My Documents - Missing From Start Menu & File Open Dialog Boxes

M

Matt Larkin

For a few weeks now I've noticed that "My Documents" is missing from
the start menu, and that when the usual file / open dialog box is open
(the one with the 5 quick folders on the left hand side - Desktop /
Recent Docs / My Documents Network Places /Favourites) the middle
icon is a folder with no name (which should be My Documents).

Also, when I browse to the desktop through the drop down in the same
box I have a folder showing with no name (though this doesn't actually
appear on the desktop).

For a while, clicking on this icon gave some answer such as "folder
not accessible", but in my attempts to fix this using Tweak UI (change
location of My Documents) I have now got this working so that it does
open the directory where my documents should be.

My Pictures seems to be working OK (it is on the start menu), and I
think I have tried about everything that the front end of XP (XP Pro,
SP1 with Tweak UI) allows - I've right clicked the start menu to set
the options - "Show My Documents on start menu" etc - but I am coming
up blank.

Interestingly, there are two other folders with appear within the
"desktop" folder in the file dialog box - one is named "matthew" (i.e.
me!) and another named "sarah" (wife). I think the "sarah" one points
to her my documents folder on her laptop (we are on a workgroup) and
the other one points to "my documents" on my machine.

Any help gratefully received!

TIA

Matt
 
M

Matt Larkin

-----Original Message-----
Click to expand...

Hey guys, what am I doing wrong? I post a perfectly
reasonable question, well described in the title, with a
detailed explanation and i get no answers at all!

Please, some simple pointer in the right direction would
be most appreciated!

Matt
 
M

Matt Larkin

Matt Larkin said:
Hey guys, what am I doing wrong? I post a perfectly
reasonable question, well described in the title, with a
detailed explanation and i get no answers at all!

Please, some simple pointer in the right direction would
be most appreciated!

Matt
Click to expand...

If it helps, here are some screenshots of the predicament:-

Showing the "file / open" dialog"
http://www.aqqu87.dsl.pipex.com/images/Screenshot1.jpg

Showing the blank folder on the desktop which is the My Documents
folder (I know this because it only appears when I check show my
documents on the desktop!
http://www.aqqu87.dsl.pipex.com/images/Screenshot1.jpg

HTH!

Matt
 
K

Kelly

Check your settings here: Right click the Start
Button/Properties/Customize/Advanced. My Documents, show as a link or menu.
Right click the Desktop/Properties/Desktop/
Customize Desktop/My Documents. Lastly,

Run the edit on line 55:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm




Matt Larkin said:
Hey guys, what am I doing wrong? I post a perfectly
reasonable question, well described in the title, with a
detailed explanation and i get no answers at all!

Please, some simple pointer in the right direction would
be most appreciated!

Matt
Click to expand...

If it helps, here are some screenshots of the predicament:-

Showing the "file / open" dialog"
http://www.aqqu87.dsl.pipex.com/images/Screenshot1.jpg

Showing the blank folder on the desktop which is the My Documents
folder (I know this because it only appears when I check show my
documents on the desktop!
http://www.aqqu87.dsl.pipex.com/images/Screenshot1.jpg

HTH!

Matt[/QUOTE]
 
M

Matt Larkin

Kelly said:
Check your settings here: Right click the Start
Button/Properties/Customize/Advanced. My Documents, show as a link or menu.
Right click the Desktop/Properties/Desktop/
Customize Desktop/My Documents. Lastly,

Run the edit on line 55:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]
Click to expand...

Thanks! Tried that, still no success - the error is apparent across
all users on the machine (just checked that!).

Any other places to try? What registry keys would be useful to look
at?

Matt
 
K

Kelly

'Welcome, Matt.

1. Have you applied any tweaks to the Documents Folder?
2. Have you tried or have relocated the Document Folder?
3. Have you disabled Show Files Stored on this Computer?

Relevant keys: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders




Matt Larkin said:
"Kelly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
Check your settings here: Right click the Start
Button/Properties/Customize/Advanced. My Documents, show as a link or menu.
Right click the Desktop/Properties/Desktop/
Customize Desktop/My Documents. Lastly,

Run the edit on line 55:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--
All the Best,
Kelly

MS-MVP Win98/XP
[AE-Windows® XP]
Click to expand...

Thanks! Tried that, still no success - the error is apparent across
all users on the machine (just checked that!).

Any other places to try? What registry keys would be useful to look
at?

Matt
Click to expand...
 
M

Matt Larkin

Kelly said:
'Welcome, Matt.

1. Have you applied any tweaks to the Documents Folder?
2. Have you tried or have relocated the Document Folder?
3. Have you disabled Show Files Stored on this Computer?

Relevant keys: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Click to expand...

1. None that I know of!
2. Yes (this was working successfully for quite a while!)
3. Don't know what this is (so probably no!)

My registry keys for Shell Folders is:-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders]
"Common AppData"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application
Data"
"Common Programs"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start
Menu\\Programs"
"Common Documents"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents"
"Common Desktop"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Desktop"
"Common Start Menu"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start
Menu"
"CommonPictures"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My
Pictures"
"CommonMusic"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My
Music"
"CommonVideo"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My
Videos"
"Common Favorites"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Favorites"
"Common Startup"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start
Menu\\Programs\\Startup"
"Common Administrative Tools"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All
Users\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Accessories\\System Tools\\Administrative
Tools"
"Common Templates"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Templates"
"Personal"="E:\\F-DRIVE\\My Documents\\"

For User Shell Folders my keys are:-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]
"Common Desktop"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\
50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,\
00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,00,00
"Common Start Menu"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\
00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,\
72,00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,00,00
"Common Programs"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\
50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,\
00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,\
61,00,6d,00,73,00,00,00
"Common Startup"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\
50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,\
00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,\
61,00,6d,00,73,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,00,74,00,75,00,70,00,00,00
"Common AppData"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\
50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,41,00,70,00,70,00,6c,\
00,69,00,63,00,61,00,74,00,69,00,6f,00,6e,00,20,00,44,00,61,00,74,00,61,00,\
00,00
"Common Templates"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\
00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,54,00,65,00,6d,00,\
70,00,6c,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,73,00,00,00
"Common Favorites"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\
00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,46,00,61,00,76,00,\
6f,00,72,00,69,00,74,00,65,00,73,00,00,00
"Common Documents"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\
00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,44,00,6f,00,63,00,\
75,00,6d,00,65,00,6e,00,74,00,73,00,00,00
"Common Administrative
Tools"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,\
52,00,53,00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,\
00,61,00,72,00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,\
67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,73,00,5c,00,41,00,63,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,73,00,6f,\
00,72,00,69,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,20,00,\
54,00,6f,00,6f,00,6c,00,73,00,5c,00,41,00,64,00,6d,00,69,00,6e,00,69,00,73,\
00,74,00,72,00,61,00,74,00,69,00,76,00,65,00,20,00,54,00,6f,00,6f,00,6c,00,\
73,00,00,00

Don't know if that helps!

Thanks for taking interest!

Matt
 
K

Kelly

Thanks, Matt. Is after 2am here, will take a look at this after I sleep
fast. :blush:)




Matt Larkin said:
"Kelly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
'Welcome, Matt.

1. Have you applied any tweaks to the Documents Folder?
2. Have you tried or have relocated the Document Folder?
3. Have you disabled Show Files Stored on this Computer?

Relevant keys: Start/Run/Regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
Click to expand...

1. None that I know of!
2. Yes (this was working successfully for quite a while!)
3. Don't know what this is (so probably no!)

My registry keys for Shell Folders is:-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders]
"Common AppData"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application
Data"
"Common Programs"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start
Menu\\Programs"
"Common Documents"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents"
"Common Desktop"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Desktop"
"Common Start Menu"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start
Menu"
"CommonPictures"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My
Pictures"
"CommonMusic"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My
Music"
"CommonVideo"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My
Videos"
"Common Favorites"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Favorites"
"Common Startup"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start
Menu\\Programs\\Startup"
"Common Administrative Tools"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All
Users\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Accessories\\System Tools\\Administrative
Tools"
"Common Templates"="D:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Templates"
"Personal"="E:\\F-DRIVE\\My Documents\\"

For User Shell Folders my keys are:-
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders]
"Common Desktop"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,44,00,65,00,73,00,6b,\
00,74,00,6f,00,70,00,00,00
"Common Start Menu"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,\
72,00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,00,00
"Common
Click to expand...
Programs"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,\00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,\
61,00,6d,00,73,00,00,00
"Common
Click to expand...
Startup"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,\00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,\
61,00,6d,00,73,00,5c,00,53,00,74,00,61,00,72,00,74,00,75,00,70,00,00,00
"Common
Click to expand...
AppData"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,00,\50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,41,00,70,00,70,00,6c,\00,69,00,63,00,61,00,74,00,69,00,6f,00,6e,00,20,00,44,00,61,00,74,00,61,00,\
00,00
"Common
Click to expand...
Templates"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,54,00,65,00,6d,00,\
70,00,6c,00,61,00,74,00,65,00,73,00,00,00
"Common
Click to expand...
Favorites"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,46,00,61,00,76,00,\
6f,00,72,00,69,00,74,00,65,00,73,00,00,00
"Common
Click to expand...
Documents"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,52,00,53,\00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,44,00,6f,00,63,00,\
75,00,6d,00,65,00,6e,00,74,00,73,00,00,00
"Common Administrative
Tools"=hex(2):25,00,41,00,4c,00,4c,00,55,00,53,00,45,00,\
52,00,53,00,50,00,52,00,4f,00,46,00,49,00,4c,00,45,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,74,\00,61,00,72,00,74,00,20,00,4d,00,65,00,6e,00,75,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,\67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,73,00,5c,00,41,00,63,00,63,00,65,00,73,00,73,00,6f,\00,72,00,69,00,65,00,73,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,20,00,\54,00,6f,00,6f,00,6c,00,73,00,5c,00,41,00,64,00,6d,00,69,00,6e,00,69,00,73,\00,74,00,72,00,61,00,74,00,69,00,76,00,65,00,20,00,54,00,6f,00,6f,00,6c,00,\
73,00,00,00

Don't know if that helps!

Thanks for taking interest!

Matt
Click to expand...
 

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