Documents Library Not Functioning

[dsopocy]

Upon upgrading Vista Ultimate 64 to Windows 7 Ultimate 64, the Documents Library in my installation of Win 7 is non-functional. Selecting Documents from the Start Menu does not open a window. Opening my personal Library from the Start Menu and clicking on Documents does nothing. Currently, I'm resorting to navigating through Computer --> Local Disk --> Users --> my name --> My Documents to access my documents.

Has anyone else encountered this bug and/or have any ideas how to fix it?

 

[NosferatuX]

Hi dsopocy and welcome to the forum!

Please try clicking on Start then right-click your Login Name and select "Restore Default Libraries"

Let us know how it turns out

 

[dsopocy]

Hi dsopocy and welcome to the forum!

Please try clicking on Start then right-click your Login Name and select "Restore Default Libraries"

Let us know how it turns out

Thanks, NosferatuX. Selecting "Restore Default Libraries" only had the effect of opening the Libraries window, which was working before. Subsequently clicking Documents in either the Start Menu or the Libraries window does not trigger any action whatsoever.

 

[NosferatuX]

Have you tried restoring them to default as well by going to their properties?
After doing so, you can then proceed by adding your folders in the libraries. Once its mapped in the library, you should be able to click on it and see it's contents.

For example, right click on the Documents link here

Then select properties. It should bring up this dialog box

You can add your folders here then.

Now if for some weird reason, even though you have contents here but still unable to open them, I'd suggest doing a Repair Install, since you've migrated, somewhere it might have messed up Windows 7.

 

[dsopocy]

Yes, Properties is one of the first things I tried. Although my account has Administrator privileges, clicking on either my user account name or Documents in the Start Menu gets me the error message "The properties for this item are unavailable." The same holds true when clicking on either Documents or Music Library Properties from the Libraries window. I'm able to access Properties for the Pictures and Videos Libraries, however, which have functioned properly and provided access to files stored in their Vista counterparts from the start.

Next idea?

 

[NosferatuX]

Try going to control panel> folder options
There are three tabs; General, View and Search
Go go View and click on Reset Folders and then Reset Defaults
Try accessing your Documents folder again

If that doesn't work, I strongly suggest doing a Repair Install to fix this issue. Instructions are available here
It's like doing a fresh install but without the hassle and it doesn't take a long time to complete

Let us know how this works out for you...

 

[fillup]

Try deleting the 'Documents' Library completely, then create a new one and remap.

 

[NosferatuX]

Hi fillup,

I've been trying to find a way to delete the "Documents" library but to no avail, how to do this exactly?

I know this can easily be done on XP and Vista and solves this issue but the library feature is quite new in Windows 7 and I can't seem to locate the holder

Maybe you can point where its at?

 

[NosferatuX]

Never mind. Found it!

There you go...

This just might work.
dsoposy, please try and delete this and might solve your problem

I haven't tried this myself so, please make sure you back up your files, just to be safe.

Nice suggestion fillup

 

[dsopocy]

Problem Solved

Try going to control panel> folder options
There are three tabs; General, View and Search
Go go View and click on Reset Folders and then Reset Defaults
Try accessing your Documents folder again

If that doesn't work, I strongly suggest doing a Repair Install to fix this issue. Instructions are available here
It's like doing a fresh install but without the hassle and it doesn't take a long time to complete

Let us know how this works out for you...

I went ahead with the Repair Install as you suggested. (My reasoning against trying Fillups approach was that something clearly had gone wrong with the installation for me to have this problem in the first place, so my hope is that the Repair Install fixes anything else that did not install correctly with my original Upgrade install.) 4 1/2 hours later, the Repair Install completed and the Documents Library is now functioning correctly!

Thanks for your help!

Unfortunately, my other problem (X-Fi Crackling and Popping) still persists. Any ideas on that one?

 

[Chappy]

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..)

 

[baarod]

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):

<?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!

 

[Dzomlija]

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?

 

[Chappy]

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

 

[baarod]

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.

 

[Chappy]

Baarod

Here's an screenie of my Pictures Library xml file

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

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

 

[Chappy]

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

 

[baarod]

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

 

[Chappy]

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

 

[Chappy]

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