| User Profile Folders - Prevent or Allow Location Change
How to Prevent or Allow User Profile Folders Location Change in Vista  Information This will show you how to allow or prevent the default locations of the C:\ Users\(user name) Personal User folders from being changed for all user accounts on the computer. These are the Contacts, Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Favorites, Links, Music, Pictures, Save Games, Searches, and Videos folders.  Note This is allowed by default in Vista. EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile FoldersNOTE: Location is at C:\Users\(User Name)
EXAMPLE: Music Folder Properties Set to Allow and Prevent Location Change NOTE: When prevented the Target location field is still there, but you cannot change it.  
OPTION ONE
Through the Local Group Policy Editor 1. Open the all users, specific users or groups, or all users except administrators Local Group Policy Editor for how you want this policy applied.
2. In the left pane, click on User Configuration, Administrative Templates, and Desktop. (See screenshot below)
3. In the right pane, right click on Prohibit User from Manually redirecting Profile Folders and click on Properties. (See screenshot above)
4. To Allow User Profile Folders Location Change - A) Select (dot) Disabled or Not Configured and click on OK. (See screenshot below step 5A)
B) Go to step 6.
5. To Prevent User Profile Folders Location Change - A) Select (dot) Enabled and click on OK.
6. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window. Your done.
OPTION TWO
Using a REG File Download 1. To Allow User Profile Folders Location ChangeA) Click on the Download button below to download the file below. Allow_User_Folders_Location_Change.reg
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Prevent User Profile Folders Location Change A) Click on the Download button below to download the file below.Prevent_User_Folders_Location_Change.reg
3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.
5. Click on Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
6. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
OPTION THREE
Manually in Registry Editor 1. Open the Start Menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. Click the Continue button for the UAC prompt.
4. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
5. To Prevent User Profile Folders Location ChangeA) In the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32-bit) Value. (See screenshot above)
B) Type DisablePersonalDirChange and press Enter.
C) Right click on DisablePersonalDirChange and click on Modify. (See screenshot below)
D) Type 1 and click on OK. (See screenshot below) 
E) The registry will now look like this. (See screenshot below)
F) Go to step 7.
6. To Allow User Profile Folders Location Change A) In the right pane, right click on DisablePersonalDirChange and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Click on Yes to confirm deletion.
7. Close regedit.
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 29,564 | |
Tutorial Tools | | |
Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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