|
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. |  | RELATED LINKS:EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders NOTE: 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.  
| METHOD ONE: |
|---|
| Through the Local Group Policy Editor |
NOTE | | This method is only available for the Vista Business, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions. See Method Two below for the Vista Home Basic and Home Premium editions. | | 1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
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.
| METHOD TWO: |
|---|
| Through the Registry |
NOTE | | This method will work for all Vista versions. | | Through a Download:1. To Allow User Profile Folders Location Change - A) Click on the download button below to download the
Allow_User_Folders_Location_Change.reg file.
B) Go to step 3.
2. To Prevent User Profile Folders Location Change - A) Click on the download button below to download the
Prevent_User_Folders_Location_Change.reg file.
3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.
4. Right click on the .reg file (on Desktop) and click on Merge.
5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).
The Manual Way: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 Change -A) 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: 25,934
Rep Power: 150 | |
Tutorial Tools | | |
Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
|  | |
