Change shortcuts from library to real folder

[grantemsley]

Is there any way to change the shortcuts on the right side of the start menu (Documents, Pictures, Music) to use the real folders instead of the libraries?

 

[johngalt]

Check out all our Library related tutorials - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/257-windows-7-tutorial-index-2.html#post1075

 

[grantemsley]

Thank you. I've read through those, but none of them have what I would like (unless I am missing something).

I want to restore the old behavior of linking to the actual folder, not libraries. (Basically, I want to remove as much of the libraries functions as possible, because I like to manage files myself and it messes up the way I navigate through folders).

 

[johngalt]

I made it easy, in that I just moved all my folders to appropriate locations underneath the libraries- so that all document related stuff (all 75 folders) are under Documents, all my file DLs go under Downloads, etc.

however, if you read them carefully, those tutorials show you how to modify the icons and what not - and explain they are just plain old .XML files. If you edit the XML files directly you should be able to get a *semblance* of what you want.

For example, in my Win7 Install, I have made many more libraries that link to a direct folder:



in the pic above, each of those non-system standard folders points to 1 folder and one folder only - and most are named exactly as they appear.

Oh, and I did this using *strictly* the info in those tutorials.

 

[grantemsley]

Yes, I've already changed them much like you have.

But when I click up a directory, I can't go above Libraries...where as in vista I could keep clicking up a directory to my computer.

I can live with it, but I'd love to be able to change it.

 

[johngalt]

I did not realize from any of your posts that you were trying that....

Best bet would be to make favorites out of your favorite folders and use that interface, I think....but that I have not done as I use a third party file manager to begin with - xplorer² Windows File Manager (Explorer replacement)

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Sounds like you want to do the same thing I've been trying to figure out how to do.

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/2511-my-documents-pics-music-vids.html

I hate these damn libraries, I want my regular pre-library folder structure back.

 

[FullyLoadedMan]

I like it!

I Think it is a great way to manage your stuff

 

[Uber Philf]

It is, if all your stuff is scattered all over your Hardrive, mines always in one spot, so the library is pointless..

Enzo.

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

The double-menu is completely redundant and unnecessary for myself and everyone else I associate with. Nobody I know has any use for it. Obviously some people will find a use for it, but for the rest of us, we should at least be able to use the OLD style that worked perfect, or at least be able to move the folder so we cant point it INSIDE the My Documents folder, instead of outside.

 

[dingbat]

In your User folder, in the Properties of the Documents, Pictures, etc folders you can change the target folder, just like you could with the old My Documents. I pointed Documents to where I keep My Documents (on another drive), and I point Pictures to the My Pictures inside the old My Documents. It works fine, and the Libraries will then see the new locations.
But yea, I agree. I would prefer the good old fashioned My Documents over the libraries.

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

In your User folder, in the Properties of the Documents, Pictures, etc folders you can change the target folder, just like you could with the old My Documents. I pointed Documents to where I keep My Documents (on another drive), and I point Pictures to the My Pictures inside the old My Documents. It works fine, and the Libraries will then see the new locations.
But yea, I agree. I would prefer the good old fashioned My Documents over the libraries.

Nice idea but that still doesn't work for the start menu, which is what we're trying to fix.

We can move the folder, but there is still a redundant double menu to get to the new folder's files.

 

[dingbat]

Nice idea but that still doesn't work for the start menu, which is what we're trying to fix.

We can move the folder, but there is still a redundant double menu to get to the new folder's files.

I don't follow. What's double? You click on the Library in the Start menu and it goes right to it. Or are you saying you want the Start menu to go to the folders and not Library, otherwise you have to go to the User folder, the My Documents?

 

[AGlobalThreatsK]

Currently the menus are like this

Start > Documents > My Documents > Files Here

I want them to be the old style, pre-library

Start > My Documents > Files Here

This is what I have now:

This is what I want (This picture has been edited to show what I want):

I don't want to have to go into Documents then My Documents. I want Documents to go straight INTO my documents. I don't understand why M$ doesn't allow a simple change to the old style, or make it user defined so it will automatically show you the files of whoever is logged on, rather than going to the libraries first.

I hate the damn libraries. Why did M$ have to change this with no way to change it back!?

I'm never going to have MULTIPLE document libraries, and the same goes for music, pics, and videos. It is a completely redundant double menu for me and many others.

Things like this will definitely keep me from using 7 on my personal computers.

 

[JemEt]

Maybe you would take a look at this Possible solution to point directly to your personal folders and not to libraries from Start Menu.

I hope it could help you.

 

[not so gray matter]

I just removed the libraries menu from the navigation pane of explorer and use a menu of my user folder in the start menu. It works just as well because you can double click any folder once you open the user menu and it'll open to the actual folder, not the library like the regular start menu shorcuts.

Remove Libraries from Nav Pange: How to Remove and Hide “Libraries” Group from Navigation Pane of Windows 7 Explorer My Digital Life