Redirecting "My Documents" folder

[karnivore]

The other day, I was reading a book on XP Registry when I came across this tweak and felt like sharing it with you guys. I am sure, many would agree, that it is a really useful tweak.


Redirecting My Documents to a non-system drive is a very logical choice, because in the event of system crashes or re-installation of OS, data in My Documents folder won’t be lost forever. In fact I am yet to come across someone who has been using computer for a very long time, but never had to face the trauma of a system crash or never needed a reinstallation of O/S for whatever reasons. So you need to back up your data either on a non-system drive or a cd-rw. For notebook users, specially those old ones, like mine, space is something to die for. Redirection will also save space in the sense that you don’t have to back up your data on a non-system drive anymore, because this whole folder, itself, will be on this drive.


However, before proceeding, back up the following key:
HKCurrentUser\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVe rsion\Explorer\User Shell Folders.

To back-up just navigate to the key, then File> Export> “Name”> Save.

In case you mess up or want to revert to your old “My Documents” folder, simply import this key.


I am sure that many of the advanced users are well aware of this tweak, still here goes my tiny effort.


01. Go to a non-system drive, ie. the drive where your o/s is not installed, and create a folder called “My Documents” and in it create other folders like “My Videos” and “My Pictures”. Don’t have to create “My Music”.


02. Navigate to the key:
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\User Shell Folders


03. To the right will be the list of special folders. Now navigate to “Personal”, to edit the location of My Documents.


04. Double- click on it and a dialog-box will open. Type the location of the new “My Documents”, you created just now, and click ok.


05. Do the same for “My Videos” and “My Pictures.” Type their respective paths.


06. Now Reboot.


07. From now on this new redirected “My Document” will become default. The shortcut on desktop or start menu will all open this folder and not the previous one. Also “My Music” folder will be automatically created in your new redirected My Documents folder. I suggest you hide this folder to prevent accidental deletion, because, mind you, this is not a system generated folder and is not protected just like your original My Document folder.


Note:
If you already have data in your default “My Documents”, these won’t be transferred automatically to your new redirected “My Documents.” You have to do it manually. The icons will not be there. So you have to customize the folders for the icons.


Also, back up this key after you are done tweaking.


What this tweak does is, tell the System where to look for the default Folder. Your old My Documents folder stays where it is, with its pre-loaded data.


SOURCE: Microsoft Windows XP Registry Guide, written by, Jerry Honeycutt.


If you like it let me know. If you don't like it, you are still welcome to trash it.

[koolbluez]

Didn't read that $hit.. but isn't it as easy as a right-click My Documents & in Properties, set Target Folder Location to our choice

[amitava82]

Originally Posted by koolbluez

Didn't read that $hit.. but isn't it as easy as a right-click My Documents & in Properties, set Target Folder Location to our choice

Exactly..

[karnivore]

Yep............its the same, but a lot geeky. Also there are other Special Folders which can only be redirected by tweaking the registry.