Restoring default location of "My Documents" after moving folder?

Hello all,

Let me start of by saying that I have followed this tutorial: User Folders - Restore Default Location and have not had results.

Additionally, I have 2 hard drives: An SSD solely for the Windows OS and an HDD for everything else.

I'm having issues trying to restore the My Documents folder to factory settings. I did something stupid ( I know, it's shame on me here) and tried to re-route the My Documents folder to my HDD from my SSD because my SSD has considerably less memory. I did this by following a tutorial from the Microsoft website.

Needless to say, I dern ****ed up and accidentally routed the My Documents folder to BE my HDD (as in E:/ instead of the intended E:/My Documents folder) which I didn't want to do. The folder then "disappeared" but still existed somewhere in the computer. I then spoke to a Microsoft support rep, who then proceeded to dig the hole deeper by remotely accessing my desktop and fiddling with the registry. Now the contents of the My Documents folder exist in my HDD default directory (E:/) and a makeshift My Documents folder exists in the Library section. How can I just undo this whole mess and restore the My Documents folder to its factory conditions, including the files that were originally stored in said folder?

SOS, I'm about to tear my hair out here!

Disastrox3

I have always been able to restore any misdirected or lost User folders by following those steps in User Folders - Restore Default Location - Windows 7 Forums.

Exactly what problem are you having when you follow those steps?

If you can't find the actual Shell User folder which should be under your User name, in order to relocate it correctly using it's Location tab as shown in Optiona One, then use Option Two to reconstruct the folder itself.

If by following those steps precisely you still cannot recover the User folder, then ask for more help from the author in the tutorial Comments section, or post back here the exact problem with pictures if possible. Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums - Windows 7 Forums

The problem I had was that when I did the tutorial, nothing actually happened. I am not part of a home group so I did not follow option one. Attached is a picture of the registry edit with the Shell folder being edited with the default location as described in option two. Also, when I used the elevated command prompt, it appeared to have worked but then when I restarted the computer several times and logged off and on nothing changed. The reason why I posted this here was because I was anticipating that I might need to reinstall windows (which I have had problems with in the past). The documents folder image attached shows that My Documents is located on C:\Users\Biddy instead of C:\Users\Biddy\Documents.

Let me know if this is of any help or not; If it isnt, I'll go to the tutorial thread and we can close this one.

Did you complete ALL steps in Option Two in User Folders - Restore Default Location - Windows 7 Forums

Specifically for Documents folder Steps 1 and 4, then 16-30?

All of them must be completed.

If problems post back the specific step.

I did. There wasn't any problems; no errors. I followed the tutorial as written so I am confused as to why I have no results.

In your named User folder does Documents appear showing as a Shell folder with the little document illustration popping out of the folder?

If so click on the Library's "1 Location" setting to Remove from Library. Then right click the Shell Folder in your User folder to add to Library. The old location may be from an earlier incorrect library save location.

If this doesn't help I'd start over with Step 1 deletion and try them over again, or you can ask for help in the tutorial's thread from its author. Link this thread for him to see what you've tried already.

Since you asked I'd compare the install you have overall to the perfect install compiled in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 to help you decide how much you can benefit by a new install. I've never not been able to restore Shell User folders, but you may need a new install anyway.

It does show a shell folder. However, when I remove the location and add the shell folder to my documents, it doesn't change the "1 location" setting. Why is this? Can it be reverted so the shell My Documents folder is not a folder added within the My Documents library folder? See attached.

You have restored the Shell User Documents folder. Libraries are a completely separate subject.

What would be helpful is to see what it says is included when you click on 1 Location. If it's your Biddy User folder then delete it and then add the correct folder.

So it has! I'm very happy to see that it did in fact work! The location of the folder after clicking "1 location" is C:\users\biddy\my documents. I'd just like it so that the shell folder is the default My Documents library folder instead of a folder within a folder.

Shell folders are not libraries, or vice versa.

Libraries are only places where you can pin folders including the Shell Folder. Before you restored the default Shell folder, the library must have had the User folder added to Documents requiring it being deleted. Then add the Shell Documents folder to Document library so it resides there again. That's all.