Huh - I can't access my own documents???

[johne53]

If I launch Windows Explorer (Windows 7 BTW) the left-hand pane shows an entry called "Libraries". Underneath it are 4 further entries called Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos. To pick an example, 'Pictures' corresponds to C:\Users\johne53\Pictures". 'Pictures' contains sub-entries called 'Public Pictures' and 'My Pictures' - both of which I can access.

However, under the 'Documents' branch I have a further option called "My Documents". It contains sub-entires called "My Music", "My Pictures" and "My Videos" which I assumed would be shortcuts (or symbolic links of some sort) to the folders I mentioned above. And if I right-click on any of them and select 'Properties->Security' it seems to tell me that I have full control for the folders (or links, or whatever they are). And yet if I left-click, I just get a message box saying "Access is denied".

I'd like to delete whatever they are and set up some shortcuts so that (for example) 'Libraries->Documents->My Documents->My Pictures' points to the same place as 'Libraries->Pictures->My Pictures'. Is this advisable? And why does Windows set up 'My Documents' with sub-folders called 'My Music" / "My Pictures' etc but then not allow me to access them???

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello johne53.



They are Junction Points they are not "real" they just point to other locations for legacy support, do not try to delete them it will cause more problems than you can solve.

 

[johne53]

That was a useful link. Thanks! Better to leave them well alone, I reckon! But I'm still puzzled about why I get the "Access denied" message when Properties->Security tells me that I have full control.

???

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

That was a useful link. Thanks! Better to leave them well alone, I reckon! But I'm still puzzled about why I get the "Access denied" message when Properties->Security tells me that I have full control.

???

They don't really exist!

 

[Barman58]

In an attempt to prevent system crashes due to inquisitive power users playing with these system junction points, Microsoft has explicitly denied access to them, to all but I think the hidden administrator and system.

As you rightly say "Best left Well alone"

 

[alphanumeric]

Did you copy your "My Documents" from another PC, maybe a PC with windows XP on it? In windows XP your My Pictures, My Music and My videos folders are in the My Documents folder. In Windows 7 they are each in their own separate folder. The My Documents folder won't normally have a My Pictures folder in it. I'm guessing your Pictures library is empty and the My Pictures folder in your MY documents folder isn't.