Documents Library Not Functioning

Just to let you know, I lost My Pictures Library yesterday and I've been trying to fix it ever since.
I was adding a folder to the Pictures library when it just kinda hung with the progress bar slowly moving thru the breadcrumb bar...and then it stopped. Now it's not recognized as a Library anymore and it won't open at all. Properties is unavailable thru normal channels and when I nav to the hidden folder for libraries, I can get a properties page but the Libraries Tab is missing so there's no "Restore Default Library" option available.

I've been trying to figure out a way to restore it without resorting to deleting it and rebuilding a new library for the Pictures...there has to be some way to do it.

I think it's just a Beta bug of course, and I've seen others that have posted about this on other sites, but no definitive answers anywhere..yet. I'm gonna figure this out the hard way come He[[ or high water (or until I get sick & tired of it..)

Chappy said:

Just to let you know, I lost My Pictures Library yesterday and I've been trying to fix it ever since.
I was adding a folder to the Pictures library when it just kinda hung with the progress bar slowly moving thru the breadcrumb bar...and then it stopped. Now it's not recognized as a Library anymore and it won't open at all. Properties is unavailable thru normal channels and when I nav to the hidden folder for libraries, I can get a properties page but the Libraries Tab is missing so there's no "Restore Default Library" option available.

I've been trying to figure out a way to restore it without resorting to deleting it and rebuilding a new library for the Pictures...there has to be some way to do it.

I think it's just a Beta bug of course, and I've seen others that have posted about this on other sites, but no definitive answers anywhere..yet. I'm gonna figure this out the hard way come He[[ or high water (or until I get sick & tired of it..)

It's just an XML file (this is my Pictures library):

Code:

 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<libraryDescription>
<name>@shell32.dll,-34595</name>
<ownerSID>S-1-5-21-336492276-748903644-40737299-1011</ownerSID>
<version>1</version>
<isLibraryPinned>-1</isLibraryPinned>
<iconReference>imageres.dll,-1003</iconReference>
<templateInfo>
<folderType>{b3690e58-e961-423b-b687-386ebfd83239}</folderType>
</templateInfo>
<searchConnectorDescriptionList>
<searchConnectorDescription publisher="Microsoft" product="Windows">
<description>@shell32.dll,-34597</description>
<isDefaultSaveLocation>-1</isDefaultSaveLocation>
<simpleLocation>
<url>knownfolder:{33E28130-4E1E-4676-835A-98395C3BC3BB}</url>
<serialized>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</serialized>
</simpleLocation>
</searchConnectorDescription>
<searchConnectorDescription publisher="Microsoft" product="Windows">
<description>@shell32.dll,-34599</description>
<isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>-1</isDefaultNonOwnerSaveLocation>
<simpleLocation>
<url>knownfolder:{B6EBFB86-6907-413C-9AF7-4FC2ABF07CC5}</url>
<serialized>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</serialized>
</simpleLocation>
</searchConnectorDescription>
</searchConnectorDescriptionList>
</libraryDescription>

Perhaps paste yours and we can fix it? Look in %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries right click and open with... notepad

Edit: Figured out how to make a new one -- take the XML above and cut out everything in the <searchConnectorDescriptionList> tag. Edit a working library and copy your <ownerSID>...</ownerSID> tag from it to replace my SID above. Save and you should have a new empty working Music library. Add what folders you wish and you're off and running!

There is one thing that I have noticed about the Libraries feature of Windows 7 that may be of use to those having problems with it.

The Search Indexer that everybody loves to hate.

The Libraries feature only works properly if your Search Index is up to date, so if you have for whatever reason turned of the indexer, or it is not yet done it's job, then libraries will not work correctly.

Maybe this will help with some of the problems that other posters have been having?

Hey

@ Baarod - Thanx bud! Mine is no longer an xml file apparently, and that's probably where the problem exists.
First thing I did notice was that your user ID was in the file so I knew that had to go...
I'll throw that into a text file and make the edits. I'll let you know how it works out.

@ Dzomlija - Indexer is up to date so that's not my issue, but that should help some others probably..mine just seemed to barf when adding a folder to monitor. Beta bugs eh

Chappy said:

Mine is no longer an xml file apparently, and that's probably where the problem exists.

The open with option only appears when you access the real folder containing the libraries not when you access the virtual folder. Do a Win+R and paste %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries then right click the busted library. The shell doesn't know squat about the file content at that point so there's no reason the open with... option should be hidden when you get to the library source from there.

Baarod

Here's an screenie of my Pictures Library xml file

Kinda says it all doesn't it....

(yes, I know where the Library file is... )

Hmm..it also may look like deleting the

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\BagMRU
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Bags

keys and rebooting may also rebuild the library files, but I'm not saying that for certain just yet, I'll have to test this on a test instll first.

Edit - Baarod my friend..can you edit your post to wrap that line to the page please, this thread is wayyyyy over off my screen >>>> and my eyes are going buggy

Eek! There's a lot of other stuff in those property bags -- I'd use caution (and a backup)!

Can I get someone else to post their Pictures Library xml file for comparison please? I need to make sure that something is consistent across machines, or whether I need to edit it for my own.
Location - %user appdata%\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries
Thanx

Hi Baarod

Yah..Bags folders in there can be quite big, but that's something definitely destined for a TEST install 4 sure!!

Edit - Thanx Barrod! That was driving me bonkers with having to scroll to find the Reply box