Customize "Files stored on this computer"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gany_md
  • Start date Start date
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Gany_md

Hi!

How can I custmoize the "Files stored on this computer"
group on the "My Computer" view on XP Home?
I would like to remove the "Shared Files" and a my
downloads folder...
TweakUI seems not to provide such functionality...

TIA

Christoph Pach
 
Hi Christoph,

I'm not sure if you can remove the Shared Folders listing *alone* from that section (without affecting the functionality of the Shared folder). But, here are your options.

1. Redirect the Shared Documents Folder to your "My Downloads" folder so that the pointer is changed
-or-
2. Create a dummy user account named "downloads" or whatevername you wish. Then modify the DocFolderPaths to reflect the "My Documents" folder. Then, hide the user account from Welcome Screen (optional)

Here is the registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths
Set "<Newlycreatedusername>" value to your "My Downloads" with full path.

Note: Method 1 is the easiest, but not preferable if there are more users who depend upon the Shared Documents folder and it's contents.

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

Windows 2000 Group Policy Registry Table:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/gp/gpref.asp

Hi!

How can I custmoize the "Files stored on this computer"
group on the "My Computer" view on XP Home?
I would like to remove the "Shared Files" and a my
downloads folder...
TweakUI seems not to provide such functionality...

TIA

Christoph Pach
 
Hi Ramesh,

none of these options is satisfying... Eiter th downloads-folder is titled
as "Shared Documents" or "Files of Dowloads"... :-(
I would like windows to call that folder "Downloads"...

P.S. What means MVP?

Greetings

Christoph
 
Christoph,

Yup. None of the options meet the actual need exactly. But it's the only way I can think of. Following the 2nd method you can end-up with "Downloads' Documents" which is an awkward title :-) Will see if there is a way to rename the titles.

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

Windows 2000 Group Policy Registry Table:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/gp/gpref.asp

Hi Ramesh,

none of these options is satisfying... Eiter th downloads-folder is titled
as "Shared Documents" or "Files of Dowloads"... :-(
I would like windows to call that folder "Downloads"...

P.S. What means MVP?

Greetings

Christoph
 
Well, that would be very kind of you...
I guess, changing the folder's icon is impossible to do? *g*
 
My pleasure, is'nt it ? :o)

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect


Thanks Anando.

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

Windows 2000 Group Policy Registry Table:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/en-us/gp/gpref.asp


Learn more about them
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp

--

Anando
Microsoft MVP- Windows Shell/User
http://www.microsoft.com/mvp
http://www.mvps.org

Folder customizations
http://newdelhi.sancharnet.in/minku

Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect
 
I think to remember that there is a method to customize a folders view
using something like a HTML template... Hm, must look into that...
 
I assumed so... :-(
So I resign on that... What a pitty, it could have been such a nice
feature customizing that view... :-(
 
So can I or can't I customize "My Computer"?
Wrinting a new "My Computer" isn't impossible to do I think (assumed there
is a docu regarding this)...
But as we actually talk about Win XP Home, is it work doning that if there
seems no way to apply it to my computer???
 
You can replace My Computer. This is not trivial and you'll need strong COM programming skills. It may take several months to do. Look up Namespace Extensions at http://msdn.microsoft.com/library. It's difficult to see the effort being worth it.

You can't customise My Comp in XP. You can customise file folders. Whatever you can't customise the thing you want.
 
As I am an IT professional I've got high skills in programming. Anyhow the
COM-thing is a mystery to me :-)
Although that litte bit of customazition is not worth such an effort...
Particularly if it doesn't work for my XP at all...

Thanks a lot for your help and patiance.

Gany_md
 
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