Vista - Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

How to Restore a Missing Personal User Folder in Vista

Information

This tutorial will show you how to restore a personal user folder if it has been deleted, in the wrong location, or is missing from your C:\Users\(user name) or Start menu location.

Tip

If you would like to change the personal user folder default location, then see: How to Change a Personal User Folder Location in Vista

Warning

If you have duplicate user folders instead, then you will need do METHOD THREE below, backup the contents of the duplicate user folders, delete the duplicate folders, do OPTION ONE. If the user folder is not back yet, then you may need to restart the computer a couple of times first before it does.

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders

EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders Start menu Location

OPTION ONE:
Using the Shell Command

Note

This can help open the user folder if it is just missing and not currupted.

1. Open the Start menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type in the Shell command for the missing Personal User folder and press Enter. (See screenshot below table)
NOTE: For example, I'm using the shell:My Music shell command for the Music personal user folder in this tutorial.
User Folder Shell Command
Contacts shell:Contacts
Desktop shell:desktop
Documents shell:Personal
Downloads shell:downloads
Favorites shell:Favorites
Links shell:Links
Music shell:My Music
Pictures shell:My Pictures
Saved Games shell:SavedGames
Searches shell:Searches
Videos shell:My Video

3. This should open the missing personal user folder from it's current location and replace it in the Start menu.
NOTE: Check to see if the personal user folder has returned to the Start menu or C:\Users\(user name) location. Sometimes a restart is needed. If the user folder did not return, then proceed to OPTION TWO below.

4. Your done.
NOTE: If the personal user folder has returned and it is a standard yellow folder instead of the greenish blue folder, then see: How to Fix a Personal User Shell Folder Displayed as a Standard Yellow Folder Icon in Vista

OPTION TWO:
Through the User Folder Properties

Note

This can help restore the default location of a user folder. If it does not help, then use OPTION THREE below.

1. Right click on the user folder that you want to restore the default location for and click on Properties.
NOTE: Do this from the C:\Users\(user name) location for the best results and not from the Start menu user folders.

2. Click on the Location tab. (See screenshot below step 3)
NOTE: If you do not have a Location tab, then this is not the correct user folder and is only a normal folder that has the same name as the user folder. You will most likely need to use OPTION THREE in this case instead.

3. Click on the Restore Default button and click on OK. (See screenshot below)

4. If you get this, then click on Yes. (See screenshot below)

5. Click on Yes. (See screenshot below)
WARNING: If you do not click on Yes, you will have two copies of the personal user folder in the main (user name) folder with one being as described in the NOTE under step 2.

OPTION THREE:
Through the Registry

Note

Try OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO above first. If they do not help, then do this option.

The Download Method:
1. To Restore Default Contacts Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Default_Contacts_Location.reg file.

2. To Restore Default Desktop Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Desktop_Default_Location.reg file.

3. To Restore Default Documents Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Documents_Default_Location.reg file.

4. To Restore Default Downloads Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Downloads_Default_Location.reg file.

5. To Restore Default Favorites Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Favorites_Default_Location.reg file.

6. To Restore Default Links Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Default_Links_Location.reg file.

7. To Restore Default Music Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Music_Default_Location.reg file.

8. To Restore Default Pictures Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Pictures_Default_Location.reg file.

9. To Restore Default Saved Games Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Default_Saved_Games_Location.reg file.

10. To Restore Default Searches Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Default_Searches_Location.reg file.

11. To Restore Default Videos Folder Location -
A) Click on the download button below to download the
Restore_Videos_Default_Location.reg file.

12. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

13. Right click on the .reg (On Desktop) file and click on Merge.

14. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

15. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

16. When done, you can delete the .reg file(s) (on Desktop) if you like.

17. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to restore the folder.
NOTE: Sometimes you may need to restart more than once for the changes to be applied.

The Manual Method:
1. Open the Start menu.

2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.

3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below 5)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
NOTE: You can see the default paths for the user folders under the Data column.

4. In the right pane, check to see if the missing personal user folder (under Name column) has the default %USERPROFILE% location (under Data column) for it.
NOTE: You can see all of the default locations in the screenshot below. If it does not have the default location, then proceed to step 5 to change it. If it does have the default location, then go to step 7.

5. In the right pane, right click on the personal user folder that is missing and click on Modify.

6. Type in the default location of the missing personal user folder, then click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: For example, %USERPROFILE%\Music.

7. Close regedit.

8. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to restore the folder.
NOTE: Sometimes you may need to restart more than once for the changes to be applied.

That's it,
Shawn

.

JessiePixie · 04-23-2008

Thank you for your User Shell Folder tutorials, but I am still having a problem here. This started with the problem that Vista seems to have with the folder icons turning yellow, (I assume this is a glitch). This is with the desktop user shell folder. I have managed to change the colour back, but in the process somewhere, (I'm not sure how) there seems to have been a duplicate made of the Desktop folder. There also seems to be a problem with my Music folder too. Is there a way I can reset all the folders to the locations they used to be?

**Brink** · 04-24-2008

Hi Jessie,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

You can try deleting all if your desktop folders, then use this turial here to recreate it.

It depends on what your problem is with your Music Folder, but you can try doing the Restore Default in step 5 of Methon One in this tutorial below to see if that can help it.

Personal User Shell Folders - Move Location

Shawn

kraeye · 05-01-2008

Hi, I'm having a problem with two shell folders, and tryed out this tutorial, but it didn't work. Maybe u know what I need to do to fix this?

1. I moved the folders: "my images" and "my videos" to D:\Users\Username\My Images.. using the change location function.
I did this to save space on my C:\ drive.

2. A bit later I wanted to dual boot Ubuntu(linux) on my laptop and when I was making my D:\ partition extended to make more partitions for linux I accidentaly formatted my D:\ drive losing al the data in my images and videos folders.

3. When I now try to open these folders nothing happens. The my images folder give a white paper icon and I even can't find the My video's folder anywhere.

note: My vista is in dutch. my images = afbeeldingen
my videos = video's
I tried both the dutch words and English words.

screens:

Is there something else I should do?
thx

SOLVED:

- After two reboots, the problem with the "my images folder" was solved. I had again a nice blue images folder, but still no sign of the video folder.

- After three reboots, the problem with the "my videos folder" was solved. Also with a nice blue folder.

I have no idea what, I did to solve the problem. Maybe the system needed some time to index the folder's location..??
Anyway, it's solved!

I guess rebooting 3 times can make miracles happen.

thx for your tutorial

**Brink** · 05-01-2008

Your welcome Kraeye, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Vista can be good as restoring it's system files automatically sometimes. It just may take a few restarts.

I'm glad to hear that you got it sorted.

Shawn

JessiePixie · 06-19-2008

Hi Shawn,
My music folder fixed itself, but the desktop folder is still not right. It's not actually affecting anything important, but it's still annoying knowing it's not right!!

The problem is that there are 2 folders, but one is inside the other, and it won't let me delete either of them, error message: "The action can't be completed because the folder is open in another program. Close the folder and try again."

How can I close the desktop!!?? Any ideas?

Thanks,

Jessie

**Brink** · 06-19-2008

Hi Jessie,

Use Option Two in this tutorial to make sure that the default location %USERPROFILE%\Desktop is set for the Desktop folder in the registry and restart the computer after the change.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

**Rangeboy** · 07-12-2008

Hello again shawn!
Yesterday I found out that the problem with my special folder was that I had pointed the folders to the root of a partition... But it wasn´t that easy to change back... I could´nt delete it, and if I renamed it, it changed the name of the partition. But I found a way somehow.
Now all works ok, but I just want to ask if you know if the key in the registry should be %USERPROFILE%\Music also when I have changed the locaton for that folder, or if i should say J:\Music (it says J:\Music now)?

Thanks again for you awesome help! Your fantastic!

Rangeboy

**Brink** · 07-12-2008

Hi Rangeboy,

The %USERPROFILE%\Music location should be there if you had it set to the default location. J:\Music is correct for the changed location of the new Music folder on J:\ .

I'm happy to hear that you got it all sorted out and working right now.

Shawn

mojopin85 · 07-12-2008

Hey,

I moved, and I think probably deleted, the Music, Pictures, Videos and Downloads folders.

I tried method 1, but when I type in any of the shell commands (e.g. shell:Music) nothing is found. I then tried method 2, but when I looked at the Registry information, all the information in the data column is exactly as it should be (e.g. for the pictures folder %USERPROFILE%\Pictures).

Can anyone help?

Thanks

In the registy window I replaced all the data for the files in question with the exact same data that was there, not really thinking it would change anything, then restarted the computer 4 or 5 times. Now the Music and Video folders are back, and are in there default locations! The downloads and Pictures folders are still nowhere to be found, not even using the shell:Pictures and shell:downloads mentioned in method one :S

04-23-2008
JessiePixie Vista Home Basic 32bit 2 posts	Re: Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder Thank you for your User Shell Folder tutorials, but I am still having a problem here. This started with the problem that Vista seems to have with the folder icons turning yellow, (I assume this is a glitch). This is with the desktop user shell folder. I have managed to change the colour back, but in the process somewhere, (I'm not sure how) there seems to have been a duplicate made of the Desktop folder. There also seems to be a problem with my Music folder too. Is there a way I can reset all the folders to the locations they used to be?
My System Specs

04-24-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 26,552 posts	Re: Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder Hi Jessie, Welcome to Vista Forums. You can try deleting all if your desktop folders, then use this turial here to recreate it. It depends on what your problem is with your Music Folder, but you can try doing the Restore Default in step 5 of Methon One in this tutorial below to see if that can help it. Personal User Shell Folders - Move Location Shawn
My System Specs

05-01-2008
kraeye Vista Home Premium 32bit SP1 1 posts	Re: Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder Hi, I'm having a problem with two shell folders, and tryed out this tutorial, but it didn't work. Maybe u know what I need to do to fix this? 1. I moved the folders: "my images" and "my videos" to D:\Users\Username\My Images.. using the change location function. I did this to save space on my C:\ drive. 2. A bit later I wanted to dual boot Ubuntu(linux) on my laptop and when I was making my D:\ partition extended to make more partitions for linux I accidentaly formatted my D:\ drive losing al the data in my images and videos folders. 3. When I now try to open these folders nothing happens. The my images folder give a white paper icon and I even can't find the My video's folder anywhere. note: My vista is in dutch. my images = afbeeldingen my videos = video's I tried both the dutch words and English words. screens: Is there something else I should do? thx SOLVED: - After two reboots, the problem with the "my images folder" was solved. I had again a nice blue images folder, but still no sign of the video folder. - After three reboots, the problem with the "my videos folder" was solved. Also with a nice blue folder. I have no idea what, I did to solve the problem. Maybe the system needed some time to index the folder's location..?? Anyway, it's solved! I guess rebooting 3 times can make miracles happen. thx for your tutorial Last edited by kraeye; 05-01-2008 at 05:41 AM..
My System Specs

05-01-2008
Brink Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate x64 26,552 posts	Re: Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder Your welcome Kraeye, and welcome to Vista Forums. Vista can be good as restoring it's system files automatically sometimes. It just may take a few restarts. I'm glad to hear that you got it sorted. Shawn
My System Specs

06-19-2008
JessiePixie Vista Home Basic 32bit 2 posts	Re: Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder Hi Shawn, My music folder fixed itself, but the desktop folder is still not right. It's not actually affecting anything important, but it's still annoying knowing it's not right!! The problem is that there are 2 folders, but one is inside the other, and it won't let me delete either of them, error message: "The action can't be completed because the folder is open in another program. Close the folder and try again." How can I close the desktop!!?? Any ideas? Thanks, Jessie
My System Specs

07-12-2008
Rangeboy Vista Home Premium 32bit 9 posts	Re: Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder Hello again shawn! Yesterday I found out that the problem with my special folder was that I had pointed the folders to the root of a partition... But it wasn´t that easy to change back... I could´nt delete it, and if I renamed it, it changed the name of the partition. But I found a way somehow. Now all works ok, but I just want to ask if you know if the key in the registry should be %USERPROFILE%\Music also when I have changed the locaton for that folder, or if i should say J:\Music (it says J:\Music now)? Thanks again for you awesome help! Your fantastic! Rangeboy
My System Specs

07-12-2008
mojopin85 Vista Ultimate 32bit 4 posts	Hey, I moved, and I think probably deleted, the Music, Pictures, Videos and Downloads folders. I tried method 1, but when I type in any of the shell commands (e.g. shell:Music) nothing is found. I then tried method 2, but when I looked at the Registry information, all the information in the data column is exactly as it should be (e.g. for the pictures folder %USERPROFILE%\Pictures). Can anyone help? Thanks In the registy window I replaced all the data for the files in question with the exact same data that was there, not really thinking it would change anything, then restarted the computer 4 or 5 times. Now the Music and Video folders are back, and are in there default locations! The downloads and Pictures folders are still nowhere to be found, not even using the shell:Pictures and shell:downloads mentioned in method one :S
My System Specs

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