"My Documents" are missing!

[Guest]

We have four users set up on our computer. I use it more than anyone and have
tons of documents. For some reason, something must have happened during the
last week or so and when I look in My Computer, My Documents..."My Documents"
File is empty! The documents files of the other three users are fine. I
checked Word and Excel, and all of my documents are still there.

Anybody have any ideas? My user name is password protected and I always log
off so it's not like somebody could have done something "inadvertently" to My
Documents File...and I know I didn't do anything.

Checked My Computer a little more...When I look in "Local Disk
C"...Documents and Settings...My user name...My Doc's-everything is there!

So...How could this have happened, and how do I fix it?
Thanks.

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Navigate to:

"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths"

In the right-hand pane, there should be a value with your username and its data should be the path
to your documents folder. Verify the info is correct, if not edit it. If the value does not exist,
create it.

 

[Guest]

You're brilliant, Keith! That was the problem...easy solution! Instead of my
name, it read "local service". How would that happen? Might it indicate a
bigger problem?
Big Thanks for your help!

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Navigate to:

"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths"

In the right-hand pane, there should be a value with your username and its data should be the path
to your documents folder. Verify the info is correct, if not edit it. If the value does not exist,
create it.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

We have four users set up on our computer. I use it more than anyone and have
tons of documents. For some reason, something must have happened during the
last week or so and when I look in My Computer, My Documents..."My Documents"
File is empty! The documents files of the other three users are fine. I
checked Word and Excel, and all of my documents are still there.

Anybody have any ideas? My user name is password protected and I always log
off so it's not like somebody could have done something "inadvertently" to My
Documents File...and I know I didn't do anything.

Checked My Computer a little more...When I look in "Local Disk
C"...Documents and Settings...My user name...My Doc's-everything is there!

So...How could this have happened, and how do I fix it?
Thanks.

 

[Rock]

We have four users set up on our computer. I use it more than anyone and
have
tons of documents. For some reason, something must have happened during
the
last week or so and when I look in My Computer, My Documents..."My
Documents"
File is empty! The documents files of the other three users are fine. I
checked Word and Excel, and all of my documents are still there.

Anybody have any ideas? My user name is password protected and I always
log
off so it's not like somebody could have done something "inadvertently" to
My
Documents File...and I know I didn't do anything.

Checked My Computer a little more...When I look in "Local Disk
C"...Documents and Settings...My user name...My Doc's-everything is there!

So...How could this have happened, and how do I fix it?

If another user of the computer has admin privileges on their account, then
it doesn't matter if your account has a password, they can view and delete
files on your account. It doesn't sound like that's the case here since you
can see the files but know that logging into an account with admin
privileges will give you access to the files on all the other accounts.

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

You're welcome. No idea how that would happen, however. Hope it stays put


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

You're brilliant, Keith! That was the problem...easy solution! Instead of my
name, it read "local service". How would that happen? Might it indicate a
bigger problem?
Big Thanks for your help!

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Navigate to:

"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths"

In the right-hand pane, there should be a value with your username and its data should be the
path
to your documents folder. Verify the info is correct, if not edit it. If the value does not
exist,
create it.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

We have four users set up on our computer. I use it more than anyone and have
tons of documents. For some reason, something must have happened during the
last week or so and when I look in My Computer, My Documents..."My Documents"
File is empty! The documents files of the other three users are fine. I
checked Word and Excel, and all of my documents are still there.

Anybody have any ideas? My user name is password protected and I always log
off so it's not like somebody could have done something "inadvertently" to My
Documents File...and I know I didn't do anything.

Checked My Computer a little more...When I look in "Local Disk
C"...Documents and Settings...My user name...My Doc's-everything is there!

So...How could this have happened, and how do I fix it?
Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Rock,
Good Point! It's been so long since these accounts were set up that I had
forgotten about administrators having the ability to access my files...glad
you reminded me!

I really wish there was another level of privileges other than administrator
and limited...one that allows a user to at least install software, but not
make other changes allowed in admin. My son gets so frustrated (as do I
because I have to do it) because he can't install his own stuff...like Sims
and Roller Coaster Tycoon. Likewise, my fiance had admin priviliges...but
really shouldn't!
Is there a way around this that I don't know about? i.e. a limited account
with the ability to install software. And, a way to really make "My
Documents" private if someone else has admin priviliges?