Default user shell directories in the registry
Default user shell directories in the registry
I needed to reinstall Windows to resolve login problems. My user folders were already on the D: drive, and after installation they appeared in OneDrive but still showed up as on the D: drive. I tried editing the registry, but only found partial instructions. Could someone help me identify the correct changes needed? Please share your registry details.
There are two options available. To avoid editing the registry, open Explorer, go to your current folder on the same drive, right-click, select Properties, then choose the Location tab and click Find Target. Navigate to your D drive user folders for each location you wish to modify. Click Apply to merge and redirect those folders to your D drive settings. If you prefer working with the registry, open Explorer directly in the D drive folders, copy the file path from the top bar of the selected folder, right-click the desired folder name and choose Change Location (e.g., "my music" or "my pictures"), then edit the value and paste the copied path replacing "%userprofile%\name". I suggest the first approach—it’s slower but more straightforward.
You experimented with alternative approaches, but certain folders remained unaffected. The issue likely stems from overlapping names in cloud storage, where some OneDrive folders share titles with existing Documents and Pictures. Moving files would require downloading them first, which could take a long time. Regarding the content, if you avoid relocating the folders, the files should remain intact unless there’s a conflict or deletion risk during the process.
it's running on Windows, so results aren't guaranteed yet. So far, files haven't disappeared. The other folders remain intact—Windows doesn’t mark them as deleted when you click the "My Documents" links. If you explore the C drive, those folders should still be present with all their contents. In the first approach, using "move" instead of "find target" will prompt a merge before redirecting Windows to the new location. The registry adjustment method simply changes the links to point to the updated path, leaving the folders untouched and still available on one drive.
Great! You're observing how shortcuts work in Windows. Quick Access links to one folder while This Computer points to another. From Quick Access you navigate to the D drive, which seems accurate. From This Computer it directs to...? Yes, you can delete the registry entry. Removing it would change how files are accessed—folders and files might move or disappear. Windows settings will reflect this update. Also, even after restarting Explorer, the Documents and Pictures folders still link to OneDrive if the registry entry is gone.
Go to your Desktop and open the My Music folder. Then navigate to your favorites, and finally select your music collection. Adjust the paths accordingly so they point to your new location on the D drive. Avoid changing registry entries; you can simply remove the folder path entirely. This way, Windows won't misinterpret the link and create or delete files unintentionally.
Use the location method; another registry entry might exist elsewhere
I attempted, but the target just reopens the folder without showing an install option. Should I try moving it? Leaving the files unmoved will keep them on OneDrive, correct? Additionally, I can’t perform this action in the Documents folder—only in the Pictures.
The first drive is safeguarding the folder by blocking its relocation, so you must disable OneDrive during the transfer and then reactivate it afterward.