Can't move "Shared Documents"

  • Thread starter Thread starter dOinK
  • Start date Start date
D

dOinK

I am configuring my system so that "documents" are stored on a different
physical disk from the system and program files. I am able to move the "My
Documents" folder and sub (including system) folders, the "My Favorites"
folder and so on. But for some reason I am not allowed to move "Shared
Documents" from its default location (C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents). I get the error message "...It cannot be moved or
renamed." when I try to drag it to a new location.

Using TweakUI appears to do the trick, but it turns out it is just playing
with me. When Tweak UI is restarted, the location is back to defaul.
Restarting the OS does not change the result.

Anyone got a clue how to change the location of the "Shared Documents"
folder and sub folders?

Tnx
dOinK

All updates done (SP1)
 
TweakUI does not help in this case. Change the "Shared Documents" path in the registry manually.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the right-pane, look for the entry "Common Documents" and double-click it. The value which present there by default is
"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents". Change the value to the redirected folder, say 'D:\SharedDocs'

Change the value here as well.
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders


ATTENTION: For sub-folders of Shared Documents, note that the value names won't contain space in between (CommonMusic, CommonVideo etc)

To redirect the Shared Music, Shared Pictures and Shared Video folder along with Shared Documents, try this:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

In the right-pane:
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonMusic" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonPictures" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonVideo" and set it's path

* No space in between (CommonVideo, CommonMusic, CommonVideo).
* Once space in between for (Common Documents)

For the latter part, the credit goes to Keith Miller, who pointed out that this function (redirecting the shared folders) of TweakUI does not help. Logoff and login back. See that the Shared folders are now redirected successfully.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I am configuring my system so that "documents" are stored on a different
physical disk from the system and program files. I am able to move the "My
Documents" folder and sub (including system) folders, the "My Favorites"
folder and so on. But for some reason I am not allowed to move "Shared
Documents" from its default location (C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents). I get the error message "...It cannot be moved or
renamed." when I try to drag it to a new location.

Using TweakUI appears to do the trick, but it turns out it is just playing
with me. When Tweak UI is restarted, the location is back to defaul.
Restarting the OS does not change the result.

Anyone got a clue how to change the location of the "Shared Documents"
folder and sub folders?

Tnx
dOinK

All updates done (SP1)
 
Thanks, it works like a charm! At this time I have not made the changes in:
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders

What is the point in making the same change there?
 
Windows updates the "Shell Folders" location with reference to "User Shell Folders" key, but there are exceptions (some values remain)

Also, read this blog: The long and sad story of the Shell Folders key:
http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2003/11/03/55532.aspx

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

Thanks, it works like a charm! At this time I have not made the changes in:
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders

What is the point in making the same change there?
 
For program compatability. Some older programs look there for the value. Those programs are going to use what is under shell. It's a good thing if all programs agree on the location.
 
That blog was very informative, David. All other info as well. Have you tried the DropHandler (invoke a verb) question there?

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

For program compatability. Some older programs look there for the value. Those programs are going to use what is under shell. It's a good thing if all programs agree on the location.
 
He doesn't normally answer my questions. I'm waiting for an answer on hotkey repair. I've been waiting three years after publically begging on htt (though events have provided the answer to that one).

--
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.smh.com.au/yoursay/2004/06/11/index.html
That blog was very informative, David. All other info as well. Have you tried the DropHandler (invoke a verb) question there?

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

For program compatability. Some older programs look there for the value. Those programs are going to use what is under shell. It's a good thing if all programs agree on the location.
 
I have realized that the tricks below seem to have a somewhat strange
side-effect. As an example, I have redefined:
- Shared Documents to "X:\Shared\Our Documents"
- Shared Music to "X:\Shared\Our Music"

....and so on. Locally everything looks well, and when browsing these folders
from other computers in the network, they appear as expected - with the
correct name and everything.

However; when browsing other computers' Shared Documents, etc., from the one
I changed the locations on, the remote shared folders are shown with the
same name as on the customized one. E.g. the "My Music" folder under "All
Users" appear as "Our Music" instead of the expected "Shared Music".

So it seems as Windows has decided that these folders have the same name on
all computers in the network... and it depends on which computer you're
browsing from. Is this the case, or can I make the name change apply only to
the specified folders? I.e., can I avoid that the system standard shared
folders on other computers appear with the name of my customized system
shared folders?

dOinK
- - - - - -
PS: I know that an alternative might be to keep the standard shared folders
as they are, and rather ADD the ones on the separate drive, but then these
would not be treated in the same way by the system as the default shared
folders (which is really what I want).
___________________

TweakUI does not help in this case. Change the "Shared Documents" path in
the registry manually.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane, look for the entry "Common Documents" and double-click
it. The value which present there by default is
"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents". Change the value to the redirected folder,
say 'D:\SharedDocs'

Change the value here as well.
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders


ATTENTION: For sub-folders of Shared Documents, note that the value names
won't contain space in between (CommonMusic, CommonVideo etc)

To redirect the Shared Music, Shared Pictures and Shared Video folder along
with Shared Documents, try this:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane:
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonMusic" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonPictures" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonVideo" and set it's path

* No space in between (CommonVideo, CommonMusic, CommonVideo).
* Once space in between for (Common Documents)

For the latter part, the credit goes to Keith Miller, who pointed out that
this function (redirecting the shared folders) of TweakUI does not help.
Logoff and login back. See that the Shared folders are now redirected
successfully.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I am configuring my system so that "documents" are stored on a different
physical disk from the system and program files. I am able to move the "My
Documents" folder and sub (including system) folders, the "My Favorites"
folder and so on. But for some reason I am not allowed to move "Shared
Documents" from its default location (C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents). I get the error message "...It cannot be moved or
renamed." when I try to drag it to a new location.

Using TweakUI appears to do the trick, but it turns out it is just playing
with me. When Tweak UI is restarted, the location is back to defaul.
Restarting the OS does not change the result.

Anyone got a clue how to change the location of the "Shared Documents"
folder and sub folders?

Tnx
dOinK

All updates done (SP1)
 
Hi dOinK,

Sorry, can you explain the problem bit more. (The paragraph "However; " onwards) Have you redirected the "Shared Documents" folder in all the computers in the Network?

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I have realized that the tricks below seem to have a somewhat strange
side-effect. As an example, I have redefined:
- Shared Documents to "X:\Shared\Our Documents"
- Shared Music to "X:\Shared\Our Music"

....and so on. Locally everything looks well, and when browsing these folders
from other computers in the network, they appear as expected - with the
correct name and everything.

However; when browsing other computers' Shared Documents, etc., from the one
I changed the locations on, the remote shared folders are shown with the
same name as on the customized one. E.g. the "My Music" folder under "All
Users" appear as "Our Music" instead of the expected "Shared Music".

So it seems as Windows has decided that these folders have the same name on
all computers in the network... and it depends on which computer you're
browsing from. Is this the case, or can I make the name change apply only to
the specified folders? I.e., can I avoid that the system standard shared
folders on other computers appear with the name of my customized system
shared folders?

dOinK
- - - - - -
PS: I know that an alternative might be to keep the standard shared folders
as they are, and rather ADD the ones on the separate drive, but then these
would not be treated in the same way by the system as the default shared
folders (which is really what I want).
___________________

TweakUI does not help in this case. Change the "Shared Documents" path in
the registry manually.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane, look for the entry "Common Documents" and double-click
it. The value which present there by default is
"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents". Change the value to the redirected folder,
say 'D:\SharedDocs'

Change the value here as well.
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders


ATTENTION: For sub-folders of Shared Documents, note that the value names
won't contain space in between (CommonMusic, CommonVideo etc)

To redirect the Shared Music, Shared Pictures and Shared Video folder along
with Shared Documents, try this:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane:
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonMusic" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonPictures" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonVideo" and set it's path

* No space in between (CommonVideo, CommonMusic, CommonVideo).
* Once space in between for (Common Documents)

For the latter part, the credit goes to Keith Miller, who pointed out that
this function (redirecting the shared folders) of TweakUI does not help.
Logoff and login back. See that the Shared folders are now redirected
successfully.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I am configuring my system so that "documents" are stored on a different
physical disk from the system and program files. I am able to move the "My
Documents" folder and sub (including system) folders, the "My Favorites"
folder and so on. But for some reason I am not allowed to move "Shared
Documents" from its default location (C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents). I get the error message "...It cannot be moved or
renamed." when I try to drag it to a new location.

Using TweakUI appears to do the trick, but it turns out it is just playing
with me. When Tweak UI is restarted, the location is back to defaul.
Restarting the OS does not change the result.

Anyone got a clue how to change the location of the "Shared Documents"
folder and sub folders?

Tnx
dOinK

All updates done (SP1)
 
The thing I tried to explain was:
I redirected the shared folders on "my" computer only, and called them "Our
Documents", "Our Pictures" and so on (and did not let some of them be
sub-folders to the shared "Documents" folder). The other machines on the
network kept the default locations and names. The "side-effect" was that
when I browsed these other computers from the one I customized ("my"
computer), the shared folders on the other network machines appeared with
the same names as the shared folders on "my" computer, even though their
names were never changed. And when looked at from other computers (than
"mine"), they appeared as defalt.

Now... Windows is certainly playing tricks with me. Because when I turned on
the cimputer today, "everything" was "normal". The folder name mismatch is
no longer there, i.e. all shared folders appear with their given names.
Confusing, but I'm not gonna complain ;-)

Thanks for the interest!
dOinK

PS: Is there a way to make WindowsXP re-populate the "My Network Places"
(nethood) folder. Mine has problems staying up-to-date, and keeps icons for
deleted and once-upon-a-time-shared folders even if they can no longer be
accessed. The refresh command (F5) does not seem to do much...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi dOinK,

Sorry, can you explain the problem bit more. (The paragraph "However; "
onwards) Have you redirected the "Shared Documents" folder in all the
computers in the Network?

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I have realized that the tricks below seem to have a somewhat strange
side-effect. As an example, I have redefined:
- Shared Documents to "X:\Shared\Our Documents"
- Shared Music to "X:\Shared\Our Music"

....and so on. Locally everything looks well, and when browsing these folders
from other computers in the network, they appear as expected - with the
correct name and everything.

However; when browsing other computers' Shared Documents, etc., from the one
I changed the locations on, the remote shared folders are shown with the
same name as on the customized one. E.g. the "My Music" folder under "All
Users" appear as "Our Music" instead of the expected "Shared Music".

So it seems as Windows has decided that these folders have the same name on
all computers in the network... and it depends on which computer you're
browsing from. Is this the case, or can I make the name change apply only to
the specified folders? I.e., can I avoid that the system standard shared
folders on other computers appear with the name of my customized system
shared folders?

dOinK
- - - - - -
PS: I know that an alternative might be to keep the standard shared folders
as they are, and rather ADD the ones on the separate drive, but then these
would not be treated in the same way by the system as the default shared
folders (which is really what I want).
___________________

TweakUI does not help in this case. Change the "Shared Documents" path in
the registry manually.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane, look for the entry "Common Documents" and double-click
it. The value which present there by default is
"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents". Change the value to the redirected folder,
say 'D:\SharedDocs'

Change the value here as well.
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders


ATTENTION: For sub-folders of Shared Documents, note that the value names
won't contain space in between (CommonMusic, CommonVideo etc)

To redirect the Shared Music, Shared Pictures and Shared Video folder along
with Shared Documents, try this:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane:
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonMusic" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonPictures" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonVideo" and set it's path

* No space in between (CommonVideo, CommonMusic, CommonVideo).
* Once space in between for (Common Documents)

For the latter part, the credit goes to Keith Miller, who pointed out that
this function (redirecting the shared folders) of TweakUI does not help.
Logoff and login back. See that the Shared folders are now redirected
successfully.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I am configuring my system so that "documents" are stored on a different
physical disk from the system and program files. I am able to move the "My
Documents" folder and sub (including system) folders, the "My Favorites"
folder and so on. But for some reason I am not allowed to move "Shared
Documents" from its default location (C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents). I get the error message "...It cannot be moved or
renamed." when I try to drag it to a new location.

Using TweakUI appears to do the trick, but it turns out it is just playing
with me. When Tweak UI is restarted, the location is back to defaul.
Restarting the OS does not change the result.

Anyone got a clue how to change the location of the "Shared Documents"
folder and sub folders?

Tnx
dOinK

All updates done (SP1)
 
I got it now dOinK :-)

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

The thing I tried to explain was:
I redirected the shared folders on "my" computer only, and called them "Our
Documents", "Our Pictures" and so on (and did not let some of them be
sub-folders to the shared "Documents" folder). The other machines on the
network kept the default locations and names. The "side-effect" was that
when I browsed these other computers from the one I customized ("my"
computer), the shared folders on the other network machines appeared with
the same names as the shared folders on "my" computer, even though their
names were never changed. And when looked at from other computers (than
"mine"), they appeared as defalt.

Now... Windows is certainly playing tricks with me. Because when I turned on
the cimputer today, "everything" was "normal". The folder name mismatch is
no longer there, i.e. all shared folders appear with their given names.
Confusing, but I'm not gonna complain ;-)

Thanks for the interest!
dOinK

PS: Is there a way to make WindowsXP re-populate the "My Network Places"
(nethood) folder. Mine has problems staying up-to-date, and keeps icons for
deleted and once-upon-a-time-shared folders even if they can no longer be
accessed. The refresh command (F5) does not seem to do much...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi dOinK,

Sorry, can you explain the problem bit more. (The paragraph "However; "
onwards) Have you redirected the "Shared Documents" folder in all the
computers in the Network?

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I have realized that the tricks below seem to have a somewhat strange
side-effect. As an example, I have redefined:
- Shared Documents to "X:\Shared\Our Documents"
- Shared Music to "X:\Shared\Our Music"

....and so on. Locally everything looks well, and when browsing these folders
from other computers in the network, they appear as expected - with the
correct name and everything.

However; when browsing other computers' Shared Documents, etc., from the one
I changed the locations on, the remote shared folders are shown with the
same name as on the customized one. E.g. the "My Music" folder under "All
Users" appear as "Our Music" instead of the expected "Shared Music".

So it seems as Windows has decided that these folders have the same name on
all computers in the network... and it depends on which computer you're
browsing from. Is this the case, or can I make the name change apply only to
the specified folders? I.e., can I avoid that the system standard shared
folders on other computers appear with the name of my customized system
shared folders?

dOinK
- - - - - -
PS: I know that an alternative might be to keep the standard shared folders
as they are, and rather ADD the ones on the separate drive, but then these
would not be treated in the same way by the system as the default shared
folders (which is really what I want).
___________________

TweakUI does not help in this case. Change the "Shared Documents" path in
the registry manually.

Open Registry Editor and navigate to:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane, look for the entry "Common Documents" and double-click
it. The value which present there by default is
"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents". Change the value to the redirected folder,
say 'D:\SharedDocs'

Change the value here as well.
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell
Folders


ATTENTION: For sub-folders of Shared Documents, note that the value names
won't contain space in between (CommonMusic, CommonVideo etc)

To redirect the Shared Music, Shared Pictures and Shared Video folder along
with Shared Documents, try this:

HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

In the right-pane:
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonMusic" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonPictures" and set it's path
- Create a REG SZ named "CommonVideo" and set it's path

* No space in between (CommonVideo, CommonMusic, CommonVideo).
* Once space in between for (Common Documents)

For the latter part, the credit goes to Keith Miller, who pointed out that
this function (redirecting the shared folders) of TweakUI does not help.
Logoff and login back. See that the Shared folders are now redirected
successfully.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k

AumHa VSOP: http://www.aumha.org

I am configuring my system so that "documents" are stored on a different
physical disk from the system and program files. I am able to move the "My
Documents" folder and sub (including system) folders, the "My Favorites"
folder and so on. But for some reason I am not allowed to move "Shared
Documents" from its default location (C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Documents). I get the error message "...It cannot be moved or
renamed." when I try to drag it to a new location.

Using TweakUI appears to do the trick, but it turns out it is just playing
with me. When Tweak UI is restarted, the location is back to defaul.
Restarting the OS does not change the result.

Anyone got a clue how to change the location of the "Shared Documents"
folder and sub folders?

Tnx
dOinK

All updates done (SP1)
 
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