Tried To Change New Content Storage Loction And Now Have Folder Issues

gapi · 11 Nov 2017

I have a new laptop with Win10 Home.
It came with a 256 SSD and I installed a 1TB SSD in the empty bay.
I have way too much personal data to store on the 256 SSD.

So I try my hand at changing the default new content locations to the 2nd SSD and did not do so good.
I backed out and now see (in the C:\ I have two Documents icons in "This PC" and no Desktop icon. Both collect documents.

I cannot rename one or make any changes no matter what. I tried reverting to previous and other things I googled.

Where my desktop folder is beats me. Is there a way to repair File Explorer?

My 1TB SSD is OK. I just created destination folders there.

Tried To Change New Content Storage Loction And Now Have Folder Issues-two_doc_folders.png

Tried To Change New Content Storage Loction And Now Have Folder Issues-1tb_ssd_folders.png

dalchina · 11 Nov 2017

Hi, unfortunately it is all too easy to make mistakes with that and every so often someone gets into a difficult situation.

This is why we continually urge people to use disk imaging routinely- so they can go back to a previous good state quite quickly and without technical help (e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) ).

You could try System Restore, if you have enabled System Restore (it's off by default) - and if you have any useful restore points.

This may help:
Restore Default Location of Personal Folders in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

However, depending on what exactly you have done, you may end up with a corrupt user profile or lose some data.

Proceed with caution- if you have backups, fine, else back up any data that is not backed up and which you can still access before making changes.

Considering the need to move data:
First, it's very wise not to have personal data in the same partition as Windows.
Second, you don't HAVE to use the default folders Windows provides. You can create your own and put them into the appropriate libraries.

Note that programs you install will often create folders in Documents, Videos, Photos... so I regard those as 'Their folders' - not 'My folders'.

For clarification:

Is there a way to repair File Explorer?

It's not your OS or programs that are 'broken' - but the organisation of your file system on disk.

gapi · 11 Nov 2017

Thanks,
You are right and I am not disaplined enough to do it out of the box (yet).
I do run Macrium Reflect on my desktop and will on the laptop but did not install it yet because its just out of the box and I wanted to make the default new content folders directed onto the (D:\).
I used the Win10 method of System\Storage\More Storage Settings\Change Where New Content is Saved\.

Every common location is in the list of choices but "Downloads" and this is where things went wrong. I tried doing the Downloads, properties, location, move method and it balled up from there.

The laptop does come with a factory restore partition and I may just do that.
This all has me wondering if its worth the trouble to run the smaller (256GB SSD M.2) as the OS boot drive and the 1TB SSD for storage or just run it all on the 1TB SSD and disable the smaller.

dalchina · 11 Nov 2017

256Gb should be plenty for Windows. I have my OS and a LOT of programs installed on my 256Gb SSD, and all personal stuff on my 1Tb disk.

For interest:
Change Storage Save Locations in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

Usually people manage to recover from getting this into a mess, but if you've not spent much time configuring it, you could just do a clean install or perhaps try resetting your PC.
Reset Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

For historic reasons my programs are installed on D: - I wouldn't do that from scratch now, it's a carry over from the past. But you can see how my Windows looks:

Tried To Change New Content Storage Loction And Now Have Folder Issues-1.jpg

Tried To Change New Content Storage Loction And Now Have Folder Issues-2.jpg

(My data partitions and the other drive aren't shown).

I don't do anything to save space specially- I run ccleaner before updating my disk image. Ran like this for the last 18 months, from 1607 to 1703.

gapi · 11 Nov 2017

Thanks. I reset the PC and will read as advised.

dalchina · 12 Nov 2017

Good thing you didn't lose anything significant.

topgundcp · 12 Nov 2017

If your problem is just 2 folders with the same name as "Documents" then it's easy to fix. The top folder is actually your Desktop with the Desktop Icon. The second is Documents.
Open Folder Options and set to "Show hidden file" and uncheck "Hide protected oparating Systems...."
On the address box of file explorer, type: %USERPROFILE% then hit return.
Rename the folder to "Desktop" (Select the one with dektop icon).
Restart, it should rename back to Desktop.

gapi · 12 Nov 2017

Thanks, BTW I'm using Win10 Home

The Laptop reset cured this putting it all back to normal but I'm still having an issue with it not working. No stray or duplicate folders though.

I followed the tutorial and it applied, creating the new user folders on the D: but it did not move my files.
So I created a word document and saved and it did not go to the other drive.

I checked the services settings and it was running and set to automatic (delayed start, triggered start). I changed it to manual (trigger start) and still a no go. I put it back.

So I reverted.
Should I just do the C:\ Users\ miste\ Documents\ Properties \ Location \Move on each one? I believe this will prompt me to choose to move the current content.

Thanks

dalchina · 13 Nov 2017

Documents Folder - Move Location in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials
Moving the existing files when you do that is an option.

Personally I would create new folders and create new libraries or add the folders to existing libraries.

gapi · 14 Nov 2017

Thanks Guys,

I really followed the tutorials to the letter and still get quirky issues. I have another computer open with the tutorials next to the laptop and it still does not give me favorable results. Maybe something has changed in Win10.

So I just made my own folders on the D:\ and directed my programs to save there in their options menus.
And if they do not have such choices during installation setup or in their options menus once I direct a save to my desired location it its the default the next time.
I have never played well with the Library thing anyways.

Thanks