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redirect "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents" ONLY


elcoyoteloco

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Hi all,

I have successfully changed the My Documents default path of C:\Documents and Settings\*****\My Documents to D:\My Documents. Every reference to the old path I could find in the registry now points to the new path.

So far, so good, except that I have a bunch of shortcuts that reference %USERPROFILE%\My Documents, which still points to the old location in my user folder in Documents and Settings. I have been researching this, but the only thing I've found is instructions to change the ProfileImagePath string in the registry (currently it is %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\*****. However, doing that would effect EVERYTHING in my user folder, not just My Documents.

So, is there a way to redirect %USERPROFILE%\My Documents, without effecting everything else in my user folder?

Thanks!

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The obvious: can't you replace the reference in the shortcuts from %USERPROFILE% to the new path (in this case D:)?

Otherwise, I think the answer to your question is PROBABLY NO. :(

PROBABLY because you might be able to work something out with symbolic links (junction points), but there is a (small) chance that some programs might not interpret them correctly. And I think nothing can be done from the registry.

GL

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The obvious: can't you replace the reference in the shortcuts from %USERPROFILE% to the new path (in this case D:)?

Well, sure, but there's a lot of them so it will be tedious to do so. Also, I want to make sure this doesn't become a recurring issue.

Thanks tho :)

EDIT: I think you're right, this can't be done, not without effecting the other user folders.

Edited by elcoyoteloco
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Sure it's possible. Here's the reg file. Sorry, I'm too lazy to attach it as a downloadable file.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Folders]

"My Pictures"="D:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"

"Personal"="D:\\My Documents"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\User Shell Folders]

"My Pictures"="D:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"

"Personal"="D:\\My Documents"

[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]

"My Pictures"="D:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"

"Personal"="D:\\My Documents"

[HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]

"My Pictures"="D:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"

"Personal"="D:\\My Documents"

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

"Personal"="D:\\My Documents"

"My Pictures"="D:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"

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

"Personal"="D:\\My Documents"

"My Pictures"="D:\\My Documents\\My Pictures"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]

"Save Directory"="D:\\My Documents\\"

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Sure it's possible. Here's the reg file.

He's already done that. As far as I understood, he wants to change 'the definition of the paths' in Windows (not to change shortcuts - too many of them) to:

%USERPROFILE% == C:\Documents and Settings\***** (same as before)

%USERPROFILE%\My Documents == D:\My Documents

GL

Edited by GrofLuigi
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The problem is, those *are* the locations that would change the %userprofile% variable for a user. If you set the proper locations and things are not changing, are we sure the shortcut is still using the %userprofile%\My Documents variable, or did it change the variable to the correct path on creation?

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I´M not sure about that, cause this is a HKCU-Setting:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
"Personal"="YourDrive\YourFolder"

I replaced my current setting with "YourDrive\YourFolder".

I´m on a german system, don`t know if I´m right about "My Documents = Eigene Dateien".

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Then again, it's possible to use linkd or junction, to point this to a new location.

ren "my Documents" personallinkd "my Documents" (new path and file) 

Copy My Documents to new location.

Works like a charm.

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