In Windows 7, how do I make the “start” menu Documents/Pictures/Music/Videos go to my Documents/Pictures/Music/Videos directory?

Question

Right now, if I click on Documents, I go to Libraries > Documents. I want to go to [Logged In User] > My Documents.

Is there a way to configure this behavior?

Answer 1

You could add the [Logged In User] > My Documents folder to the Libraries > Documents library. It will then show up in the Documents Library. To do this:

Open Windows Explorer and right-click on the 'Documents' Library. Select 'Properties'.

In the library properties dialog, click on Include a folder to add a new folder location to the library.

Add the My Documents folder and whenever you go into that library you will see the User > My Documents folder.

Hope thats what you wanted.

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Picture's Source: http://www.online-tech-tips.com/windows-7/windows-7-libraries-add-location/

Answer 2

I have been working on this myself, you have to have some registry knowledge to do this change, but this is all the information I have gathered:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{...}]

Lies the folder properties. So, if you were to find the "Documents.Libraries-ms" folder, then you can edit that key value to match the "Downloads" folder link [which is an actual folder link, not a library link]

Now, I did this already, and it works. Here is what I have my Document link registry key as:

Key Name:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c}
Class Name:        <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time:   3/2/2011 - 2:33 AM
Value 0
  Name:            Attributes
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0x1

Value 1
  Name:            Category
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0x4

Value 2
  Name:            Icon
  Type:            REG_EXPAND_SZ
  Data:            %SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-1002

Value 3
  Name:            LocalizedName
  Type:            REG_EXPAND_SZ
  Data:            @%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-34575

Value 4
  Name:            Name
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            Documents

Value 5
  Name:            PublishExpandPath
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0x1

Value 6
  Name:            PrecCreate
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0x1

Value 7
  Name:            RelativePath
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Data:            Documents

Value 8
  Name:            Roamable
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Data:            0x1