How do I get my documents folder off my desktop without deleting it fr

[Kit2594]

I've just started using windows 7 & somehow my documents folder ended up on my desktop along with the normal icon that links to the documents library. I've been trying to figure out how to get the documents folder off my desktop & just keep it in my documents library. Problem is that everything I've tried that gets the folder off my desktop also deletes all my documents from my documents library. I’m concerned that if my documents folder stays on my desktop at some point I’ll delete the entire thing since the only folders I usually keep on the desktop are ones that I need for a very short time, like a few hrs. Then I just delete them totally. How can I get my documents folder off my desktop & just keep it in my documents library??

Thanks for any help,
Kit

 

[fimble]

Is it really your my documents folder? Check properties to make sure it isn't a shortcut to your documents folder.
You can most likely remove it by right clicking the desktop and select Personalise > On the left, select Change desktop icons and making sure Users Files isn't ticked.

If it really is your documents folder you can move it by right clicking > properties and selecting the location tab and moving it that way.

 

[James Colbert]

It's likely that the steps posted by fimble to remove the documents folder icon from your desktop will solve your problem. If you do relocate the (actual) Documents folder, be sure to follow the steps in this tutorial, especially step #9 in option 2, or you risk ending up with multiple Document folders.

James

 

[Kit2594]

It's not the icon that I want to move, it's my documents folder.. I want it in the library without being on my desktop. Is it normal in Windows 7 for the actual documents folder to be on the desktop??

 

[Heyyou]

It's not the icon that I want to move, it's my documents folder.. I want it in the library without being on my desktop. Is it normal in Windows 7 for the actual documents folder to be on the desktop??

Open your library and drag the folder into it.

 

[fimble]

The icon will be "Your Docoments", but it isn't. It's a direct path (link) as opposed to being a shortcut, which would open a folder from its true location.

Others will be able to explain it far better than I can!

 

[Kit2594]

Just saw the tutorial & noticed that my user name isn't listed under the libraries as it shows in the tutorial.. I'm the only user of this computer. I'm thinking this could be part of the problem, how do I add my user name there? Oh, & yes it definitely is my document folder itself that is on my desktop (the normal documents icon shortcut is there also). I've tried deleting something from my documents file to see what would happen & then went & checked the document icon. The item I deleted from the file is then also missing from where the documents icon takes me to.

 

[James Colbert]

The default path for Documents is C:\Users\yourusername. If it is no longer in the default location, your best bet will be to restore it to the default location. Then, if you wish it to be in a different location, use the Change Default Location tutorial (same link as in my previous post) to move it to wherever you wish. I keep mine on a Data partition that gets backed up regularly. Again, when changing the default location, it's important to follow the instructions to avoid duplicate user folders.

James

 

[whs]

Before you keep experimenting with the risk of loosing it, I suggest you copy the folder to an external device or another partition- Then you have a safe fallback.

Next I would rename the one on the desktop and move it to the Documents library. If that does not work, try moving it from the backup and delete the one on the desktop.

 

[Imperfect1]

In addition to the other good advice given in this thread, it's a good thing to remember that the "Desktop" is just a folder, and is very similar to other folders, in that if you want to move something off the Desktop but not delete it, one very effective way to do this is to open Windows Explorer, "Cut" the file/folder you want to move and "Paste" it wherever you want it. Voila!

 

[Layback Bear]

Right click on the icon and go to properties, select details and let us know the size, (1.0 KB, 10 MB or what every it is). This way we will know if it's just a icon directing to to the folder or the entire folder.

 

[Kit2594]

Right now the documents icon size is 1.07kb (this is what I want to keep on my desktop). My documents folder on my desktop is is at 41.9mbs. It's this folder that I want to move of my desktop.. I'm concerned that if it stays there I will at some point accidentally delete it. I have backed it up onto a disk but still want to find out how to get it into the library (or some place else) & off of my desktop.

I've attached an image of my desktop showing both the icon & the folder.

 

[James Colbert]

Right click on the Documents icon (not shortcut), choose properties, click on the Location tab (as in the screenshot):



What is the current location? As you can see, there is a move button. The links to tutorials in my previous posts will demonstrate how to correctly change the location.

Also, your user name will not appear in Libraries.

Here is a list of tutorials for anything you want to know about Libraries:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/257-windows-7-tutorial-index-2.html#post1075

James

 

[Kit2594]

I actually was just able to solve my problem by creating a new user name & putting my documents folder into that. For some reason the icon on my desktop still takes me to the folder which is good. But at least I was able to get the folder off my desktop! Thanks for the help!!