Relocating/redirecting documents - curiosity question

[Ken Springer]

Know how, know what's happening, etc.

What I've noticed, when you relocate some folders from your personal
folder from C:\ to another location, ?:\, Win7 comes right behind you
and creates a new folder with a similar name. I.E., move My Documents,
and Win7 creates a Documents folder in the original location. The same
happens for Pictures, Music, and Videos.

Does anyone know why? My speculation/suspicion is the new folders are
for some kind of compatibility reasons with older software.

On my friend's computer, I noticed she has two folders in her personal
folder that are not created by Windows. Just wondering how common that
might be.



--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 19.0.2
Thunderbird 17.0.4
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2

 

[Wolf K]

Know how, know what's happening, etc.

What I've noticed, when you relocate some folders from your personal
folder from C:\ to another location, ?:\, Win7 comes right behind you
and creates a new folder with a similar name. I.E., move My Documents,
and Win7 creates a Documents folder in the original location. The same
happens for Pictures, Music, and Videos.

Does anyone know why? My speculation/suspicion is the new folders are
for some kind of compatibility reasons with older software.

On my friend's computer, I noticed she has two folders in her personal
folder that are not created by Windows. Just wondering how common that
might be.

My Documents etc are built-in folders. They are the default storage
folders for any application written using MS's defaults, so Windows
recreates them if you manage to move or delete them. Most programmers
will use these defaults because then they don't have to write extra code.

However, there's serious issue with automatic storage to preset folders.
These folders reside on the system drive/partition, so if Windows is
compromised, you will probably lose precious data. You have apparently
recognised this, and have moved My Documents etc elsewhere.

I have lost data in the past, I haven't used built-in storage folders
for years. I create my own folder tress on a separate drive, and set all
my applications to store data there. I reject applications that don't
allow this. I don't use Libraries for a similar reason. From time to
time I check My Documents etc just in case something has ended up there
despite my efforts to prevent it.

I also regularly back up data to an external drive. The newer ones come
with point'n'click software to set up whatever back-up plan suits you. I
strongly urge you to buy one. Locally, a 1TB drive is available for
$100. Cheap insurance IMO.

FWIW, I think a single partition for system, programs, and data is dumb
idea. Windows should come with two partitions. And considering how
cheap HDDs have become, every system should come with an external HDD.
Sure, it's less convenient, but data is far more important than convenience.

Have good day,

 

[John Williamson]

My Documents etc are built-in folders. They are the default storage
folders for any application written using MS's defaults, so Windows
recreates them if you manage to move or delete them. Most programmers
will use these defaults because then they don't have to write extra code.

If you use the built in Windows tools to move them to another location,
then a correctly written program will have all its calls to them
transparently redirected to the new location. This has been possible
since XP hit the shelves. The "My Documents" folder on all my machines
is on the D: drive, and shows up both there (As D:\My Documents) in
Explorer and as the target of the default shortcut.

All it took to set this up was to right click on the Ny Documents folder
and select the "move" option, after I had created a "My Documents"
folder on D:\.

However, there's serious issue with automatic storage to preset folders.
These folders reside on the system drive/partition, so if Windows is
compromised, you will probably lose precious data. You have apparently
recognised this, and have moved My Documents etc elsewhere.

I have lost data in the past, I haven't used built-in storage folders
for years. I create my own folder tress on a separate drive, and set all
my applications to store data there. I reject applications that don't
allow this. I don't use Libraries for a similar reason. From time to
time I check My Documents etc just in case something has ended up there
despite my efforts to prevent it.

"C:\......\My Documents" and the other MyXXXXXX folders don't even exist
on my computers. The shortcuts all point to D:\MyXXXXXXX

I also regularly back up data to an external drive. The newer ones come
with point'n'click software to set up whatever back-up plan suits you. I
strongly urge you to buy one. Locally, a 1TB drive is available for
$100. Cheap insurance IMO.

Yup, and if you have a friend you can trust, leave the drive at his
place between backups. You could do the same for him, then you'd both
have an off site backup.

FWIW, I think a single partition for system, programs, and data is dumb
idea. Windows should come with two partitions. And considering how
cheap HDDs have become, every system should come with an external HDD.
Sure, it's less convenient, but data is far more important than
convenience.

If I could afford a dual spindle laptop, I'd buy one....

 

[Ken Springer]

My Documents etc are built-in folders. They are the default storage
folders for any application written using MS's defaults, so Windows
recreates them if you manage to move or delete them. Most programmers
will use these defaults because then they don't have to write extra code.

If I'm correctly reading your post, this is incorrect.

Relocate My Documents, My Whatever, to a new location. Let's say
D:\A_New_Location. For the programs I've tried, if it defaults to My
Documents, the file that is saved is in D:\A_New_Location, not on C:\Drive.

The new folders that are created are not called My Documents, My
Whatever, but simply Documents and Whatever.

However, there's serious issue with automatic storage to preset folders.
These folders reside on the system drive/partition, so if Windows is
compromised, you will probably lose precious data. You have apparently
recognised this, and have moved My Documents etc elsewhere.

Yep. So, when I rebuild someone's computer for them, I partition
and redirect the folders. That way, the user doesn't see any real
difference in the computer's operation unless he looks closely, and his
data is preserved. I also turn off System Restore for the
drive/partition that has his data.

I have lost data in the past, I haven't used built-in storage folders
for years. I create my own folder tress on a separate drive, and set all
my applications to store data there. I reject applications that don't
allow this. I don't use Libraries for a similar reason.

I haven't tested things to see what happens if the Library file is
scrambled or deleted, but logically the data in the folders wouldn't be
disturbed.

From time to
time I check My Documents etc just in case something has ended up there
despite my efforts to prevent it.

Browsers and Downloads are my biggest PITA for this. I've occasionally
run across a download that gets sent to the default Downloads folder
rather than being asked where I want to download to go.

I also regularly back up data to an external drive. The newer ones come
with point'n'click software to set up whatever back-up plan suits you. I
strongly urge you to buy one. Locally, a 1TB drive is available for
$100. Cheap insurance IMO.

My Mac came with Time Machine, and it currently backs up to a 3TB drive.
But, I don't really care all that much for TM, just haven't taken the
time to research something different.

FWIW, I think a single partition for system, programs, and data is dumb
idea. Windows should come with two partitions. And considering how
cheap HDDs have become, every system should come with an external HDD.
Sure, it's less convenient, but data is far more important than convenience.

I'd do different that this, these days. Small internal SSD for boot
purposes only. But, large enough to accommodate installing 3 OS's of
whatever combo you want. Then, a 2nd internal mechanical drive for your
data. That's the way I'm building my Win 7 machine. Sadly, the
motherboard was DOA, so I'm waiting for the replacement.

--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 19.0.2
Thunderbird 17.0.4
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2

 

[mick]

If I'm correctly reading your post, this is incorrect.

Relocate My Documents, My Whatever, to a new location. Let's say
D:\A_New_Location. For the programs I've tried, if it defaults to My
Documents, the file that is saved is in D:\A_New_Location, not on C:\Drive.

The new folders that are created are not called My Documents, My Whatever,
but simply Documents and Whatever.


Yep. So, when I rebuild someone's computer for them, I partition and
redirect the folders. That way, the user doesn't see any real difference in
the computer's operation unless he looks closely, and his data is preserved.
I also turn off System Restore for the drive/partition that has his data.


I haven't tested things to see what happens if the Library file is scrambled
or deleted, but logically the data in the folders wouldn't be disturbed.


Browsers and Downloads are my biggest PITA for this. I've occasionally run
across a download that gets sent to the default Downloads folder rather than
being asked where I want to download to go.

Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, My Documents, My Pictures, My Music and
My Videos are all on my D drive. I cannot remember the last time I had
to go to the C drive to do anything and all downloads automatically go
to D:\Downloads without any prompting. As long as you MOVED the
folders from C to D those folders are not in C:\Users anymore

 

[Mike Barnes]

Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, My Documents, My Pictures, My Music and
My Videos are all on my D drive. I cannot remember the last time I had
to go to the C drive to do anything and all downloads automatically go
to D:\Downloads without any prompting. As long as you MOVED the
folders from C to D those folders are not in C:\Users anymore

I *moved* the folders from C to D a couple of years ago, but when (in
response to this thread) I go to look at C:\Users\Me, I find that
identically-named but empty folders have appeared there. I think this is
the point that the OP was making.

I suspect Windows Update, which has a habit of reinstalling objects that
the user has moved or deleted. For instance a recent WU created an IE
shortcut on my taskbar.

 

[mick]

I *moved* the folders from C to D a couple of years ago, but when (in
response to this thread) I go to look at C:\Users\Me, I find that
identically-named but empty folders have appeared there. I think this is
the point that the OP was making.

I suspect Windows Update, which has a habit of reinstalling objects that
the user has moved or deleted. For instance a recent WU created an IE
shortcut on my taskbar.

I find that strange as I have never had those folders 're-create'
themselves in C:\users\
I am well into 2 years probably 3 with win 7 on this computer, I do all
the updates, have many varied programs but nothing like that has
happened. After updating to IE10 from IE9 with windows update I had to
type in the search bar to find it then pin it to the task bar manually.

 

[Ken Springer]

I *moved* the folders from C to D a couple of years ago, but when (in
response to this thread) I go to look at C:\Users\Me, I find that
identically-named but empty folders have appeared there. I think this is
the point that the OP was making.

I suspect Windows Update, which has a habit of reinstalling objects that
the user has moved or deleted. For instance a recent WU created an IE
shortcut on my taskbar.

Correct, Mike.

It's not Windows Update. I was watching the different windows as the
files were being relocated. The duplicate folders were created immediately.


--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 19.0.2
Thunderbird 17.0.4
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2

 

[mick]

I *moved* the folders from C to D a couple of years ago, but when (in
response to this thread) I go to look at C:\Users\Me, I find that
identically-named but empty folders have appeared there. I think this is
the point that the OP was making.

I suspect Windows Update, which has a habit of reinstalling objects that
the user has moved or deleted. For instance a recent WU created an IE
shortcut on my taskbar.

I think I may have got this wrong. I perhaps did not use the move to
folder function from the context menu. I recall now that I right
clicked on the folder in C:\Users went to properties then the location
tab and used move from there.

 

[Mike Barnes]

I think I may have got this wrong. I perhaps did not use the move to
folder function from the context menu.

I think the method I used was Ctrl-X/Ctrl-V in Explorer. BICBW.

I recall now that I right clicked on the folder in C:\Users went to
properties then the location tab and used move from there.

Interestingly my identically-named-but-empty folders don't have a
Location tab in Properties. They're just ordinary folders.

 

[Robin Bignall]

I think I may have got this wrong. I perhaps did not use the move to
folder function from the context menu. I recall now that I right
clicked on the folder in C:\Users went to properties then the location
tab and used move from there.

How does one do this? I used 'move' in that fashion to move my desktop
to d:. It's vanished from c: and I can't find it on d:. I have hidden
and system files displayed. If I try to move anything else it asks if I
want to move them to system file 'desktop' on d:. Something weird has
happened because I can't find 'desktop' on d:.

 

[mick]

How does one do this? I used 'move' in that fashion to move my desktop
to d:. It's vanished from c: and I can't find it on d:. I have hidden
and system files displayed. If I try to move anything else it asks if I
want to move them to system file 'desktop' on d:. Something weird has
happened because I can't find 'desktop' on d:.

The Desktop is a bit quirky IMO, have a look in the Public Folders on C
for it. Re create it on C:\Users\...... Add the Icons from The Public
Desktop then transfer it by using properties/location. You will perhaps
find a few icons missing so you might have to go in your programs
folder and use send to desktop.
On D:\ I have a folder called Mick, in that folder are the system
folders from C:\Users\Mick. That is Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, My
Documents, My Pictures, My Music and My Videos which are all on my D
drive. The only other ones that you can take from C:\Users\Mick to
D:\Mick are Links, Saved Games and Searches.
App Data, Contacts and Public stay on C:\Users\Mick
Those folders that you want to move (reassign? to D are identifiable
by right clicking on the folder and choose properties. If the location
tab shows in the window then you can move the folders from C to D, if
there is no location tab then those system folders have to stay on C

 

[Ken Springer]

I think the method I used was Ctrl-X/Ctrl-V in Explorer. BICBW.


Interestingly my identically-named-but-empty folders don't have a
Location tab in Properties. They're just ordinary folders.

Same here.

So, no one has an idea why these other folders appear?



--
Ken

Mac OS X 10.8.3
Firefox 19.0.2
Thunderbird 17.0.4
LibreOffice 4.0.1.2

 

[Robin Bignall]

The Desktop is a bit quirky IMO, have a look in the Public Folders on C
for it. Re create it on C:\Users\...... Add the Icons from The Public
Desktop then transfer it by using properties/location. You will perhaps
find a few icons missing so you might have to go in your programs
folder and use send to desktop.
On D:\ I have a folder called Mick, in that folder are the system
folders from C:\Users\Mick. That is Desktop, Downloads, Favorites, My
Documents, My Pictures, My Music and My Videos which are all on my D
drive. The only other ones that you can take from C:\Users\Mick to
D:\Mick are Links, Saved Games and Searches.
App Data, Contacts and Public stay on C:\Users\Mick
Those folders that you want to move (reassign? to D are identifiable
by right clicking on the folder and choose properties. If the location
tab shows in the window then you can move the folders from C to D, if
there is no location tab then those system folders have to stay on C

Thanks, mick, I've printed this out for perusal later. What I did was
with c:\users\robin...\ desktop \properties\location to move it to d:.
I've been using Windows for donkey's years like everybody else but never
had occasion to MOVE a file as opposed to COPYing it. I expected
Windows to move the desktop folder to d: and create some sort of link so
Windows knows where it is. What actually happened was that Windows
moved the *contents* of desktop to d: and then created a desktop pointer
to point to d:.
When I rebooted, the desktop was the contents of d: -- 13,000-odd
folders and files. Not exactly the desired result!
I re-created the system using a backup from just before the move and all
is well, but I need to do some reading!