Libraries - Restore Default

How to Restore the Default Libraries in Windows 7 and Windows 8​

   Information

In case you have a missing Library, this will show you how to restore all of the default Libraries in Windows 7.

   Note

Libraries let you access and arrange items from one or more folders quickly without moving them from their original location. Libraries themselves don't store your files or folders. Instead, they point to different locations on a hard disk or external drive attached to your computer. This gives you easy access to a category of files no matter where they are stored. For instance, if you have music files on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files from within the "Music" library.

Here's a list of the default libraries, as well as the folders you can access in each library:

• Documents library -Use this library to access the Personal Documents folder, where you can store word-processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other text-related files. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Documents library are stored in the Personal Documents folder.
• Pictures library - Use this library to access the Personal Pictures folder, where you can store digital pictures, whether you get them from your camera, scanner, or in e‑mail from other people. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Pictures library are stored in the Personal Pictures folder.
• Music library - Use this library to access your Personal Music folder, where you can store digital music, such as songs that you copy from an audio CD or download from the Internet. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Music library are stored in the Personal Music folder.
• Videos library - Use this library to access your Personal Videos folder, where you can store videos, such as clips from your digital camera or camcorder, or video files that you download from the Internet. By default, files that you move, copy, or save to the Videos library are stored in the Personal Videos folder.

For more information about Windows 7 Libraries see:

• Windows 7 Libraries: Frequently Asked Questions
• Understanding Windows 7 Libraries - Windows 7 for Developers - The Windows Blog
• Inside Windows 7:Introducing Libraries

   Tip

The full path to the hidden Libraries folder is below.

C:\Users\(User-Name)\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

OR

%AppData%\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries

EXAMPLE: Default Libraries

OPTION ONE

To Restore Default Libraries using "Restore Default Libraries"

1. Open Windows Explorer.

2. Right click or press and hold on Libraries in the navigation pane, and click/tap on Restore Default Libraries. (see screenshot below)

OPTION TWO

To Restore Default Libraries by Unhiding them

   Note

This option is only helpful if your library or libraries have been hidden.

1. For how, see: How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7 and Windows 8

OPTION THREE

To Restore Default Libraries using a REG File

   Note

This option will restore the default registry entries for the default libraries of all users.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this option.

1. If OPTION ONE and OPTION TWO above didn't help, then click/tap on the download button below to download the below.
Restore_Default_Libraries.reg


Download


2. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3. Double click/tap on the .reg file to merge it.

4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve merging the .reg file.

5. Restart the computer to apply.

6. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Fix Libraries when Hidden and Empty in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Fix the "Library-ms is no longer working" Error in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• User Folders in Windows 7 Libraries
• How to Hide or Show a Library in the Navigation Pane in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Create a New Library in Windows 7
• How to Include a Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Include a Network Drive or Folder in a Library in Windows 7
• How to Remove a Included Folder from a Library in Windows 7
• How to Set the Default Save Folder for a Library in Windows 7
• How to Change the Windows 7 Pinned Windows Explorer Taskbar Icon Open To Target
• How to Change a Library Icon in Windows 7
• How to Create a Windows 7 Downloads Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Games Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 Favorites Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Searches" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Create a Windows 7 "Links" Library with the Correct Icon
• How to Add or Remove the Windows 7 Libraries Folder from the Navigation Pane
• How to Turn the Library Pane On or Off in Windows 7

 

[Ron Henderson]

Hidden folders in library pane

My problem is I can't see my folders in the library pane, they are hiden. If I unhide hidden files system wide I can see them, but when I go to the folder attributes the hidden attribute is not checked. I have compared all the settings to another computer I have with windows 7 and everything appears to be exactly the same, but I can see my folders. I have searched through the registry but everthing appears the same on both computers, on the one I am using I can see these folders in the navigation pane, in libraries.

 

[Brink]

Hello Ron, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if doing step 6 in OPTION TWO of the tutorial below with each hidden folder using the original source location in the command may be able unhide them.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/56005-file-folder-hide-unhide.html

If not, then please post back with the full paths of each hidden folder that you want unhidden and I'll see what I may be able to do to help further.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Ron Henderson]

Hidden folders in library pane

Thank you for the response Shawn. I have included the screen dumps in explorer of my problem. The first image is as I open explorer, then I have set the option in folder and search options to see all hidden and system files, which is the second image. The icons which are then visible appear to be shortcuts and not the actual folder. After clicking on the icon properties I get the actual folder.

Thanks,
Ron

 

[Ron Henderson]

Hidden folders in library pane

Sorry Shawn, in my last post I should have said clicking on the icon shows the shortcut properties.

 

[Brink]

Ron,

Oh, I see. It's the libraries themselves that are hidden. I had thought it was the folders in them instead. This should fix it for you.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/173029-libraries-hidden-empty-fix.html

 

[MariuX]

Brink,
I have the same problem. Tried it just now, but didnt work. Also, I went to ...\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Videos.library and checked the settings there - in there, it wasnt "hidden" and even afgter hiding and then unhiding them, the libraries shown in the explorer were still hidden.
Any other solution?

 

[MariuX]

sorry, too soon. Took a little while, but now they're unhidden again. thanks

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome MariuX. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

 

[Ron Henderson]

Hidden folders in library pane

Shawn, that fixed my problem. Thank you very much for your help.
Regards,
Ron Henderson

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Ron. That's great news.

 

[Jair]

Nothing like to have some basic knowledge of DOS, I wasnt able to see my libraries music pictures docs and videos, and now they reappeared, I followed your instructions and I solved the problem. Thank you very much.

they were hidden

 

[Brink]

Hello Jair, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You're most welcome.

 

[dawntodusk]

Wrong parameter format

Hello

I'm sorry to be bringing this issue up again, but my Videos library is hidden, and when I tried copying and pasting the commands into the elevated command prompt I received "Wrong parameter format" instead.

Does this have anything to do with the OS that I'm running, or is it just a bug?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Brink]

Hello Dawn, and welcome to Seven Forums.

That error usually indicates a mistake made in the typing of the command. Try copying and pasting the command for Videos from below instead to see if you get the same error.

ATTRIB -H %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Videos.library-ms /S /D

 

[dawntodusk]

Thank you for the welcome.

I tried copying and pasting the command, but I got the same error. It still says "Parameter format not correct"

 

[Brink]

Strange. Could you post a screenshot of your Libraries window and in the Videos library to see if something may standout?

Are you able to open the Videos library?

 

[dawntodusk]

I am able to open the Videos library, if I select "show hidden icons" under the Control Panel.

With "Don't show hidden icons" selected:

With "Show hidden icons" selected:

The videos library:


Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hmmm, I'm just not sure why you would be getting a "Parameter format not correct" error unless there was a mistake in the way it was typed or entered in the command prompt. :huh:

Try copying and pasting this command to see if it may help.

ATTRIB -R -H -S %UserProfile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Libraries\Videos.library-ms /S /D

 

[dawntodusk]

I still got the same error


It's ok, I'll just leave the settings as "Show hidden files" for now. It wouldn't be the first time that things disappear anyway.

 

[Brink]

Dawn,

How strange. I'm not sure why you are still getting that error. It appears to be correct in your screenshot.

I noticed that your command prompt has "Version 6.1.7600" instead of "Version 6.1.7601". Do you have SP1 installed? If not, then installing it, might also reset this Videos library back to it's default of not being hidden.