"My Documents" Folder Name

[broiyan]

If you click on the folder icon in Windows Explorer, you can see that "My Documents" is really C:\Users\Owner\Documents.

How can I get Windows 7 to stop "lying" to me about the names of the folders.

 

[logicearth]

Its not lying, it is displaying a localized named. This aspect is controlled by an entry in "desktop.ini"

 

[Dzomlija]

If you click on the folder icon in Windows Explorer, you can see that "My Documents" is really C:\Users\Owner\Documents.

How can I get Windows 7 to stop "lying" to me about the names of the folders.

Try this:

1. Open a Command Prompt
2. type CD C:\Users\Owner\Documents then press <Enter>
3. type ATTRIB -r -h -s -a DESKTOP.INI then pres <Enter>
4. type NOTEPAD DESKTOP.INI then pres <Enter>
5. In notepad, change LocalizedResourceName to _LocalizedResourceName
6. Close notepad, and save changes
7. Go back to the command prompt
8. type ATTRIB +r +h +s +a DESKTOP.INI then press <Enter>
9. type exit the press <Enter>
10. Close all Explorer windows
11. Reopen an explorer window, and check to see what the display name of Documents is.

Or, if you don't want to go through all that trouble, just right-click on "My Documents", and select Rename...

 

[alphanumeric]

Um, where do you see it listed as "My Documents"? If I go to my Libraries its listed as just "Documents". same deal with my start menu, it just shows Documents, Pictures, etc. There is no My in front of them.

 

[broiyan]

Dzomlija, there seems to be an error in your instructions (line 5). Please have a look.

 

[broiyan]

alphanumeric, just browse there using something other than Libraries. For example start with Network or Desktop or Local Disk.

 

[Dzomlija]

Dzomlija, there seems to be an error in your instructions (line 5). Please have a look.

It's the underlineing that's making it hard to read.

Try this:

1. Open a Command Prompt
2. type CD C:\Users\Owner\Documents then press <Enter>
3. type ATTRIB -r -h -s -a DESKTOP.INI then pres <Enter>
4. type NOTEPAD DESKTOP.INI then pres <Enter>
5. In notepad, change LocalizedResourceName to _LocalizedResourceName . In fact, if you change the value of this setting, you can make "My Documents" to be named anyting!
6. Close notepad, and save changes
7. Go back to the command prompt
8. type ATTRIB +r +h +s +a DESKTOP.INI then press <Enter>
9. type exit the press <Enter>
10. Close all Explorer windows
11. Reopen an explorer window, and check to see what the display name of Documents is.

Or, if you don't want to go through all that trouble, just right-click on "My Documents", and select Rename...

 

[broiyan]

just renaming My Documents to Documents

What will the risks and side-effects be if I just right click to rename My Documents to Documents?

Will popular applications fail? Will apps need to be reinstalled?

I would expect fewer side-effects if I follow your desktop.ini procedure (unless the two methods result in identical operating system setups). Are there no benefits to doing it via desktop.ini, and if so then why did you suggest it?

 

[Dzomlija]

What will the risks and side-effects be if I just right click to rename My Documents to Documents?

Will popular applications fail? Will apps need to be reinstalled?

I would expect fewer side-effects if I follow your desktop.ini procedure (unless the two methods result in identical operating system setups). Are there no benefits to doing it via desktop.ini, and if so then why did you suggest it?

It's ("My Documents") is nothing more than a display name, as the actual folder name is unchanged.

Best to use the Desktop.ini method, as that is the least intrusive, meaning that it leaves the folder names unchanged...

 

[broiyan]

Please explain your method. Are you adding the underscore to the front of the identifier LocalizedResourceName simply to ensure that any Windows code that looks for it will fail to find it?

 

[Dzomlija]

Please explain your method. Are you adding the underscore to the front of the identifier LocalizedResourceName simply to ensure that any Windows code that looks for it will fail to find it?

That is correct. By adding the underscore, you're effectively "removing" it without the risk of losing it entirely. That way, you can always put it back later if you want.

 

[broiyan]

Dzomlija wrote:

Best to use the Desktop.ini method, as that is the least intrusive, meaning that it leaves the folder names unchanged...

Actually, wouldn't it be least intrusive to just right-click rename from within Windows Explorer? The directory name is unchanged and this is easily confirmed in a terminal window.