how to recreate Public Folder?

spandrel · 06 Jan 2010

I wanted to move the Public Folder from C:\Users to D:\, so I simply copied the folder, delete the original, and created a symbolic link (with -mklink-). A little knowledge was a dangerous thing - apparently I should have used -robocopy- to ensure the copy of Public had the correct characteristics. So, is there a way to fix D:\Public so that it has the correct permissions of a "Public" folder? If not, is there a way to recreate the original C:\Users\Public? I am not concerned about any data in this folder, as there was (so far) none there.

Apologies if this has been addressed here before, I tried searching the forums but with no luck. Thanks.

Brink · 06 Jan 2010

Hello Spandrel, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You should be able to do a system restore using a restore point dated before you made these changes to the Public folder to undo them.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

spandrel · 06 Jan 2010

That worked.

thanks,
Jeph

Brink · 06 Jan 2010

Jeph,

Sure thing. Be sure to backup anything in those folders that you do not want to lose, then open regedit.

Make sure that these two registry locations below have these default locations set to them in yours as well for the Public (common) folders.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

how to recreate Public Folder?-registry.jpg

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

how to recreate Public Folder?-registry2.jpg

Afterwards delete all of your duplicate Public folders (not in registry), and restart the computer. You may need to restart a couple of times to fully apply though.

spandrel · 07 Jan 2010

That's what I've got. So I'm back where I started, which is better than no Public Folder at all. But I would really prefer to move the Public folder(s) to D:\Public; can I do so if I align these registry entries accordingly? Is there an easier way?

thanks,
Jeph

Brink · 07 Jan 2010

Jeph,

It's not recommended to try and move the Public folders since they are shared by all users on the computer. Doing so renders them just about useless as public share folders, and can cause to many unknown issues.

You can safely move the User Folders instead though, and as a workaround, keep your data stored in your user folders and have a shortcut to them in the public folder. This way the data is stored in the location you moved your user folders to and not the Public folders, and you still can share through the Public folders.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

spandrel · 08 Jan 2010

Thanks. I'm the only user on this PC, and want to have a folder on my D:\ drive to place data that other network users can access. Seems like it shouldn't be so difficult to arrange, but I will try this.

Brink · 08 Jan 2010

Jeph,

If they are also Windows 7 computers on the network, then you can create a homegroup to make sharing easier to do when they join the homegroup.

spandrel · 09 Jan 2010

They are XP users; but I found that I could share a folder by adding "Guest" as a shared user.

cheers,
Jeph

BrandanL · 19 Feb 2011

hI Brink,
I too wanted to move my "public" folders to a new hard drive (E:) on my main PC so that I have room to store all that data from my 3 PC and have room to grow. I have 3 PCs on my "workgroup" network at home and I want to move all of My Docs, My Videos, etc. into public folders on this new drive so all 3 of my PCs can see & use them.

I've been searching thru forums all day and decided to go with your suggestion to not move the "public" folders, but instead move my "user" folders to the new drive. I did that, and now I am trying to create a shortcut (as you suggested) from the "public" folder to the new "user" folder on the new drive. The problem is, I cannot access the data from my other PCs (when I go to thru the "network" link, then "public"). I assume it's because my new users folders are not a public, shareable format?

My goal is to have a single, public "My Docs" folder & single, public "My Videos" folder, etc. that all 3 PCs use, and have that data reside on my new, big hard drive in my main PC. Is that not possible?