Changing Favorites folder location

[+Bob+]

XP-home

I would like to change the location of the Favorites folder in an
automated way. I can do this manually by dragging and dropping the
default Favorites folder on the drive where I want it to be. However,
I need an automated way to do this since I store my favorites folder
on a network drive and the setting gets lost/reset way to often by
Windows somewhat lame program and network handling.

So, I got everything working and exported the Favorites key in the
registry under:

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

Unfortunately MSIE does not pick up this change when I start it. The
change happens in the registry, but MSIE just ignores it. But, if I do
the drag-n-drop move, the same change occurs in the registry (checked
before and after) and MSIE picks it up. I did this several times for
confirmation and it always works (or doesn't) the same.

Perhaps there is something I need to "refresh" manually after changing
the registry entry ? Is there another key I also need to change ?

Thanks,

 

[Alan Edwards]

XP does not use the Shell Folders key.
Use the User Shell Folders key instead.

This standard response may shed a little light...

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

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/IEFAQ.htm#favorites
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/usershellfolders.htm



....Alan