Windows 7 - Libraries - Restore Default

**Brink**

How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7

Information

In case you have a missing Library, this will show you how to restore all of the default Libraries in Windows 7.

Note

Libraries let you access and arrange items from one or more folders quickly without moving them from their original location. Libraries themselves don't store your files or folders. Instead, they point to different folders on your hard disk, or on an external drive attached to your computer. This gives you easy access to a category of files no matter where they are stored. For instance, if you have music files on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files from the Music library.

Here's a list of the default libraries, as well as the folders you can access in each library:

Documents library -Use this library to access the Personal Documents folder, where you can store word-processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other text-related files. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Documents library are stored in the Personal Documents folder.
Pictures library - Use this library to access the Personal Pictures folder, where you can store digital pictures, whether you get them from your camera, scanner, or in e‑mail from other people. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Pictures library are stored in the Personal Pictures folder.
Music library - Use this library to access your Personal Music folder, where you can store digital music, such as songs that you copy from an audio CD or download from the Internet. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Music library are stored in the Personal Music folder.
Videos library - Use this library to access your Personal Videos folder, where you can store videos, such as clips from your digital camera or camcorder, or video files that you download from the Internet. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Videos library are stored in the Personal Videos folder.

For more information about Windows 7 Libraries see Understanding Windows 7 Libraries - Windows 7 for Developers - The Windows Blog.

EXAMPLE: Default Libraries

Here's How:

Tip

You might also want to check to see if the missing libraries are hidden. If so, set backup anything in the hidden libraries that you do not want to lose, delete the hidden libraries, then do the steps below to restore them.

1. Open a Windows Explorer window.

2. In the Navigation Pane, right click on Libraries and click on Restore Default Libraries. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

DigDeep · 10-05-2009

That does not hep to me either.

They look like this

**Brink** · 10-05-2009

Hello DigDeep,

Not sure what happened to your Libraries, but you might see if running a sfc /scannow command may be able to fix them.

If not, then you can create a new adminsitrator account, copy the contents of your old account's user folders into the corresponding new account's user folders. If everything checks out ok, then you can delete the old account from within the new one.

If all else fails, or you do not want to create another account, then you can do a repair install without losing anything.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

chappers5 · 10-27-2009

Select all the default libraries, delete them then follow the original instructions from shawn. This method worked for me

**backd00r** · 11-05-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by chappers5

Select all the default libraries, delete them then follow the original instructions from shawn. This method worked for me

I'll echo you chappers. this worked for me.

EileenP · 11-28-2009

..which original instructions from Shawn?

**Sope** · 11-28-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by EileenP

..which original instructions from Shawn?

Presumably means the ones contained in the original tutorial at the top of this page under "Here's How"

VeLiKi · 01-03-2010

works. thanks!

**Brink** · 01-03-2010

You're welcome VeLiKi.

kazaam · 01-23-2010

I can't delete my four folders under Libraries. I can expand the Libraries folder on the left in the navigation pane to show videos, documents, photos and music, but when I click on Libraries itself nothing appears on the right hand side, it remains empty.

I have tried to delete these four folders exposed when expanding Libraries but none of them are budging