Vista - How to reset Documents Folder path

Hi joinaunion and thanks for posting.  I'm not sure what you mean ... by selecting "to restore previous version?" Do you mean a System Restore? If not, how do I attempt this?

Jeff

I,m sorry I mean" restore default"you said you noticed this button I just want to know what happens if you do this,if theres a error generated.

Well, I was hoping to get some insight into what that "Restore Default" was supposed to do ... AND what it might do under the convoluted circumstances I've described BEFORE I do it ... and possibly mess things up even worse ... Any ideas about that?

Bump? Anyone?

Restore default button will attempt to restore the default location of the folder.For example my documents location is C:\Users\Administrator\Documents I pressed restore button and it remained the same.If you prees the button and it changes write down location then click cancel then post location if it changed.

Ok, I've got 4 apparently different Documents folders best explained in the attached Screen shots.doc file along with explanatory commentary.  Can you have a look at that and see if it helps make any sense as to what I'm dealing with?  Then if you still want me to do the Restore Default, let me know but since the only folder I can apparently do this with is empty, I'm not sure what that would do ...

Ok, I had one last screen shot to update, and have done so in the updated "screen shots II.doc" file ... so you can ignore the previous one.  In case you may have already started looking at the earlier one, the only thing added was the last screen shot and this comment:

One, one more thing, when I click on Start | Documents, I get this screen shot, which when I click into the Address bar resolves to: C:\Users\Owner\Desktop\Documents\Documents

So, just summing up then, how do I put Jack (or in this case, Karla) back together again, so that all applications will offer as their default "Save To" folder, the apparently standard Vista folder structure:

C:\Users\Karla\Documents\

... or if I'm missing the boat in this respect, please advise the way it should be ... and what I need to do to get things in synch.

Thanks!

Jeff

Anybody?

Merete, thanks for posting. I'm sorry I haven't been staying involved in this but I've got multiple computers I'm dealing with, all having MS Update issues of some sort, like the laptop of this topic, it is having a problem with Windows Update repeatedly trying to restart the PC (in addition to the polluted Directory structure reported here). I took a look at the Startup Repair option you mentioned, but it requires a trip across town to get the original CD and I'd rather avoid that if I can.   So, while I am not 100% sure yet, since I've been contemplating an upgrade to Windows 7, I'm considering making that move as a way out of having to deal with both of these problems ... that said, I don't want to port any of these problems over to a W7 install, so will probably do some kind of clean install if I go that way ... just giving you an update ... if anyone has any thoughts about this "strategy", please let me know ... I'll come back to finish this once I know what I am going to do.

Thanks,

Jeff

Ok, joinaunion, it sounds a little like voo doo but I'll give it a go ... ;--)

Jeff

lol

Ok ... followed your suggestion (even re-booting twice in each of the user profiles I have on the machine).  not sure what I am supposed to see ... i.e., in terms of my problems. I seem to be cascading from one unfamiliar terrain to another here.   Most recently, after following your suggestion, I tried to download (using FireFox 3.0) a trial .exe application, specifying that the destination folder was one I located at "C:\Archived\Total Commander\" for example (and creating that last sub-folder on the fly), and it seemingly proceeds to a successful download.  Yet, when I use Computer to view that folder, it is empty.  I then check Permissions on the "C:\Archived" folder and ensure that my current User profile has Full Control, it doesn't, I change it so it does (though I think I've done this multiple times previously, in both User Profiles - both have Administrative privileges).  Then I close the Computer window and start another one, still the file is not there (however, if I switch to Internet Explorer 8, I am able to download to the same folder and actually see the file.  I have attached another "screen shots III.doc" (to THIS topic)  that hopefully depicts in pictures where I am at now better than I can say with words.  As background, the initial User ID on this laptop was "Karla" with Administrative privileges (but in Vista's apparent split identity, she is sometimes referred to as "Owner" under the Users Folder - this is the User Profile under which most of the initial problems surfaced.  Seeing the persistence of this problem, I started getting the idea that somehow her profile was corrupt, so I created a new one, "Kwak" (short for Karla with a K ;--), and copied all of the contents of "Karla's" individual sub-folders to "Kwak" (some files like desktop.ini were not copied).  For some reason, when I look under "C:\Users", I see Kwak but Karla is apparently represented only by "Owner".  All of the attached screen shots are taken while signed in under "Kwak's" profile and they tell a story of some of what I am seeing as I go along here.  Ultimately, I am wanting to move this laptop to Windows 7 but I've got 3 major issues:

1) The apparently corrupted folder/permissions associated with this machine, which is the subject of most of this email

2) A simultaneous problem with Windows Update repeatedly (dozen's of times now) trying to tell my I have to Restart my computer to complete updates.  I've traveled down as many roads on that issue as I have this one with no resolution in sight yet.

3) Why can't I see a program that Firefox apparently just let me download?   And yet, IE8 can apparently do correctly?

4) Lastly, I now notice that with Windows Photo Gallery, none of my daughter's extensive picture collection is visible.  Attempts to look at any of them produce the following error:  "Photo Gallery can't open this picture or video. The file appears to be damaged or corrupted."   Been going around the block on that one, too, for much too long.

So, I'm really tired of all of the dead ends I'm running into here and wanting to get to a solution that is going to last as easily as possible.  I know there is supposed to be a Vista>Windows 7 migration tool (Windows Easy Transfer, I think) that is really supposed to help make the migration a smooth one that transfers your Files, Programs and Settings ... but don't know if I ought to use it because of all the above errors I'm dealing with (don't want to replicate them there ...).  So am struggling with whether I ought to:

a) pull the plug (i.e., Remove) the Karla/Owner User profile, hope for the best that I won't transfer any bad Folder structure for the remaining Kwak User profile, and hope further that the new (upgraded) OS will cure the Windows Update issue, and then take advantage of the Windows Easy Transfer program? .... or

b) Back off everything I think she'd want to save, format the hard drive and do a clean install of W7 and re-install all her programs?

I know this question has morphed into many other issues that I am dealing with here and I'd be glad to post this whole migration issue as a separate topic with it's own points but also referencing this topic so Experts know there is more detail on those (earlier) issues here.  

As always,

I appreciate anyone's advice (voo doo or otherwise ... in fact, I'm about ready to try voo doo, if anyone can point me in the right direction ... ;--)

Jeff

> may be due to firefox not being default browser  

  - That's another issue - I installed Chrome under the original "Karla" profile but for all users, and am pretty sure I made it the default browser ... but I can't find it under the new "Kwac" profile, nor under "c:\Program Files" ... nowhere while signed in under the "Kwac" profile (yet it still shows up under the "Karla" profile).

That said, I initiated the download of that file from FF ... the FF Download window popped up, no errors generated ... just the file wasn't there.

This is ever more weird.  I just want to get home to Kansas and hope that W7 is a lot closer to it than Vista because this whole experience is leaving a very bitter taste in my mouth.  So, what is the best way for me to get there?

Jeff

Well I dont like to fly so I would be driving home but that may not work for you.:)
I have to goto work but I'll continue to think hard about your situation and get back to you.

Well, thanks, JAA. I appreciate that.  I wonder if I shouldn't go ahead and do that alternate Topic ... this has certainly turned into a much bigger can of worms than the Topic title here suggests ... have to do it tomorrow cuz, yeah, I do have to be driving home ... (even thou I'd rather fly ;--)

Jeff

As alluded to earlier, I just posted to a related Topic:

"Migration assistance from a whacked Vista Home Premium installation to Windows 7"

http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Microsoft_Operating_Systems/Windows/Windows_Vista/Q_24897743.html

... so feel free to chime in there, too, if you like ;--)

Jeff

OK, I ended up  being so disgusted with Vista and not being able to resolve these issues correctly that I went ahead and did a clean install of Windows 7.  So far ... so good.  I'm awarding points for effort here ... not that I got resolution here ... but then I couldn't easily try everything either.

Thanks guys,

Jeff

Difficult to grade this one ...

Sorry I was not around my dad had a heart attack and sorry we could not get your problem solved.