Custom folder shortcuts in start menu?

xichael

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Is there some way to change the destination of the folder shortcuts, or add my own on the right side of the start menu? I don't keep my files in the user folders, and I don't use the libraries. I'd like to make use of the right half of the start menu, but unless there's some way to hack it, it'll remain empty (except for computer/network/control panel).

There must be some registry or resource hack for this, right?
 

My Computer

OS
7
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My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Apple Macbook Pro (April 2009)
OS
W7 Ult. x64 | OS X
CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo 2.93Ghz [T9800 Penryn]
Motherboard
NVIDIA nForce 730i Rev. B1 [Mac-F2268EC8 (U2E1)]
Memory
4096MB Samsung DDR3 Dual Channel [PC3-8500F 1066Mhz]
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512MB [G96M Rev. C1]
Sound Card
SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB | Onboard Realtek (Disabled)
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer x223wbd 22" | Apple Anti-Glare 17" (Disabled)
Screen Resolution
{Current} 1440x900 {Acer} 1680x1050 {Apple} 1920x1200
Hard Drives
{Internal}
Seagate Momentus 320GB 2.5" 7200RPM [ST9320421AS]

{Externals}
LaCie 320GB USB 2.0 HDD [301284UR]
LaCie 750GB USB 2.0 FW400 eSATA HDD [301314U]
LaCie 1TB USB 2.0 HDD [301304UR]
PSU
Magsafe
Case
Aluminum/Unibody (MBP52)
Cooling
2 x 6000 RPM Fans
Keyboard
Logitech G-15v2 [PN 920-000379]
Mouse
Logitech G-9 [PN 910-000338]
Internet Speed
12Mbps/2.5Mbps w/ 24Mbps Speed Boost [Comcast]
Other Info
Logitech X-540 Speakers [PN 970223-0122]
Sennheiser PC-151 Headset

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Thanks for the links, guys. The thing is, I keep my folders on the C:\ and desktop. Changing the default location of the user folder isn't what I'm looking for, nor is having the library folders point to user folders. I don't want anything to do with the user folders if I can avoid them.

Back in XP, I used to hack the classic start menu with a resource editor. I would remove every item on the menu except programs, then add only the folders I wanted. It was nice and minimal, and fully customizable.

I guess what I'd like to be able to do, is take any random 2 or 3 of the folder shortcuts on the start menu, and change their titles and where they point to.

I'll have a look at explorer.exe in the resource editor and see what can be done about the shortcut names (does replacer still work in 7?). But I'm guessing changes to the shortcuts' destinations will have to be done in the registry somewhere...
 

My Computer

OS
7
Well, you're going to have to do some fiddling to get it to work that way, it seems much easy just to get the library to point to that folder. Yes it'll take an extra step to get to where you want to go, but it's a short term solution nonetheless.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Apple Macbook Pro (April 2009)
OS
W7 Ult. x64 | OS X
CPU
Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo 2.93Ghz [T9800 Penryn]
Motherboard
NVIDIA nForce 730i Rev. B1 [Mac-F2268EC8 (U2E1)]
Memory
4096MB Samsung DDR3 Dual Channel [PC3-8500F 1066Mhz]
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT 512MB [G96M Rev. C1]
Sound Card
SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 USB | Onboard Realtek (Disabled)
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer x223wbd 22" | Apple Anti-Glare 17" (Disabled)
Screen Resolution
{Current} 1440x900 {Acer} 1680x1050 {Apple} 1920x1200
Hard Drives
{Internal}
Seagate Momentus 320GB 2.5" 7200RPM [ST9320421AS]

{Externals}
LaCie 320GB USB 2.0 HDD [301284UR]
LaCie 750GB USB 2.0 FW400 eSATA HDD [301314U]
LaCie 1TB USB 2.0 HDD [301304UR]
PSU
Magsafe
Case
Aluminum/Unibody (MBP52)
Cooling
2 x 6000 RPM Fans
Keyboard
Logitech G-15v2 [PN 920-000379]
Mouse
Logitech G-9 [PN 910-000338]
Internet Speed
12Mbps/2.5Mbps w/ 24Mbps Speed Boost [Comcast]
Other Info
Logitech X-540 Speakers [PN 970223-0122]
Sennheiser PC-151 Headset
I've found a way to get at least one custom folder on the start menu. Out of all the optional folders, only Downloads is a direct shortcut (rather than a library). This means you can right-click into it's properties and redirect it. You'd go to the Location tab, choose a new path, and click OK through all the prompts. Then you can right-click > rename it.

Now if only I could get one more...
 

My Computer

OS
7

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
I've found a way to get at least one custom folder on the start menu. Out of all the optional folders, only Downloads is a direct shortcut (rather than a library). This means you can right-click into it's properties and redirect it. You'd go to the Location tab, choose a new path, and click OK through all the prompts. Then you can right-click > rename it.

Now if only I could get one more...

*** Proceed at your own risk ***


Could you Copy it, Rename it and redirect that one?
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Scan 3XS P55 liteDAW
OS
Windows Home Premium (64)
CPU
Intel Core i7 860
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4
Memory
8GB (4x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS3
Graphics Card(s)
1GB Gainward 9500 GT
Sound Card
M-Audio Delta 66
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer v223wBBd
Screen Resolution
1680 x 1050
Hard Drives
1 x 500 GB WD Barracuda (OS+Docs)
2 x 1TB Samsung Spinpoint F3 (Data)
PSU
Enermax EMD625AWT II - 625W Enermax Modu82+ II
Case
Fractal Design Define R2 Black
Cooling
Prolima Megahalems Super 6 Heatpipe Tower Cooler
Keyboard
Microsoft Digital Media Pro
Mouse
Belkin Optical Ergo
Internet Speed
8 Mbps nominal (14.9 achieved !)
Other Info
Digital Audio Workstation
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