Only user dont need the MY folders etc

[grove1]

I am the only user and I want to stop the all 'my .......' folders that seem
to be default settings. Could someone throw some light on this for me. I did
try and delete them only to find other folders AND files were gone. Maybe I
have overlooked something. I been trying to work around this but find it very
annoying. Thank you.

 

[Manny Weisbord]

I am the only user and I want to stop the all 'my .......' folders that seem
to be default settings. Could someone throw some light on this for me. I did
try and delete them only to find other folders AND files were gone. Maybe I
have overlooked something. I been trying to work around this but find it very
annoying. Thank you.

Keep screwing around with things you don't understand and you'll get
some REALLY annoying results from your computer.

 

[Malke]

I am the only user and I want to stop the all 'my .......' folders that
seem to be default settings. Could someone throw some light on this for
me. I did try and delete them only to find other folders AND files were
gone. Maybe I have overlooked something. I been trying to work around this
but find it very annoying. Thank you.

Mr. Weisbord's answer, although a tad harsh, was correct and to the point.
Here are some details of what you are seeing and what it *really* means:

XP, like all modern operating systems, is a multi-user operating system no
matter if only one person is using it. In all multi-user operating systems -
NT, Win2k, XP, Vista, Windows 7, Unix, Linux, Mac OSX - there is the one
built-in account that is "god" on the system. In Windows terminology, that
is "Administrator". In the *nix world, it is "root". This is a necessary
account and is not normally used in everyday work. You cannot delete the
built-in Administrator account nor would you ever want to. In Vista, Windows
7, Mac OS X, and some Linux distros, the built-in Administrator is disabled
by default.

My Computer (XP)) - represents your entire computer, showing drives and
directories on hard drives. Shared Folders (XP) are folders where you can
put files you wish to share with other users on the system. You don't need to
use these folders if you don't want to, but leave them alone!

Documents and Settings (XP only) - The "container" for all user settings.
Each user will have [username] My Documents, My Music, My Videos, My
Pictures.

Administrator - Built-in account - Leave alone! Do not use! Do not worry
about it! In XP, the built-in Administrator account is only visible in
Documents and Settings if you have XP Pro/Media Center. In XP Home, it can
only be accessed in Safe Mode.

All Users - Section where items common to all users go. This is a system
structure and should be left alone.

Default User (XP - This is the template from which new user accounts are
made. You will never put anything in any of those folders but they are
needed to create new users. In Linux we use "skel" ("skeleton" - get it?).
In Windows, the less-colorful term "Default User" is used. Leave it alone!

Your user account and other user accounts that *you've* created are in the
Documents and Settings directory. Sometimes there will be an Owner account,
or something like "HP Administrator". This is the generic user created by
the OEM ("Original Equipment Manufacturer; i.e., Dell, HP, Sony, etc.) when
installing the operating system. After all, the OEM doesn't know who is
going to buy the computer. If you aren't using this OEM user account, you
can delete it from the User Accounts applet in Control Panel. It is not the
same account as "Administrator".

I hope this has given you a better understanding of the Windows XP file
hierarchy. If you don't like to see the icons for "My Documents" etc. on the
Desktop (perhaps you store your personal files on another hard drive), you
can configure what shows on the Desktop from Control Panel>Display>Desktop.

Malke

 

[Jose]

I am the only user and I want to stop the all 'my .......' folders that seem
to be default settings. Could someone throw some light on this for me. I did
try and delete them only to find other folders AND files were gone. MaybeI
have overlooked something. I been trying to work around this but find it very
annoying. Thank you.

Which "My..." folders annoy you?

What happens when you just remove them?

If you delete a folder, you also delete the contents.

The "My..." folders under My Documents can be prevented from being
created - ever. My Pictures, My Videos, My Music, etc.

There are lots of things that may be possible if you better explain
your requirements without generalities (like: my......)

 

[Anteaus]

I don't think 'just' deleting them will do any good, since if you point the
default document-location at a workgroup server share it results in these
"My" folders appearing out-of-nowhere inside the share. Which is a damn pest,
especially as it's effectively authorizing the users to dump personal stuff
into the share, against management instructions.

As far as I know, you can redirect the 'My' folders elsewhere either with
TweakUI or by editing the UserShellFolders registry key, but you can't
actually swat the b[.*]ers.

Redirecting them elsewhere is not too clever, as it may result in loss of
data if the location they are redirected-to is not covered by backups, and an
app such as a camera interface starts dumping data into them.

I would agree with the OP that this is another instance where excess
gimmickry in an OS reduces functionality.

 

[grove1]

Thank you Malke, Jose and Anteaus.
Sorry re the not so good description of my problem.
I get the jist of it and have kept a copy for ref. Nice to think you put
the time and effort in a constructive reply even with my poor explaination of
the problem. I am not used to the automatic folders for 'My pictures, My
videos, My documents,. I am probably of the older school with 98Se when I
could create folders to suit my needs. Looks like I will have to change my
thinkings. I will give the suggestions a try out and see how it goes. I have
2 hdd's - 120gb and 1 tb. 2 gb ram, 1.3ghz. The os is loaded into the 120
and the 1tb is mainly bulk storage of video and pics etc. I have setup a
'PICS' , 'Downloads' , 'ACAD' , 'CAMERA' folders etc on the 120. So maybe I
should change these to work in with the system as it operates. When installed
Nero, it created Nero folders in about 3 different places. One lot under 'My
Documents' together with 'My Videos' as well as a couple of places on the 120
drive. Many thanks again.

 

[grove1]

--
XP new one

Thank you Malke, Jose and Anteaus.
Sorry re the not so good description of my problem.
I get the jist of it and have kept a copy for ref. Nice to think you put
the time and effort in a constructive reply even with my poor explaination of
the problem. I am not used to the automatic folders for 'My pictures, My
videos, My documents,. I am probably of the older school with 98Se when I
could create folders to suit my needs. Looks like I will have to change my
thinkings. I will give the suggestions a try out and see how it goes. I have
2 hdd's - 120gb and 1 tb. 2 gb ram, 1.3ghz. The os is loaded into the 120
and the 1tb is mainly bulk storage of video and pics etc. I have setup a
'PICS' , 'Downloads' , 'ACAD' , 'CAMERA' folders etc on the 120. So maybe I
should change these to work in with the system as it operates. When installed
Nero, it created Nero folders in about 3 different places. One lot under 'My
Documents' together with 'My Videos' as well as a couple of places on the 120
drive. Many thanks again.

PS. I should have added being the only user I dont have logons etc. for
anything. I have tired to install a wireless router to work with my previous
machine so as I can 'to and fro' with it until such time as I am use to
everything. Also some programs I use will not work on XP and are good on 98SE
so I have stuck with them. FOr soem reason I cant get one end working and
just use a mem stick instead..

 

[Malke]

Thank you Malke, Jose and Anteaus.
Sorry re the not so good description of my problem.
I get the jist of it and have kept a copy for ref. Nice to think you put
the time and effort in a constructive reply even with my poor explaination
of the problem. I am not used to the automatic folders for 'My pictures,
My
videos, My documents,. I am probably of the older school with 98Se when I
could create folders to suit my needs. Looks like I will have to change my
thinkings. I will give the suggestions a try out and see how it goes. I
have
2 hdd's - 120gb and 1 tb. 2 gb ram, 1.3ghz. The os is loaded into the 120
and the 1tb is mainly bulk storage of video and pics etc. I have setup a
'PICS' , 'Downloads' , 'ACAD' , 'CAMERA' folders etc on the 120. So maybe
I should change these to work in with the system as it operates. When
installed Nero, it created Nero folders in about 3 different places. One
lot under 'My Documents' together with 'My Videos' as well as a couple of
places on the 120
drive. Many thanks again.

You can store your files wherever you want. If you want to keep files on a
second hard drive, do so. I always keep data on a second hard drive on my
desktop computers. You don't have to use My Documents, My Pictures, etc. But
those directories are part of XP so you can't delete them. Just ignore them
and don't use them if you prefer to store things in a different place.

Malke

 

[Jose]

Thank you Malke, Jose and Anteaus.
Sorry re the not so good description of my problem.
I get the jist of it and have kept a copy for ref.  Nice to think you put
the time and effort in a constructive reply even with my poor explaination of
the problem. I am not used to the automatic folders for 'My pictures, My
videos, My documents,.  I am probably of the older school with 98Se when I
could create folders to suit my needs. Looks like I will have to change my
thinkings. I will give the suggestions a try out and see how it goes. I have
2 hdd's - 120gb and 1 tb.  2 gb ram, 1.3ghz. The os is loaded into the 120
and the 1tb is mainly bulk storage of video and pics etc. I have setup a
'PICS' , 'Downloads' , 'ACAD' , 'CAMERA'  folders etc on the 120. So maybe I
should change these to work in with the system as it operates. When installed
Nero, it created Nero folders in about 3 different places. One lot under 'My
Documents' together with 'My Videos' as well as a couple of places on the120
drive.  Many thanks again.

For me, My Documents is completely empty. I have no My Pictures, My
Music, My eBooks or whatever all that junk is. This is my choice, I
never use it and never will.

I can even delete the My Documents folder, but it will be recreated
(empty) the next time I login (except for a hidden desktop.ini file).
No other My... folders will be recreated.

My Documents is a "special" folder Windows feels the need to have. I
suppose I could suppress that, but I don't care. I know it is empty
and I never see it. I have not used it for so long I don't even
realize it is there.

I have Nero also, but it did not create anything other than where it
needed to, but maybe we installed with different options.

If there is a specific thing that is annoying, describe how it works
and how you would like it to work.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thank you Malke, Jose and Anteaus.
Sorry re the not so good description of my problem.
I get the jist of it and have kept a copy for ref. Nice to think you put
the time and effort in a constructive reply even with my poor explaination of
the problem. I am not used to the automatic folders for 'My pictures, My
videos, My documents,. I am probably of the older school with 98Se when I
could create folders to suit my needs. Looks like I will have to change my
thinkings.

Malke's already told you the same thing I'm about to, but I want to
reinforce her point of view. You don't have to change your thinking at
all. If you like the organization of folders that Windows creates (My
Documents, My Music, My Pictures, etc.) that's fine. If you don't like
that structure, you can and should create your own folders and save
such data file where they work best for *you*.

 

[grove1]

Well I am so thrilled with all your help. I do use Windows Explorer a lot and
have set folders up for what I want as I did with 98SE. So as suggested I
will 'not see' the others and ignore them. Although I have found on
occasions, files end up in the "MY..." folders. Hence I was currious as to if
they could be disposed of. SO, I will adopt a check and see approach when I
cant find something. I can see me using this forum again. Very good and
thank you.

 

[Charles W Davis]

You can wait until you have Windows Vista and those folders are gone! Like
magic! However, you will have Documents, Favorites, Music, Pictures and
others. But the "MY" is gone. Sorry!