Windows 7: Libraries Folder - Add or Remove from Navigation Pane

Now that we have disabled the libraries, is there a way to make the "Documents, Pictures, Music, etc" link in the start menu point to the actual user folders and not the libraries?

Hello Connor, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could set your user folder (Personal folder) in the Start Menu to "display as a menu" and open the user folders from there to have them open at the C:\Users\(user-name) folders location instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks. Like Windows 7, but really dislike some of these thingyies)

Good, succinct instructions, but I have a slightly different problem which I haven't found anywhere online yet.

Somehow my Libraries folder wound up in my Desktop folder in the Nav Pane (and I have an unremovable Libraries icon on my desktop to prove it!) I think I tried to put a shortcut to it on the desktop, but moved the actual metafolder there instead. (Seemed like a good idea at the time, but then realized I don't need or want it there.) I checked the registry, and the Attributes value you described is already xb080010d.

How do I get it back in the default location, on its own between Favorites and Desktop? (And off my desktop!)

Thanks.

Hello Nick, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You should be able to do a system restore using a restore point dated before this happened to undo and fix them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Wish I'd thought of that when I first noticed it. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, and I can't remember when I noticed it anyway. Happened while setting up new computer. during past week. Any other ideas?

Dell tech suggested repair install, then gave me bum directions on how to do it. I saw good info on this site, tho.

Thanks.
Nick

Yes, a repair install should be able to fix it for you as well.

Hello, I too tired of having Libraries and Homegroup taking up realestate in my explorer view. I searched for and found a registry hack to get rid of them (actually "homegroup" was just settings, no reg hack). Then I discovered the downside of my boldness. For me it is that "my documents" does NOT appear by default in"open" or "save as" dialogue boxes. I have to go searching down through the whole tree for them. For example, to save a playlist from Media Player 11 I have to drill to, "C:\Users\John\Music\Playlists", and it won't return there by default the next time. (Why I'm useing MP11 is a whole 'nother story!!) I didn't save a registry backup so I don't know how to undo my "fix". If I could, Then I'd youse your registry change instead. Maybe you can help? Below is the registry hack I applied. If you can tell me how to undo it. I'll use yours. If not, well, guess I'll live with it.

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{2112AB0A-C86A-4ffe-A368-0DE96E47012E}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{491E922F-5643-4af4-A7EB-4E7A138D8174}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{A302545D-DEFF-464b-ABE8-61C8648D939B}]
[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{A990AE9F-A03B-4e80-94BC-9912D7504104}]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]
“{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}”=-

Hello John,

Are you able to do a system restore using a restore point dated before this was applied to undo and fix them?

If not, then the REG file in the ZIP download below should restore the default settings of these for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

No, by the time I realized the limitations of my registry hack I didn't have a system restore back that far. Whats with windows 7 anyway and their extreme limitation on available system restores?? The "restore previous version" for individual files is useless!

Oh, yes, and thanks for the fix in the zip file. Hope it works, I haven't applied it yet!