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Thread ID: 97061 2009-02-03 04:54:00 Changing Default for My Pictures Roscoe (6288) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
744406 2009-02-03 04:54:00 I am running XP and would like to change the default of My Pictures to my second HD as the C drive needs some extra space.

Hopefully that is not too complicated?

:thanks
Roscoe (6288)
744407 2009-02-03 05:18:00 You have 2 options, download TweakUI and use that, or use a registry hack:

Click Start -> Run, and type in "regedit" (no quotes) and press enter on the keyboard.

RegEdit will appear. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Shell Folders.

Right click on the folders you want to change and select Modify.

Change the path of your folder to the new path (example: d:\my music).

Reboot your computer.


Blam
Blam (54)
744408 2009-02-03 19:05:00 Mr B,

I did as you said and it certainly seems easy enough, but after I reboot the modification reverts to what it was.

I'm quite certain that I did everything as you said. I assume that I could not have found 'My Pictures' had I not gone to the correct location. So I wonder what may have happened. Any ideas?

:thanks
Roscoe (6288)
744409 2009-02-03 19:23:00 Changing the reg key doesn't always work - have a read of This article (www.mydigitallife.info) - tells you how in both XP and Vista. wainuitech (129)
744410 2009-02-03 20:06:00 Mmmm, there are very good reasons for keeping docs, music, images etc off your C: drive but I have usually created a 'DATA' directory on another drive for this purpose. But, as we all know, sometimes this results in some data still ending up in the 'My Docs' area as well. Messy.

Must have a play with this technique!
linw (53)
744411 2009-02-03 20:11:00 Wainui:

Read the article and followed instructions. It seems as though the change is only good for My Documents. When I have a look at Properties in My Documents, I can see the target tab but there is no target tab in My Pictures.

Perplexed!:thanks
Roscoe (6288)
744412 2009-02-03 20:37:00 Wainui:

I decided, from what Linw said, that I should change My Documents as well . I realised, after changing the target for My Documents, the location for My Pictures changed as well, simply because it is a sub folder of My Documents, it seems . I assume that is why I could not change it in the registry, but, I suppose, if I had changed My Documents in the registry then My Pictures would have changed as well .

So I have learnt something and perhaps that is something that you need to store away in that great repository of yours for next time .

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction . :thanks
Roscoe (6288)
744413 2009-02-03 21:45:00 I actually do things slightly Differently to moving the folder - works just as well .

Heres How: I have hundreds of Documents, and other files all on 3 separate servers, all on the LAN, the actual PC I work on has bugger all in the way of documents etc . Mainly programs and Emails .

In your case of the My Pictures, what I would have done, is on the D: Drive, create a folder and call it My pictures - then copy all the pictures from the C: drive to the D: drive folder - then from the D: Drive create a shortcut to the My Documents folder or desktop . That way when you click on the shortcut it opens and reads from the D: drive - check its working OK then delete all the pictures you have in My Pictures on the C: drive .

Only down side is when you save a Picture you need to redirect it to D: instead of C:
wainuitech (129)
744414 2009-02-04 02:21:00 Wainui:

That is what I did - a My Pictures folder on the D: drive. Main problem with that was that other programmes would default to the C: drive and then I would have to move them (as you said). Damn nuisance.

Glad I asked the question. You lot gave me enough pointers for me to (accidentally) work it out for myself.

Most appreciated, lads.:thanks
Roscoe (6288)
744415 2009-02-04 03:54:00 As long as what ever changes works for the person - lifes sweet. Good to see its working as you want. :thumbs: wainuitech (129)
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