How to Restore deleted Public Folder

[Southerner1959]

A few months ago, when I got the computer running Windows 7 that I now use online, I uninstalled various stuff I didn't want, and also "tidied up" a few things.

This included deleting the Public folder (and all subfolders)

I've since discovered that some software (including Skype) won't install, as it uses this folder.

I have manually re-created the Public Folder, and necessary sub-folders (just using Windows Explorer) . . . but I gather that isn't good enough, as it requires the appropropriate Registry entries, as this is a System Folder. (I found a page that showed how to correct the Registry entries for the normal User folders . . . but can't find anything in the Registry that refers to the Public folders, even on my girlfriend's "good" Win7 machine)

I have Searched and Searched online . . . . but everyone who has asked this question hasn't received an answer!

I thought I had found the solution when I found this page on this Forum:
Public Folders - Restore

However . . . this only works if you never deleted the Public folder !

Hope someone can help.

(oh by the way, System Restore doesn't fix it)

Roger

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
Repair Install - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Southerner1959]

Is there no way of re-instating this Folder WITHOUT doing a full Windows 7 Install ?!

I have lots of custom settings (which took me ages to suss out, as all my other PCs run Win XP), and I have also lots of Updates (and just downloaded some files to get Updates working again)

As I understand it, don't I just need to correct the Registry entry for the Public Folder? (I just don't know where to find it !)

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
All I know is that if restore default libraries does not work possibly creating a new administrator user account may ?
Libraries - Restore Default - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Southerner1959]

"Restore Default Libraries" only seems to restore the Personal Libraries . . . not the Public ones !

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
On the top of the navigation pane
Right click the Favorites listing on the top and select restore favorites links :/

 

[Southerner1959]

On the top of the navigation pane
Right click the Favorites listing on the top and select restore favorites links

What do you mean by Navigation Pane ?

 

[Southerner1959]

I'm pretty sure that, having re-created the actual Public Folder (and its subfolders) using Windows Explorer, the only problem is that there isn't the correct Registry entry, to show them as a System Folder . . .

Can nobody explain to me just how to do that?

 

[mitchell65]

Have you tried Option 3 of this:
Libraries - Restore Default - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Southerner1959]

Yes I have . . . that only restores the normal User Libraries that you see in My Documents . . .

It doesn't restore the Public Folder and its Subfolders.

And as I understand it, the Libraries are actually just a convenient group of shortcuts to the actual Folders that you use frequently . . . they are not really there as such.

(this website is very strange . . . a one-line message from some people takes up the whole screen !)

 

[Southerner1959]

This page seems to be the nearest for the Info I need:

Public Folders - Restore - Windows 7 Help Forums

But when I try Step 12 "In the elevated command prompt, Copy and Paste the command below for the public folder, and press Enter. This will restore the default attributes for the public folder."

When I type "attrib +h +r -s %Public%\Desktop /S /D" it says "Path not found - C:\Windows\system32\%Public% "

 

[Lance1]

Here's a good wright up by Brink----> Public Folders - Restore Hope this is what your looking for.

 

[mitchell65]

Have you checked to see if you have the following folders?

• Libraries
• Desktop
• Documents
• Downloads
• Music
• Pictures
• Recorded TV
• Videos

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
Here's a screen shot
Are you sure you created all four Public folders under your user name ?


All I can say is if i right click the Public Documents folder and go to properties and the location section it shows C:\Users\Public\Documents

 

[Southerner1959]

Appreciate your help guys . . .

Here's a good wright up by Brink----> Public Folders - Restore Hope this is what your looking for

If you read my post just before yours Lance1 - that's what I tried !

I think that's about the nearest to what I need . . . but Brink's advice I think only applies when someone has only deleted the Subfolders . . . not the whole Public folder itself (as I did). I think it restores the Registry files for the Subfolders . . . but NOT for the Public folder (and that's what I think I need to do !)

Are you sure you created all four Public folders under your user name ?

I don't have a Username, as I'm the only user . . . it's just Owner ! But the Public Folder is just within Users . . . not any individual user folder, right?

HOWEVER . . . I notice in your Screenshot that the subfolders in Public all have the word Public in front of each (like "Public Desktop") . . . however . . . on my girlfriend's Win7 machine the folders in Public just say Desktop, Downloads, Documents, etc . . . so that is what I re-created.

I tried changing them all to "Public Desktop" etc . . . but it made no difference . . . the main problem is that the Public folder itself isn't recognised by Installation software (as I guess the Registry path isn't there)

I also just tried clicking the "Restore favorite links" . . . but it didn't seem to do anything.

However . . . I notice some of these folders have a hidden "desktop.ini" file in them . . . should I have one in my Public folder? (and is that the problem? does the ini file provide the path?)

By the way, I have a basic understanding of the issues, as I learnt a bit of computer programming at University 40 years ago . . . but obviously don't understand all the complexities of Windows!

 

[Southerner1959]

Just looked at my girlfriend's Win 7 Laptop again . . .

I see that, within Public, the folders Desktop, Favorites and Libraries all just say that, and are hidden . . . whereas the others all say "Public Documents" etc. So I have made them look the same, although I don't think that will make any difference !

The problem is the Public folder itself . . . (oh and there's no ini file in hers either, so that's not the problem)

But again comparing my Public folders (that I've re-created) with the ones on my girlfriend's computer . . .

When I right-click on any of mine, and open the Properties box, there is no Location tab. (although on the first page it says "Location: C:\Pubic\Desktop" etc

I guess this is confirming that the location is not in the Registry properly ?

 

[mitchell65]

With tongue in cheek I ask if you backup your system on a regular basis as with Macrium Reflect or similar software?

 

[torchwood]

And throwing my 2 cents in

A repair install NO LOSS off personal data.

Further more you DO have more than one account on that machine

Roy

 

[Southerner1959]

With tongue in cheek I ask if you backup your system on a regular basis as with Macrium Reflect or similar software?

No . . . to be honest I only back up all my important files, not the machine itself.

A repair install NO LOSS off personal data

Yes but I don't have a Windows 7 disc with which to do that.

Anyway . . . I have finally got this sorted !

Somebody on my Ham Radio Forum I posted this problem on just came up with the solution . . .

All I had to do was open the System Properties box . . go to the Advanced tab . . .

Then click Environment Variables . . . and click on System Variables . . . then New . . . and insert that "Public" is "C:\Users\Public"

It was that simple !

All the different Software I had problems installing now recognises the Public folder I re-created . . .

So have successfully now installed Skype, my Epson scanner software, and my Fuji camera.

Hopefully this info will be useful for anyone else who deleted their Public folder !

 

[Southerner1959]

I can see why a lot of people delete this Public folder . . .

It's what earlier versions of Windows called All Users . . . which makes more sense ! So I think Microsoft were silly re-naming it !