Solved Registry: differences between Shell Folders and User Shell Folders?

[tinfanide]

Please consider these two keys:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]

What is the main difference between these?

Say,
I've changed first the keys under Shell Folders and then under User Shell Folders.
It was only until I'd changed those under User Shell Folders (after restarting the machine) did the changes take place.
Shell Folders seem not to be taking effect at all.

 

[mitchell65]

First off, have you created a registry backup? This is MOST IMPORTANT!! Dabbling with the registry can seriously damage your OS and should only be undertaken if you know exactly what you are doing!!!
Here's the definitive answer to your query:
Windows Registry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[tinfanide]

First off, have you created a registry backup? This is MOST IMPORTANT!! Dabbling with the registry can seriously damage your OS and should only be undertaken if you know exactly what you are doing!!!
Here's the definitive answer to your query:
Windows Registry - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yes, I did the backup first.
But could ya kindly point to me where my query is answered on the wiki page?

 

[mitchell65]

Juust read the article and all the keys are explained therein!

 

[Brink]

Hello tinfanide,

Those two registry locations work together, but the "Shell Folders" location is for backwards compatibility. OPTION TWO in the tutorial below to restore the default user folder locations can help show you more if you like.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18583-user-folders-restore-default-location.html

See also: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/18629-user-folders-change-default-location.html


To help answer your question more.

• User Shell Folders
• The long and sad story of the Shell Folders key - The Old New Thing - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

 

[TodWulff]

Relevant Content from TechNet

User Shell Folders

User Shell Folders: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Description: The User Shell Folders subkey stores the paths to Windows Explorer folders for the current user of the computer.

Note: The entries in this subkey can appear in both the Shell Folders subkey and the User Shell Folders and in both HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE and HKEY_CURRENT_USER. The entries that appear in user User Shell Folders take precedence over those in Shell Folders. The entries that appear in HKEY_CURRENT_USER take precedence over those in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

 

[jonnyhotchkiss]

really interesting article brink, thanks for the link