Moving storage location of libraries

Having another bite at this after failing miserably first time around. I think I may have been confused about the distinction between special folders and libraries in Windows 7. In fact, I may still be. I'm finding this very difficult to get my head around!

What I would like to do is change the storage location of the files I save in the documents, pictures, music and video libraries. I think this may be a different thing to moving the actual location of the library folder itself....? Which I do not want to do. But I may still be hopelessly confused.

To reiterate I want to store my own files on a separate partition to the operating system by saving them in the libraries folders but changing the actual storage location of those library folders to D:/Files (or some such) rather then the default of C:/users/[username]. In XP I just used to right click My Documents and change location to D and viola, that's where XP stored all of my files when I saved them to My Documents. Simple.

I am still having trouble with this on Windows 7 and somehow managed to move a load of system folders (or the shortcuts to those folders - not sure which!) to my desktop. I have restored the defaults by using system restore.

Whilst am dual booting this separating operating system and my own files been a boon in that I can access all my files whether I am running XP (main system) or Windows 7. I think this may not have been possible if I had all my files stored on the C drive with the XP system as these folders seem to be locked when dual booting to Windows 7.

I hope this makes some sort of sense to someone !

Thanks in advance.

ok, luckily this is simple...

right click on the My Music folder in the c:\users\*user name* folder - you should see a location tab >> move >> anywhere you like

repeat with other folders...

it's a bit of a hairy job trying to move the whole user folder - a lot easier just to move the individual music/videos/pictures subfolders etc

also be aware that in xp, 'my documents' contained the other folders - in 7, documents is a separate folder.

hope this helps!

kevvyb said:

Having another bite at this after failing miserably first time around. I think I may have been confused about the distinction between special folders and libraries in Windows 7. In fact, I may still be. I'm finding this very difficult to get my head around!

What I would like to do is change the storage location of the files I save in the documents, pictures, music and video libraries. I think this may be a different thing to moving the actual location of the library folder itself....? Which I do not want to do. But I may still be hopelessly confused.

To reiterate I want to store my own files on a separate partition to the operating system by saving them in the libraries folders but changing the actual storage location of those library folders to D:/Files (or some such) rather then the default of C:/users/[username]. In XP I just used to right click My Documents and change location to D and viola, that's where XP stored all of my files when I saved them to My Documents. Simple.

I am still having trouble with this on Windows 7 and somehow managed to move a load of system folders (or the shortcuts to those folders - not sure which!) to my desktop. I have restored the defaults by using system restore.

Whilst am dual booting this separating operating system and my own files been a boon in that I can access all my files whether I am running XP (main system) or Windows 7. I think this may not have been possible if I had all my files stored on the C drive with the XP system as these folders seem to be locked when dual booting to Windows 7.

I hope this makes some sort of sense to someone !

Thanks in advance.

It is actually quite simple.

I asume you are refering to special folders such as Documents, Pictures, Video, etc...

rightclick the special folder, chose properties, select the location tab, there you'll see the button to change the location.

But now the trick to avoid you getting double folder entries.

When you select a location let say d: and you click apply, you will be asked if you want to move the files that are present in the default forlder.

always chose yes, even if you think there's nothing in them.

That's it basically.

Sorry John,

We keep popping up in the same problem threads. lol

Greetz

Hi kevvyb,

first the differences in the screenshot.

In your first screenshot is where you physically move the folder.
Hence, If you chose to move the files as well, the folder will be created in the new location and deleted in the old.
Hence, if you don't move the files, it will make second instance of the folder.


In your second screenshot, that's the libraries.
Libraries are a great way to collect different folders at different locations (can be other partition, other disk, even other computer) into a virtual folder.
Example.
You have 3 or 4 different picture folders spread over 2 disks and two different computers, you can add them to the pictures library and you have everything sorted in one virtual folder.

You can even make your own new library and give it any name you like.
example. You have pictures of your holidays spread over different locations.
You create a virtual folder named Holiday pictures and add the locations to it.

I personally love this feature!


now, as for the XP folders giving you problems, you might be right about that.

You haven't really explained what problems you are experiencing, only that you had problems.

My advise is. backup all your files, favourites, emailaccounts, addressbook, etc.
Get rid of XP, and Install Win7 clean from the boot, not from windows.

Install Virtual PC(it's free) and make a virtual XP, for when you would need it.
Why anyone would need XP anymore I don't know. There are Win7 alternatives for everything.


I hope this info helped you.

Good luck.

skonksc

Thanks for that. I think I had got there myself, eventually!

I will stick with using the libraries until I move over to retail version of Windows 7. XP remains my main system until then.

The error I was getting that I think is to do with the XP special folders was an 'access denied' message at the end of the move. Nothing was moved.

There were various others caused by the fact that I was not understanding exactly what the different folder types were.

Thanks again for all your help.