >> The above should be a REG_EXPAND_SZ value, not REG_SZ
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Ref: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFA*Q.htm#favorites
>> >> >> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/user*shellfolders.htm
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >> ....Alan
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Alan Edwards, MS MVP W95/98 Systems
>> >> >> http://dts-l.org/index.html
>> >> >>
>> >> >> In microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser, "jb"
>> >> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> >I notice that my IE Favorites now consists of all the folders and files in my
>> >> >> >Windows directory from my hard drive. It used to consist of the files and
>> >> >> >links in the Favorites subdirectory of C:\Documents and Settings\, and I
>> >> >> >don't know how this happened.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>