"All users" desktop and start menu?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
The "all users" desktop is located in c:\users\public\desktop in Windows
Vista.

If your file is not there, then it is not in the "all users" desktop, it is
somewhere else.

The location "\all users\desktop" does not exist in Vista. There is a
"thing" that exists that is called "all users", but this is not a folder,
and it cannot contain any files.


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
 
- Is your user account an administrator?
- Are you accessing C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu ?
- What error are you getting when you try to delete a folder in there?


--
- JB
Microsoft MVP - Windows Shell/User

Windows Vista Support Faq
http://www.jimmah.com/vista/
 
On Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:52:03 -0800, Proudmale
The inability to access the all users start menu is a major flaw in Vista. I
have purchased three machines for my household, all running Vista, and this
lack of functionality makes me long for XP, only they came with Vista.
Click to expand...

Don't get confused between permissions issues, and locations that
literally do not exist.

I know it's confusing, but the essence is that at last Windows is
applying differential control over programs and automation, putting
the interactive user back in charge.

When you see an "old" location that's totally inaccessible, such as
"My Documents" or "All Users\Desktop", you are looking at a file
system item called a "junction". This allows programs hard-coded to
the old paths to reach the new paths, so what you need to do is go
directly to the new path instead...

"My Documents" = Documents
"My Documents\My Pictures" = Pictures
"My Documents\My Videos" = Videos
"My Documents\My Music" = Music
"All Users" = Public
"All Users\Desktop" = Public\Desktop
"All Users\My Documents\My Videos" = Public\Videos

....etc.
Case in point, I have an 87 year old father, beggining stages of Alzhiemers,
that I cannot teach new ways of doing things to.
Click to expand...

In such cases, I do NOT use new versions of OS etc. and instead, try
and keep them in the same "bubble". My own father learned Word Star 5
for DOS in the XT vs. 286 era, so his current PC is a Celeron-533 that
boots into Win98SE DOS Mode with the same familiar 3rd-party DOS menu
linking to good old Word Star in exactly the same way.
start menu into his familiar groups.
Click to expand...

Rt-click the "Orb" (Start), Explore All Users
Set up menu to taste
Expect lots of UAC prompts :-/
The paste technique will not work for me as it still leaves the install
menus in the All Users start menu. Without deleting those, I am still left
with a setup he will not recognize.
Click to expand...

As above. Navigating there via Rt-click, Orb (or Start) avoids the
whole issue of whether this is really All Users\Start Menu or
Public\Start Menu, and makes things MUCH easier :-)


--------------- ---- --- -- - - - -
Click to expand...
Saws are too hard to use.
Be easier to use!
 
I am logged in as an administrator. I have tried "windows explorer" right
click "run as administrator" option. Still unsuccessful. Under my "Public"
folder, I only have "documents", "downloads", "music", "pictures", "videos",
& "recorded tv". I do not have a folder entitled "desktop". I am wanting to
do some changes to what shows up on each of my user's desktops. I have been
following this thread & it sounds like I can move from the public desktop to
my individual desktop or my kids desktops. BUT, I do not have a
Public\Desktop folder. Or I'm looking in the wrong place. Can someone help
me find it?
 
I am logged on as admin. I have tried Windows Explorer "run as admin".
Still unsuccessful. In my Public folder there is no "desktop" folder. I
only have documents, downloads, pictures, videos, & recorded tv folders
listed under the Public folder. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.
Based on the info in this thread, I am in the right place but just do not
have a \Public\Desktop folder. I am wanting to move some items out of the
public desktop folder into individual user desktop folders in order to
customize mine & my families desktops in each respective user account.
 
PM said:
I am logged on as admin. I have tried Windows Explorer "run as admin".
Still unsuccessful. In my Public folder there is no "desktop" folder. I
only have documents, downloads, pictures, videos, & recorded tv folders
listed under the Public folder. Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong.
Based on the info in this thread, I am in the right place but just do not
have a \Public\Desktop folder. I am wanting to move some items out of the
public desktop folder into individual user desktop folders in order to
customize mine & my families desktops in each respective user account.
Click to expand...


Hello,

This folder is hidden.

To see it, you will need to click Organize -> Folder and search options
-> View tab, and enable show hidden files.
 
I am trying to edit the default[formerly AllUsers] Start Menu/Programs list
also.

I can manage to 'see' StartMenu/programs for my Admin user, my own
user[admin group] and my Default user by going through
[user]/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/StartMenu - after all hidden files
have been shown & I use Explorer as administrator.
I can see folders for some software that has been installed, but not ALL
software. [ALL software was installed by my own user &, if asked, enabled for
all users to access.] For example, Google Toolbar has been installed. I can
see the shortcut on my Start/Programs menu - but I cannot see it listed on
the Start/programs menu for ANY user, so I cannot put it into a folder.
I also cannot 'drag & drop' it on the Start/Programs menu when in use, as I
could in previous MS OS products.
I really need to edit the default Start/Programs menu. What do I do next?
 
Hi,

The All Users Start menu is here:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

You can right-click on the Start orb and select 'Open All Users' to get
there.

--
Jane, not plain ;) 64 bit enabled :-)
Batteries not included. Braincell on vacation ;-)
MVP Windows Shell/User

dt_tex said:
I am trying to edit the default[formerly AllUsers] Start Menu/Programs list
also.

I can manage to 'see' StartMenu/programs for my Admin user, my own
user[admin group] and my Default user by going through
[user]/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/StartMenu - after all hidden
files
have been shown & I use Explorer as administrator.
I can see folders for some software that has been installed, but not ALL
software. [ALL software was installed by my own user &, if asked, enabled
for
all users to access.] For example, Google Toolbar has been installed. I
can
see the shortcut on my Start/Programs menu - but I cannot see it listed on
the Start/programs menu for ANY user, so I cannot put it into a folder.
I also cannot 'drag & drop' it on the Start/Programs menu when in use, as
I
could in previous MS OS products.
I really need to edit the default Start/Programs menu. What do I do next?

Jimmy Brush said:
Hello,

This folder is hidden.

To see it, you will need to click Organize -> Folder and search options
-> View tab, and enable show hidden files.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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