"User's Files" folder and Shell Folders like Documents, Desktop, M

[Guest]

VI was glad to see that in the folder options of the 'User's Files' folders
that you could change the locations. And I changed them all to my second
drive. This moved the folders from the C:\users\username folder to the new
location.

Then i installed an app that wanted to use one of the folders. It 'called'
to the C:\USERS\<USERNAME>\CONTACTS folder which wasnt there, and so created
a new one. Now in my User's Files folder there are two contacts folders. did
this with another app and created another documents folder.

So i thought, maybe i will create symlinks in the c:\users\username folder
for the contacts folder, documents etc. then redirect the folders back to the
c:\users location (but really the data was still on second drive becasue i
created the symlinks <thought that was crafty myself > BUT errored
saying i couldnt move to symlink. (it actually stated a proper term for a
symlink\junction but i cant remember that name right now )

So, what is the point of being able to move the location of the folder the
links/hardlinks/shell folder in the "users files" folder if it doesnt
redirect the other pointers to C:\users\username\folder as well? Poor by
design poor by installation?

Any ideas on how to redirect the folders entirely/achieve what i am trying
to do? andy information on the folder "User's files"? is it a Hardlink, shell
folder/component, something else? i think they are shell folders.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

What are the apps?

If the registry entries under:

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

have your redirected paths, you've done everything right and your app should
be "asking" Where the Contacts folder is, not assuming a default path.

 

[Guest]

Hello Keith, thanks for replying,

In particular Windows Live Messenger created the Contacts folder. In XP this
was not a folder, so Messenger would create it. I wonder if the programming
of the installer is not (excuse my terminology) "calling" the Contacts
folder, but "create"ing the folder. In this case wouldnt it /not/ check for
the already existing path, but just create a new one?

Perhaps that is the issue; however, if i could achieve a symlink as the
location folder, still in the C:\users folder, then i could get around even
that...or i would have to modify the junction/symlink for C:\Documents and
Settings and all the others to point to the same location as my location for
the shell folders i am redirecting. perhaps that is not necesssary. seems to
me that leaving the shell folders 'locations' in c: and having those folders
being able to be redirected would work better.

Last option would be to create an WIM for the system, and with an unattend
file, redirect the :\users folders to the seperate drive. not digging that
option, but would be a learning experience.

Flux Burner
_____________________________________________________________

What are the apps?

If the registry entries under:

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

have your redirected paths, you've done everything right and your app should
be "asking" Where the Contacts folder is, not assuming a default path.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

VI was glad to see that in the folder options of the 'User's Files'
folders
that you could change the locations. And I changed them all to my second
drive. This moved the folders from the C:\users\username folder to the new
location.

Then i installed an app that wanted to use one of the folders. It 'called'
to the C:\USERS\<USERNAME>\CONTACTS folder which wasnt there, and so
created
a new one. Now in my User's Files folder there are two contacts folders.
did
this with another app and created another documents folder.

So i thought, maybe i will create symlinks in the c:\users\username folder
for the contacts folder, documents etc. then redirect the folders back to
the
c:\users location (but really the data was still on second drive becasue i
created the symlinks <thought that was crafty myself > BUT errored
saying i couldnt move to symlink. (it actually stated a proper term for a
symlink\junction but i cant remember that name right now )

So, what is the point of being able to move the location of the folder the
links/hardlinks/shell folder in the "users files" folder if it doesnt
redirect the other pointers to C:\users\username\folder as well? Poor by
design poor by installation?

Any ideas on how to redirect the folders entirely/achieve what i am trying
to do? andy information on the folder "User's files"? is it a Hardlink,
shell
folder/component, something else? i think they are shell folders.

Thanks everyone!