My Documents Question Please

[Dudley Henriques]

Can someone help me understand something a bit better please?
I have a "My Documents" folder on the explorer bar, then on down the bar I
have an exact duplicate folder under my name with every file I have in BOTH
folders. The size is 75 megs in both folders. Why do I need two duplications
of the My Documents folder, and why does XP need both to function. I realize
that XP creates a private settings for me, but I'm the only single user of
the computer. Do I need this duplication, and what would be your thinking
about why XP doesn't simply allow me the single folder since I haven't set
up different profiles?
Keep in mind, I'm a beginner at all this )
Thanks much,
Dudley

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

These are not duplicates, they both point to the same physical location on the hard disk, Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents.

 

[Dudley Henriques]

Thanks Doug. I think I get this much, but why two folders on the explorer
bar pointing to the same location and doing the same thing? What I can't
quite get is why XP doesn't accept the first user as a default profile and
simply establish 1 My Documents folder on the explorer bar. Then, if a
second profile is established, THEN split them? Why 2 folders doing the same
thing ? I take it from what you're saying that even though 2 folders are
showing, the space used on the HD is only the sum of one folder.
Dudley

These are not duplicates, they both point to the same physical location on
the hard disk, Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE]

Thanks Doug. I think I get this much, but why two folders on the
explorer bar pointing to the same location and doing the same thing?
What I can't quite get is why XP doesn't accept the first user as a
default profile and simply establish 1 My Documents folder on the
explorer bar. Then, if a second profile is established, THEN split
them? Why 2 folders doing the same thing ? I take it from what you're
saying that even though 2 folders are showing, the space used on the
HD is only the sum of one folder.
Dudley

I think Windows was doing this at least as far back as Win98 except it was
near the bottom instead of at the top. It is done as a convenience. I
think. Actually, I do find it convenient, since if you log on as a
different user, the My Documents at the top of the list will point to THAT
user's My Documents.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Reply to Newsgroup. I won't answer email
Protect Your PC
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[Dudley Henriques]

Thank you Frank.
Dudley

I think Windows was doing this at least as far back as Win98 except it was
near the bottom instead of at the top. It is done as a convenience. I
think. Actually, I do find it convenient, since if you log on as a
different user, the My Documents at the top of the list will point to THAT
user's My Documents.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP IE/OE
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Reply to Newsgroup. I won't answer email
Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/