Windows Vista Forums

"Documents" folder hidden
  1. #1


    Bob L. Guest

    "Documents" folder hidden

    I moved “Documents” and “Downloads” to another partition using Location|
    Move, etc. Before doing these 2 moves, I created 2 new folders on the new
    partition named “Documents” and “Downloads”. My problem is that after the
    moves (I said Yes to move all files) the Documents folder on the new
    partition disappeared, i.e. it became a hidden system file while the
    “Downloads” folder changed on the new partition to a green folder with all
    the files in it. If I then do a file open in Word 2003, the “My Places”
    pane on the left pane of the dialog box no longer includes a green documents
    folder. Instead, it has a manila folder named “My Documents”. If I select
    it and then “Add it” to “my places” a correct Green documents folder shows
    up, however, I cannot then remove the manila “My documents” folder.



    Can someone help me get the “documents” folder working properly? I have
    tried restoring defaults and doing it again but with no luck.


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Keith Miller \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    Open the registry editor by typing 'regedit' in the Start Search box.

    Navigate to:

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
    Shell Folders]

    In the right pane, edit the path found for 'Personal' so that it points to
    your new Documents folder.


    --
    Good Luck,

    Keith
    Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



    "Bob L." <BobL@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:0A9467CF-3E5C-4AE1-9155-6C67D508CD78@xxxxxx

    >I moved “Documents” and “Downloads” to another partition using Location|
    > Move, etc. Before doing these 2 moves, I created 2 new folders on the new
    > partition named “Documents” and “Downloads”. My problem is that after the
    > moves (I said Yes to move all files) the Documents folder on the new
    > partition disappeared, i.e. it became a hidden system file while the
    > “Downloads” folder changed on the new partition to a green folder with all
    > the files in it. If I then do a file open in Word 2003, the “My Places”
    > pane on the left pane of the dialog box no longer includes a green
    > documents
    > folder. Instead, it has a manila folder named “My Documents”. If I
    > select
    > it and then “Add it” to “my places” a correct Green documents folder shows
    > up, however, I cannot then remove the manila “My documents” folder.
    >
    > Can someone help me get the “documents” folder working properly? I have
    > tried restoring defaults and doing it again but with no luck.
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    Bob L. Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    Keith Miller (MVP) wrote:

    > Open the registry editor by typing 'regedit' in the Start Search box.
    >
    > Navigate to:
    >
    > [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
    > Shell Folders]
    >
    > In the right pane, edit the path found for 'Personal' so that it points
    > to your new Documents folder.
    >
    >
    Keith,
    Thanks for the quick reply. When I did the move, I left the folder I
    created on the new "E" partition as just "New Folder". The path for
    'personal' per your instructions says "E:\New Folder" which seems
    correct? Is there something else I can do?

    Bob L.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Keith Miller \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    Make sure Explorer is set to show both hidden & system files.

    Check the folder for a desktop.ini file. It should have the following
    contents:


    [.ShellClassInfo]
    LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
    IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
    IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
    IconIndex=-235


    If it doesn't exist, copy the above into notepad and save in the folder as
    'desktop.ini'

    Open a command prompt window, and type:

    e:<enter>
    attrib -s "New Folder"<enter>
    attrib -h "New Folder"<enter>
    attrib +r "New Folder"<enter>


    --
    Good Luck,

    Keith
    Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



    "Bob L." <ReplyToGroup@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:uKvWs%236hIHA.3780@xxxxxx

    > Keith Miller (MVP) wrote:

    >> Open the registry editor by typing 'regedit' in the Start Search box.
    >>
    >> Navigate to:
    >>
    >> [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
    >> Shell Folders]
    >>
    >> In the right pane, edit the path found for 'Personal' so that it points
    >> to your new Documents folder.
    >>
    >>
    > Keith,
    > Thanks for the quick reply. When I did the move, I left the folder I
    > created on the new "E" partition as just "New Folder". The path for
    > 'personal' per your instructions says "E:\New Folder" which seems correct?
    > Is there something else I can do?
    >
    > Bob L.

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Bob L. Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    Keith,
    I unhid system files and, yes, there is a desktop.ini file with the
    contents you listed in my folder (the file on the E drive is now named
    "Documents" rather than new folder as last night I tried doing the move
    over again and this time started with a folder named "Documents"). When
    I run each of the attrib commands, however, I get the following:


    C:\Users\Bob>e:

    E:\>attrib -s "Documents"
    Not resetting hidden file - E:\Documents

    E:\>attrib -h "Documents"
    Not resetting system file - E:\Documents

    E:\>attrib +r "Documents"
    Not resetting hidden file - E:\Documents

    I then copied the contents of the desktop.ini file to the clipboard,
    deleted the desktop.ini file and created a new one from the clipboard.
    Same thing happens when I try the attrib commands.

    Am I doing something wrong?

    Thanks again for your help,
    Bob L.








    Keith Miller (MVP) wrote:

    > Make sure Explorer is set to show both hidden & system files.
    >
    > Check the folder for a desktop.ini file. It should have the following
    > contents:
    >
    >
    > [.ShellClassInfo]
    > LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
    > IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
    > IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
    > IconIndex=-235
    >
    >
    > If it doesn't exist, copy the above into notepad and save in the folder
    > as 'desktop.ini'
    >
    > Open a command prompt window, and type:
    >
    > e:<enter>
    > attrib -s "New Folder"<enter>
    > attrib -h "New Folder"<enter>
    > attrib +r "New Folder"<enter>
    >
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Keith Miller \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    Sorry, I just tested & you have to clear them together:

    attrib -s -h Documents (you only need quotes if there is a space in the
    name)


    --
    Good Luck,

    Keith
    Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



    "Bob L." <ReplyToGroup@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:uOulaEEiIHA.4844@xxxxxx

    > Keith,
    > I unhid system files and, yes, there is a desktop.ini file with the
    > contents you listed in my folder (the file on the E drive is now named
    > "Documents" rather than new folder as last night I tried doing the move
    > over again and this time started with a folder named "Documents"). When I
    > run each of the attrib commands, however, I get the following:
    >
    >
    > C:\Users\Bob>e:
    >
    > E:\>attrib -s "Documents"
    > Not resetting hidden file - E:\Documents
    >
    > E:\>attrib -h "Documents"
    > Not resetting system file - E:\Documents
    >
    > E:\>attrib +r "Documents"
    > Not resetting hidden file - E:\Documents
    >
    > I then copied the contents of the desktop.ini file to the clipboard,
    > deleted the desktop.ini file and created a new one from the clipboard.
    > Same thing happens when I try the attrib commands.
    >
    > Am I doing something wrong?
    >
    > Thanks again for your help,
    > Bob L.
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > Keith Miller (MVP) wrote:

    >> Make sure Explorer is set to show both hidden & system files.
    >>
    >> Check the folder for a desktop.ini file. It should have the following
    >> contents:
    >>
    >>
    >> [.ShellClassInfo]
    >> LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21770
    >> IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
    >> IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
    >> IconIndex=-235
    >>
    >>
    >> If it doesn't exist, copy the above into notepad and save in the folder
    >> as 'desktop.ini'
    >>
    >> Open a command prompt window, and type:
    >>
    >> e:<enter>
    >> attrib -s "New Folder"<enter>
    >> attrib -h "New Folder"<enter>
    >> attrib +r "New Folder"<enter>
    >>

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    Bob L. Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    FANTASTIC!! Fixed problems in Explorer! The "Favorite places" Pane in
    Word 2003 is still screwed up though, even after doing a reboot just to
    be sure that wasn't it. Any idea why or should I try getting help from
    an office discussion group now?

    Thanks again!
    Bob L.


    Keith Miller (MVP) wrote:

    > Sorry, I just tested & you have to clear them together:
    >
    > attrib -s -h Documents (you only need quotes if there is a space in the
    > name)
    >
    >

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    Keith Miller \(MVP\) Guest

    Re: "Documents" folder hidden

    I'm not sure about Word 2003, so you might want to ask in an Office group.
    I'm not sure how Word populates the places bar.

    --
    Good Luck,

    Keith
    Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]



    "Bob L." <ReplyToGroup@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    news:eOHKcYFiIHA.3556@xxxxxx

    > FANTASTIC!! Fixed problems in Explorer! The "Favorite places" Pane in
    > Word 2003 is still screwed up though, even after doing a reboot just to be
    > sure that wasn't it. Any idea why or should I try getting help from an
    > office discussion group now?
    >
    > Thanks again!
    > Bob L.
    >
    >
    > Keith Miller (MVP) wrote:

    >> Sorry, I just tested & you have to clear them together:
    >>
    >> attrib -s -h Documents (you only need quotes if there is a space in the
    >> name)
    >>

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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