Undo: Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder  

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  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       #10

    Thanks Bree!


    Thank you so much for the swift reply Bree!

    I checked in Regedit and 'Personal' is already set to '%USERPROFILE%\Documents', however there is another mention of the documents folder, the string: {F42EE2D3-909F-4907-8871-4C22FC0BF756} whose Data is also set to '%USERPROFILE%\Documents'.

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-usershellfolders_screenshot.jpg

    Originally my Documents folder was on the D: Drive, I went in to properties and changed the path to Move it to the C: Drive, but didn't think to make a new folder. So all the contents of the Documents folder was put straight into the User folder (with the stuff that was there initially), and the User folder (<myname>) was renamed to 'Documents', at least in the file explorer.

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-fileexplorer_1.jpgUndo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-fileexplorer_2.jpg

    Although I've not lost any files or anything, I'm assuming it's not great to have (effectively) two Documents folders (one also being the User Folder?) and so I want to make sure I have the right structure! I could move the files I know to be (former) Documents files to the second Documents folder (C:\Users\<myname>\Documents) but then my User Folder would still be called 'Documents'...
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
    Thread Starter
       #11

    sirib said:
    Originally my Documents folder was on the D: Drive, I went in to properties and changed the path to Move it to the C: Drive, but didn't think to make a new folder. So all the contents of the Documents folder was put straight into the User folder (with the stuff that was there initially), and the User folder (<myname>) was renamed to 'Documents', at least in the file explorer....


    Although I've not lost any files or anything, I'm assuming it's not great to have (effectively) two Documents folders (one also being the User Folder?) and so I want to make sure I have the right structure! I could move the files I know to be (former) Documents files to the second Documents folder (C:\Users\<myname>\Documents) but then my User Folder would still be called 'Documents'...

    No, it's not a great situation, but don't worry too much - it's not fatal, just confusing.

    This whole tutorial grew out of a thread where a member had merged their Pictures folder with their User folder, and I helped them disentangle them. To do that I first had to 'break' one of my own machines the same way they had done in order to work out how to fix it.

    I think you have given me enough details to attempt the same for you, but it could take some time and several false starts before I can get back to you.

    In the mean time, I have one question: if you open File Explorer at 'This PC' you should see 'Documents' in the 'Folders' section. If you double-click on it, does it take you to your C:\Users\<myname>\Documents folder, or to your C:\Users\<myname> folder? You'll have to tell by the contents of the folder you end up in, either way it will just say 'This PC > Documents' in the address bar at the top.

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-image.png
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       #12

    Hi Bree, thanks so much for taking the time to work through this mess with me! :,-) Could not appreciate it more!!!

    When I do as you described the 'Documents' folder is the empty one, containing only a dektop.ini file (so it must be the C: Users/<myname>/Documents folder, which holds true when I check the location of the folder in its Properties).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
    Thread Starter
       #13

    sirib said:
    Hi Bree, thanks so much for taking the time to work through this mess with me! :,-) Could not appreciate it more!!!

    When I do as you described the 'Documents' folder is the empty one, containing only a dektop.ini file (so it must be the C: Users/<myname>/Documents folder, which holds true when I check the location of the folder in its Properties).
    That's good, it looks like it is correctly configured for you to use C:\Users\<myname>\Documents folder as your 'true' Documents folder and it should be safe for you to move the misplaced document files into it now.

    It remains to be seen how to remove the duplicate 'Documents' name from your C: Users/<myname> User Profile folder. I'll return after doing some testing, make sure you are are subscribed to this thread (Thread Tools at the top right) so you'll be notified when I next post.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       #14

    Thanks so much will do! I'll keep my eyes peeled!
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
    Thread Starter
       #15

    sirib said:
    Thanks so much will do! I'll keep my eyes peeled!

    I have successfully 'broken' a machine in the same way as you did. Don't worry, it was just a Virtual Machine and can easily be reset to its earlier unbroken state.

    My user name on this PC is 'Owner', but is now shown as Documents by File Explorer. Its true name can still be seen by looking at its Properties, the Security tab shows that it's Object name is actually C:\Users\Owner with my user account Owner having full control.

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-image.png


    The good news is that it's quite easy to repair. The first step has already taken place on your PC, but I'll repeat it here for the benefit of other readers.

    Open Regedit and go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
    change REG_EXPAND_SZ {F42EE2D3-909F-4907-8871-4C22FC0BF756} from %USERPROFILE% to %USERPROFILE%\Documents
    change REG_EXPAND_SZ Personal from %USERPROFILE% to %USERPROFILE%\Documents

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-image.png

    Restart Explorer.exe in Task Manager, or restart the PC to apply the changes. This restores the 'Documents' functionality of your C:\Users\<myname>\Documents folder.

    The next step is to restore the name and appearance of your User Profile folder C:\Users\<myname>, or C:\Users\Owner in my example. To do this you need to remove the desktop.ini file. This was moved there from your previous Documents folder when you merged it with you User folder. Move it to your C:\Users\<myname>\Documents folder, or if that already has one with identical contents to that shown in this screenshot, then just delete it.


    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-image.png

    That should make the correct name for your user folder reappear in File Explorer and the folder appearance return to normal, both of these were (incorrectly) specified in that desktop.ini.

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-image.png

    You may also find that in your user folder the Documents folder still has just a plain folder icon. To correct that right-click on it then in its Properties select Customise. Click Change icon, and then Restore defaults.

    Undo:  Merged your Pictures folder with your User folder-image.png
    Last edited by Bree; 22 Jul 2021 at 05:52.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 5
    Windows 10
       #16

    It worked! Thanks so much Bree!!!! I'll be more careful when moving folders around next time :)) Hope anyone else out there with a similar problem got it working too!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
    Thread Starter
       #17

    sirib said:
    It worked! Thanks so much Bree!!!! I'll be more careful when moving folders around next time....
    glad I could help.

    May I recommend that in case of a 'next time' you read this tutorial?

    Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect
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  9. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #18

    Bree said:
    glad I could help.

    May I recommend that in case of a 'next time' you read this tutorial?

    Backup and Restore with Macrium Reflect
    Hello, i know its been over a year but i too have had this problem recently. After hours of research, i almost gave up - until i found this. Out of every article and video on the internet, this is the only one showing how to fix this hellborn issue. I thank you so much for this amazing effort and I really appreciate it, I made an account here just to say that your a lifesaver.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
    Thread Starter
       #19

    ladim1 said:
    Hello, i know its been over a year but i too have had this problem recently. After hours of research, i almost gave up - until i found this. Out of every article and video on the internet, this is the only one showing how to fix this hellborn issue. I thank you so much for this amazing effort and I really appreciate it, I made an account here just to say that your a lifesaver.
    Thank you for your kind words. I'm glad I could help.

    Stick around and explore now that you've joined. You'll find many other useful tutorials on Ten Forums.
      My Computers


 

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