why are files saved to wrong locations?

needsleep · 25 Feb 2021

I save a current file I'm working on to a folder. I expect the system to take that as the operative folder until I save something else to a new folder. But that's not what happens! Instead, the system decides a seemingly random folder is the next candidate for a file that is being saved. Over and over, I have to correct the filing location. And when I forget? It saves it in God knows where. I routinely find files mis-filed in folders, attesting to when I've "gone on automatic."

I wish to know what is happening at the system level and if there are any fixes for it.

I save a test text file, and it is stored in my food recipes folder. I was in that folder last night.
I save this webpage and it wants to store it in the Downloads folder.
I roll through all eight other tabs that are open in my browser, and I get about half saving to the Downloads folder, and the rest are random locations.
Saving a new word processing document, defaults to the My Documents folder.

My Windows Version is 10.0.19041, Build 19041

Thanks!

Samuria · 25 Feb 2021

Each program like browser has its own setting for default save location you need to check every software

Paul Black · 25 Feb 2021

Hello @needsleep,

[1] Are you using Save, or Save As?
[2] Save should automatically Save the file to the location [ Folder ] where it resides. Are you saying that this in NOT the case?
[3] What sort of File is it [ .doc, .txt etc ]?

needsleep · 25 Feb 2021

I can understand that, but surely there is a system setting for most recently used folder. And can't that be set to override all other program's choice of location? Or can't I set that in every application to use the system setting as its default?

Basically, if I'm researching hydroponics at the moment, I want all documents either going to a top level directory there, or perhaps sub-folder of current research area being investigated, like nutrients, for example. So I guess I want to set what folder that's going to be, ideally. Or manually create an empty text file and store it in the folder of interest, and let the system then set it's most recently used folder from that.

Berton · 25 Feb 2021

As @Samuria mentioned most programs use what is set, the default for Windows is C:\Users\USERNAME with downloads from the 'net going to the Downloads folder there. Office-type program creations go to their default, usually Documents, images to Pictures, etc. The Options or Preferences in each program has that setting. For simplicity Web browsers usually go to Downloads but using Save as can give a choice. Historically, back a few versions of Windows every download went to the desktop but then the Windows programmers changed their reasoning to have a clean desktop instead.

Farvatten · 25 Feb 2021

needsleep said:

I save this webpage and it wants to store it in the Downloads folder.

I roll through all eight other tabs that are open in my browser, and I get about half saving to the Downloads folder, and the rest are random locations.

Here's the behavior I see with Edge and Firefox browsers when I right click and choose 'Save as..'. from the context menu.

Whatever I have set as my 'Default' location is where the File Explorer window will open to the first time.

If however I navigate to a different folder, it will remember that folder for it, any other old or new tabs, or any new browser windows that get opened. Only closing all the browser windows will it reset to the 'Default' folder.

Hope this helps.

'Ask me... ' is more for automatic downloads like .bat and .reg files for instance when you select the [Download] button in the tutorial section of this website.