Vista - Duplicates of "Documents" Folder in Vista

I don't use forums much so I am sorry if this is in the wrong spot, but I have a fairly serious problem that I need help with.

I am running Windows Vista Ultimate x64, and I have a strange problem with the "Documents" folder. I noticed that all of the Files present in my Documents folder are also present in the "Users" directory. Along with them and a few hidden folders is a folder called "Mitch" (my windows logon name). Now, I know that there should be this folder in here, but why are all these other Documents files outside of it? When I go into Mitch there is another Documents folder (alongside Videos, Pictures, etc) which contains all of those same files. And in this one there is another Mitch containing another Documents containing these files again! However there is no Mitch folder inside this last one, so it isn't an infinitely recurring loop of shortcuts.

Now, you might think that these are just shortcuts, but I have checked and there are definitely three copies of these files taking up space on my computer.

Just to show that I've done the math and that they are not shortcuts:

C:\Users\Mitch\Documents\Mitch\Documents: 25.6GB
C:\Users\Mitch\Documents: 68.4GB
Everything Minus Mitch: 42.2GB
42.2 + 25.6 = 67.8
Therefore there are two sets of data here.
C:\Users: 177GB
Everything Minus Mitch: 25.8GB
25.8 + 82.8(Videos, Pictures, etc) + 68.4(Documents) = 177GB

I just edited a file in Documents(C:\Users\Mitch\Documents) it hasn't reflected the change in Users or the deeper copy. However if this problem is caused by a backup tool or something (I don't think I use any) then they might update later.

If anyone knows what is going on can you please help me. I am afraid to delete any of the copies, I'll have to wait until someone replies.

Thanks in advance...

Hi Mitch,
Yes. That is correct.
Before Vista, Windows used drive:documents & settings\user blaa blaa.
In Vista there is no "documents & settings" folder. Vista uses drive:\users\username\documents


John

"callmemitchs" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:a83029b364f61e55315b81a8a973fabd@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Thanks John, but you haven't really solved my problem. Can you tell me which ones I can safely delete and why there are these duplicates? I never created another Mitch folder inside my Documents folder, nor did I copy all these files to the Users folder.

Cheers.

Mitch,
I believe what you're seeing is called a junction point. They are the same files.
Create a test file and see if it appears in both folders.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point

John


"callmemitchs" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message news:bf94e4196cddacd16c91ca36748ddae1@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Hello Mitch,

You may be able to do this ti fix your problem:

1. Backup anything in these folders that you do not want to lose.

2. Verify that the default Documents (called Personal in registry) folder location is set for it in the registry. OPTION THREE in this tutorial will help show you how to.

Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder

3. Delete all of the Documents folders.

4. In the Start menu, type "shell:Personal" (no quotes) in the search line and press enter.

5. Restart the computer. You may need to do this a couple of times.

6. When the folder returns, copy any backup files back to the now only Documents folder.


Hope this helps,
Shawn