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| Thread ID: 45260 | 2004-05-16 05:51:00 | Changing default XP My Documents settings ? | lrollo (2377) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 236910 | 2004-05-16 05:51:00 | It is reasonably easy to change the default My Documents settings in Explorer to open the file manager in the root directory. However most non-Microsoft third party programs, when their browser buttons are invoked, open in My Documents. Is there a registry, or other entry, that allows one to set the default file opening to the root directory , or to my computer, or the a preferred drive and directory? |
lrollo (2377) | ||
| 236911 | 2004-05-16 06:41:00 | Hi, you can set this by using TweakUI which is part of the PowerToys for Windows XP available on the May PCW CD. This can also be downloaded from MS if you dont get the magazine. Start TweakUI, and navigate to the MyComputer|Special Folders category then select My Documents from the drop down and amend its location. This changes the registry setting for this folder and other applications should be redirected to this new location. You may have to reboot for it to take effect. regards parry. |
parry (27) | ||
| 236912 | 2004-05-16 07:23:00 | You can also do it on XP through Windows Explorer > My Documents > Properties and move the Target. | Sergio (928) | ||
| 236913 | 2004-05-16 22:08:00 | Neither reply to my query solved the problem. I want third-party programs NOT to open at My Documents. For example, if you invoke File/Open in Acrobat the browser opens at MY Documents. I want to be able to make it, aand all other non-Miscrosoft prorams, to open at the C: root directory. Any more suggestions ? |
lrollo (2377) | ||
| 236914 | 2004-05-16 22:23:00 | I haven't got anything to try it on at the moment but if you create a shortcut either on your Desktop or within the Start Menu to the program and in the Properties' "Start in" field put: C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /n,/e,C:\ Note that I am not entirely sure that is the correct path but if it doesn't work then experiment with similar target paths. I might also be way off base, in which case you can ignore the above advice, but at least it might jolt other people's memories to provide the correct solution. ;-) |
Susan B (19) | ||
| 236915 | 2004-05-16 22:23:00 | It works for me. Taking Acrobat Reader as an example, with a relocated "My Documents" pointer done under TweakUI, it now opens at my choice of a directory under C: While it thinks its looking at "My Documents" in reality its opening exactly where I want it to. The "My Documents" folder is not relocated or anywhere in the picture, it just uses a My Documents reference to point to your new location. What does not work for you? |
godfather (25) | ||
| 236916 | 2004-05-17 03:51:00 | Just to make it clear for everyone. You want other Third party programs to point to a location that you specify, but still want Word et c to point to the My documents Location. It is actually easier to do it the other way around. Right click My Docs and select target and move target. Point this to where you want the third party apps to find their documents, then under the Tools->options on the MS Programs you want to use point that to your folder of choice. If that is not what you want at all, then you need to use the options within each third party app to change the "Default Folder Location." |
Wayne H (1736) | ||
| 236917 | 2004-05-17 03:55:00 | Any body got an Un-Post option 'cause my last post was a waste of space, because that got answered earlier by saying it did not work. | Wayne H (1736) | ||
| 236918 | 2004-05-17 09:24:00 | Wayne: You are right. I do want non-Microsoft File/Open Browser to open in a location of my choice. I don't use Microsoft programs, other than the OS, so opening in Word is not an issue. As Parry suggested in his reply I use TweakUI to modify the location of My Documents under My Computer/Special Folders/ drop down list. I logged off and rebooted, but still no change to the registry apparently, as both Acrobat and Nero File/Open default to My Documents. By the by, neither of these programs provides for changing a default directory -- I changed the target in Acrobat shortcut properties but it still opened in My Documents I don't understand why TweakUI doesn't work in this case. Surely there must be a way to remove the shackles of Miscrosoft's assumption that everyone wants to be patronised by the clumsy and infantile file structure inherent in the My Documnets default. As I say, it's easy to amend Explorer. I suspect Microsoft's protocols for third party programs specifies defaulting to My Documents, as it seems to be a characteristic of the latest versions of these programs. I'll keep looking for a solution. Any other suggestions. And Thanks meantime to all respondents |
lrollo (2377) | ||
| 236919 | 2004-05-17 10:34:00 | Have a look Here (www.pbdr.com) hth |
johnboy (217) | ||
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