Help Start Menu

[Guest]

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Joe,

Is the "Location" tab visible when you right-click the Pictures/Music link in the Start menu and choose Properties?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Chad Harris]

Why not post this in the Vista general group? It's not a setup question.

CH

 

[Guest]

Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

 

[Guest]

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

No probs.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Guest]

Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi,

See "Method 2: Using Registry Editor" in this article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/95/1/

In the registry key mentioned in that article, you can see/change where the shell folder paths are pointing to.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Guest]

Ramesh,

Thank you for your help - the link is very clearly presented.

I used regedit to set values back to their default settings and took it from
there. Under my user name, a couple of the folders - music and pictures were
not there so I created new folders and then pointed these at my data - it all
works perfectly.

One small pont though is that these newly created folders have a standard
buff coloured folder icon, as opposed to the original green icon. How can I
change the icon look back (I can not see the green icons in the standard icon
list)?

Regards

Rene

Hi,

See "Method 2: Using Registry Editor" in this article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/95/1/

In the registry key mentioned in that article, you can see/change where the shell folder paths are pointing to.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

:

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Rene,

The folder icons come from the desktop.ini file (which contains the IconFile and IconIndex references). See:

Shell folders are displayed with the standard folder icon in Windows Vista:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/130/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Thank you for your help - the link is very clearly presented.

I used regedit to set values back to their default settings and took it from
there. Under my user name, a couple of the folders - music and pictures were
not there so I created new folders and then pointed these at my data - it all
works perfectly.

One small pont though is that these newly created folders have a standard
buff coloured folder icon, as opposed to the original green icon. How can I
change the icon look back (I can not see the green icons in the standard icon
list)?

Regards

Rene

Hi,

See "Method 2: Using Registry Editor" in this article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/95/1/

In the registry key mentioned in that article, you can see/change where the shell folder paths are pointing to.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

:

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Guest]

Ramesh

Thanks - your link gives very clear background and codes but sadly, I have
spent some time without success trying to implement this albeit cosmetic
change without success.

I have cut and pasted your text into both Notepad and WordPad and saved it
as the appropriate desktop.ini file in the relevant folder – documents,
pictures, music. On re-booting nothing has changed.

Your link needs some further guidance notes please

Rene,

The folder icons come from the desktop.ini file (which contains the IconFile and IconIndex references). See:

Shell folders are displayed with the standard folder icon in Windows Vista:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/130/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Thank you for your help - the link is very clearly presented.

I used regedit to set values back to their default settings and took it from
there. Under my user name, a couple of the folders - music and pictures were
not there so I created new folders and then pointed these at my data - it all
works perfectly.

One small pont though is that these newly created folders have a standard
buff coloured folder icon, as opposed to the original green icon. How can I
change the icon look back (I can not see the green icons in the standard icon
list)?

Regards

Rene

Hi,

See "Method 2: Using Registry Editor" in this article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/95/1/

In the registry key mentioned in that article, you can see/change where the shell folder paths are pointing to.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

:

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

:

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Rene,

Two checkpoints here:

1. Make sure that the file you save does not have double extensions ("desktop.ini.txt")
2. Make sure that the "hidden" or "system" attribute is set for the "desktop.ini" file.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh

Thanks - your link gives very clear background and codes but sadly, I have
spent some time without success trying to implement this albeit cosmetic
change without success.

I have cut and pasted your text into both Notepad and WordPad and saved it
as the appropriate desktop.ini file in the relevant folder – documents,
pictures, music. On re-booting nothing has changed.

Your link needs some further guidance notes please

Rene,

The folder icons come from the desktop.ini file (which contains the IconFile and IconIndex references). See:

Shell folders are displayed with the standard folder icon in Windows Vista:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/130/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Thank you for your help - the link is very clearly presented.

I used regedit to set values back to their default settings and took it from
there. Under my user name, a couple of the folders - music and pictures were
not there so I created new folders and then pointed these at my data - it all
works perfectly.

One small pont though is that these newly created folders have a standard
buff coloured folder icon, as opposed to the original green icon. How can I
change the icon look back (I can not see the green icons in the standard icon
list)?

Regards

Rene

Hi,

See "Method 2: Using Registry Editor" in this article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/95/1/

In the registry key mentioned in that article, you can see/change where the shell folder paths are pointing to.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

:

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

:

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Guest]

Ramesh

I really do appreciate your time and advice. And I am so close to
perfection, actually it all works fine, so now I'm hung up on the cosmetics.
The Video folder is still buff - I have cut and pasted your text into wordpad
and made very sure to save it without a double extension. I am saving it
into the folder I am tying to chnge the look of i.e. Videos.

Still after a re-boot it is the same. In the desktop.ini file I have made
sure that the attribute is set to "hidden" but I'm not sure how to set the
"system" attribute for the "desktop.ini" file

Regards

Rene

Rene,

Two checkpoints here:

1. Make sure that the file you save does not have double extensions ("desktop.ini.txt")
2. Make sure that the "hidden" or "system" attribute is set for the "desktop.ini" file.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh

Thanks - your link gives very clear background and codes but sadly, I have
spent some time without success trying to implement this albeit cosmetic
change without success.

I have cut and pasted your text into both Notepad and WordPad and saved it
as the appropriate desktop.ini file in the relevant folder – documents,
pictures, music. On re-booting nothing has changed.

Your link needs some further guidance notes please

Rene,

standard buff coloured folder icon

The folder icons come from the desktop.ini file (which contains the IconFile and IconIndex references). See:

Shell folders are displayed with the standard folder icon in Windows Vista:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/130/1/

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh,

Thank you for your help - the link is very clearly presented.

I used regedit to set values back to their default settings and took it from
there. Under my user name, a couple of the folders - music and pictures were
not there so I created new folders and then pointed these at my data - it all
works perfectly.

One small pont though is that these newly created folders have a standard
buff coloured folder icon, as opposed to the original green icon. How can I
change the icon look back (I can not see the green icons in the standard icon
list)?

Regards

Rene

Hi,

See "Method 2: Using Registry Editor" in this article:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/95/1/

In the registry key mentioned in that article, you can see/change where the shell folder paths are pointing to.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi - I have exactly the same problem - what is the regedit respolution please?

:

problem solved through regedit - thanks anyway

:

Hi Mark,

Did you move the Pictures folder earlier to a removable drive and then disconnected the removable drive, by chance?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi Jo have you found a solution? I have the same problem but just with
pictures. it does not link to any fodler. I cant change location in
properties as the tab is not there. To the person who told jo to post
elsewhere, sorry but this is the only place i can find the same issue being
questioned. Cany anyone help figure out how to make the picture folder link
inthe start menu work again?

:

On the right panel of the start menu when i click on the pictures and music
link nothing happens. When i look in their properties there is no information
so they are not linked to the relevant file. How can i re link these again. I
can't do it through properties as there is no information in there.

 

[Don]

rene wrote:
.... In the desktop.ini file I have made

sure that the attribute is set to "hidden" but I'm not sure how to set the
"system" attribute for the "desktop.ini" file...

Interesting, the only way I can find to do it is to open
a command prompt (Shift-Right-Click on your Desktop and
pick Open Command Window Here) and type: 'attrib desktop.ini'
to list its attributes. You should see 'SH' but if you don't,
then type 'attrib +SH desktop.ini' to set them properly.

I see desktop.ini on my desktop even though it's 'hidden'.
That's because I have Explorer set to display hidden files
by default -- and that's exactly the way I want it. No hidden
files for me, thanks.

 

[Guest]

Don

Thanks and I did that and got SH. I also agree - I keep hidden files in
view. However, the videos folder is still a plain old buff icon instead of
how it should look. Not enough to make do another fresh install of Vista,
which btw I think looks and feels briliant but I do want to get to understand
this issue and get it sorted.

Regards

Rene

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Rene,

Is the icon fixed after setting the SH attributes for the desktop.ini file?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Don

Thanks and I did that and got SH. I also agree - I keep hidden files in
view. However, the videos folder is still a plain old buff icon instead of
how it should look. Not enough to make do another fresh install of Vista,
which btw I think looks and feels briliant but I do want to get to understand
this issue and get it sorted.

Regards

Rene

 

[Don]

Don
...However, the videos folder is still a plain old buff icon instead of
how it should look...

Sorry, I didn't read the whole thread. One of the truly confusing
things about Vista is the new feature called Junctions, which are
similar to Shortcuts, except that they are for the use of Vista only,
and not for your use, or mine.

So, why show Junctions in Explorer if you can't click on them to get
where you want to go? Beats me, but it's annoying because I keep
on trying and failing.

The other confusing new feature is the use of the word Desktop in
the left pane of Explorer -- this icon is not your Desktop at all and has
no connection to what is displayed on your Desktop, e.g. icons you
can click on to find your Videos.

What I'm gradually leading up to is: I don't know what you mean when
you refer to your 'videos folder'. Is it in your Start menu, on your
Desktop,
or something you see in Explorer (which might not be a real folder at
all)?

 

[Guest]

Ramesh

The icon is still standard buff colour. I did type: 'attrib desktop.ini'
and got 'A SH'. In the properties of the relevant desktop.ini file I have
set the attributes as hidden and left the read-only box un-checked.

The Videos folder I am talking about is in the user name folder 'Rene' which
is in 'Desktop' in explorer. This Videos folder points to the location
D:\Rene Data\Videos

I will be away for the rest ofthe weekend now but would appreciate picking
up this thread on my return if you are willing to try and see it through. If
you have an email address, I wouldbe happy to send some screen shots.

Have a good one

Rene

Rene,

Is the icon fixed after setting the SH attributes for the desktop.ini file?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Don

Thanks and I did that and got SH. I also agree - I keep hidden files in
view. However, the videos folder is still a plain old buff icon instead of
how it should look. Not enough to make do another fresh install of Vista,
which btw I think looks and feels briliant but I do want to get to understand
this issue and get it sorted.

Regards

Rene

rene wrote:
.... In the desktop.ini file I have made

Interesting, the only way I can find to do it is to open
a command prompt (Shift-Right-Click on your Desktop and
pick Open Command Window Here) and type: 'attrib desktop.ini'
to list its attributes. You should see 'SH' but if you don't,
then type 'attrib +SH desktop.ini' to set them properly.

I see desktop.ini on my desktop even though it's 'hidden'.
That's because I have Explorer set to display hidden files
by default -- and that's exactly the way I want it. No hidden
files for me, thanks.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Rene,

And then type:

attrib +r "D:\Rene Data\Videos"

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Ramesh

The icon is still standard buff colour. I did type: 'attrib desktop.ini'
and got 'A SH'. In the properties of the relevant desktop.ini file I have
set the attributes as hidden and left the read-only box un-checked.

The Videos folder I am talking about is in the user name folder 'Rene' which
is in 'Desktop' in explorer. This Videos folder points to the location
D:\Rene Data\Videos

I will be away for the rest ofthe weekend now but would appreciate picking
up this thread on my return if you are willing to try and see it through. If
you have an email address, I wouldbe happy to send some screen shots.

Have a good one

Rene

Rene,

Is the icon fixed after setting the SH attributes for the desktop.ini file?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Don

Thanks and I did that and got SH. I also agree - I keep hidden files in
view. However, the videos folder is still a plain old buff icon instead of
how it should look. Not enough to make do another fresh install of Vista,
which btw I think looks and feels briliant but I do want to get to understand
this issue and get it sorted.

Regards

Rene

rene wrote:
.... In the desktop.ini file I have made

Interesting, the only way I can find to do it is to open
a command prompt (Shift-Right-Click on your Desktop and
pick Open Command Window Here) and type: 'attrib desktop.ini'
to list its attributes. You should see 'SH' but if you don't,
then type 'attrib +SH desktop.ini' to set them properly.

I see desktop.ini on my desktop even though it's 'hidden'.
That's because I have Explorer set to display hidden files
by default -- and that's exactly the way I want it. No hidden
files for me, thanks.