Windows 7 - Custom folder shortcuts in start menu?

Is there some way to change the destination of the folder shortcuts, or add my own on the right side of the start menu? I don't keep my files in the user folders, and I don't use the libraries. I'd like to make use of the right half of the start menu, but unless there's some way to hack it, it'll remain empty (except for computer/network/control panel).

There must be some registry or resource hack for this, right?

You should be able to change the default path of the folder via this method:

User Folders - Change Default Location

Hello Xichael, and welcome to Seven Forums.

This may be what you after.

real folders in start menu instead of libraries

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for the links, guys. The thing is, I keep my folders on the C:\ and desktop. Changing the default location of the user folder isn't what I'm looking for, nor is having the library folders point to user folders. I don't want anything to do with the user folders if I can avoid them.

Back in XP, I used to hack the classic start menu with a resource editor. I would remove every item on the menu except programs, then add only the folders I wanted. It was nice and minimal, and fully customizable.

I guess what I'd like to be able to do, is take any random 2 or 3 of the folder shortcuts on the start menu, and change their titles and where they point to.

I'll have a look at explorer.exe in the resource editor and see what can be done about the shortcut names (does replacer still work in 7?). But I'm guessing changes to the shortcuts' destinations will have to be done in the registry somewhere...

Well, you're going to have to do some fiddling to get it to work that way, it seems much easy just to get the library to point to that folder. Yes it'll take an extra step to get to where you want to go, but it's a short term solution nonetheless.

I've found a way to get at least one custom folder on the start menu. Out of all the optional folders, only Downloads is a direct shortcut (rather than a library). This means you can right-click into it's properties and redirect it. You'd go to the Location tab, choose a new path, and click OK through all the prompts. Then you can right-click > rename it.

Now if only I could get one more...

As an alternative option, you could also pin folders to the Start Menu as well.

*** Proceed at your own risk ***

Could you Copy it, Rename it and redirect that one?