Eliminate Duplicate Primary Directories?

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A Baffled User

I've just bought a new HP laptop with Windows XP SP 2 Home Edition as its
operating system. I am the only person who will ever use this machine, and
my username is, say, Ethel. Ethel has administrator privileges.

I have finally succeeded, with help from on-line Microsoft FAQs, at
eliminating the annoying necessity to log on to either a welcome screen or
more traditional dialog-box-type logon. But I haven't been able to find a
way to eliminate the duplicate folders "My Documents" and "Ethel's
Documents." HP has told me that there really aren't two separate
folders--i.e., the presence of "My Documents" isn't doubling the hard drive
space used by "Ethel's Documents"--but I see no point to this duplication,
and I just don't want to have to deal with it.

Is there a way for me to get rid of either "My Documents" or "Ethel's
Document's"? I do not yet have any files stored in either location, as I am
in the early stages of familiarizing myself with this new system.

Many thanks in advance for all suggestions.

Joan
 
I wouldn't mess around with what XP does naturally. My Documents is
basically Ethel's Documents - the same.
 
Hi Joan (or Ethel :-),

Are you familiar with shortcuts? That's all that "My Documents" on the desktop and "Ethel's Documents" under My Computer are. They are both shortcuts to the actual folder found here:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Ethel\My Documents".

So no disk space is wasted by their presence.

That being said, you still have the right to have you computer display what you want. So, what do you want:

1) No "My Documents" icon on the desktop?

2) No "My Documents" icon on the desktop and no "My Documents" icon when exploring the desktop?"

3) No "Ethyl's Documents" under My Computer?

4) No "Files stored on this computer" at all under My Computer?

5) All of the above?

Keith
 
If I had my druthers, I'd have no "My Documents" icon on the desktop, no "My
Documents" icon under My Computer, and no "My Documents" icon in Windows
Explorer.

Is that possible?

Thanks for writing!

Joan

Hi Joan (or Ethel :-),

Are you familiar with shortcuts? That's all that "My Documents" on the
desktop and "Ethel's Documents" under My Computer are. They are both
shortcuts to the actual folder found here:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Ethel\My Documents".

So no disk space is wasted by their presence.

That being said, you still have the right to have you computer display what
you want. So, what do you want:

1) No "My Documents" icon on the desktop?

2) No "My Documents" icon on the desktop and no "My Documents" icon when
exploring the desktop?"

3) No "Ethyl's Documents" under My Computer?

4) No "Files stored on this computer" at all under My Computer?

5) All of the above?

Keith
 
In Folder Options, 'View' tab, uncheck "Hide Extensions for known file types". You need to do this to create .reg files with Notepad. You can check it again when you're done.

For My Documents on the desktop and in folder view of desktop, copy & paste everything BETWEEN (but not including) the dashed lines (the two blank lines at the end are necessary) into notepad and save it as "HideMD.reg". Then right click the file & select "Merge".

-----------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnum]
"{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}"=dword:00000001


-----------------------------------------------

To eliminate My Documents under My Computer while keeping "Shared Documents",

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Locate the following key (looks like a folder) and select it:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths

In the right-hand pane, you should see your username in the name column. Right-click & delete it.

That's it. If you have any problems or questions, post back.

Keith
 
I've used all the Windows operating systems that have been created since
1995. Never once during those ten years, until now with Windows XP, have I
had to confront every time I turn on my computer a duplicate listing of
exactly the same folders/directories. If there were a meaningful difference
between "My Documents" and "Ethel's Documents," then fine. But there
apparently is not.

What does "plump for WebTV" mean?

Joan
 
Many, many thanks, Keith. I'm going to very carefully follow your
instructions later on today (places to go between now and then). I know how
careful one must be when making changes to the registry. I will report back
on how it goes.

Joan

In Folder Options, 'View' tab, uncheck "Hide Extensions for known file
types". You need to do this to create .reg files with Notepad. You can
check it again when you're done.

For My Documents on the desktop and in folder view of desktop, copy & paste
everything BETWEEN (but not including) the dashed lines (the two blank lines
at the end are necessary) into notepad and save it as "HideMD.reg". Then
right click the file & select "Merge".

-----------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnu
m]
"{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}"=dword:00000001


-----------------------------------------------

To eliminate My Documents under My Computer while keeping "Shared
Documents",

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Locate the following key (looks like a folder) and select it:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFol
derPaths

In the right-hand pane, you should see your username in the name column.
Right-click & delete it.

That's it. If you have any problems or questions, post back.

Keith
 
Dear Keith,

Excuse me--I just clicked the wrong button and replied to you individually
rather than to the group. In any case, I finally followed your instructions,
and they worked like a charm.

Many, many thanks for your assistance!

Joan

In Folder Options, 'View' tab, uncheck "Hide Extensions for known file
types". You need to do this to create .reg files with Notepad. You can
check it again when you're done.

For My Documents on the desktop and in folder view of desktop, copy & paste
everything BETWEEN (but not including) the dashed lines (the two blank lines
at the end are necessary) into notepad and save it as "HideMD.reg". Then
right click the file & select "Merge".

-----------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnu
m]
"{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}"=dword:00000001


-----------------------------------------------

To eliminate My Documents under My Computer while keeping "Shared
Documents",

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Locate the following key (looks like a folder) and select it:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFol
derPaths

In the right-hand pane, you should see your username in the name column.
Right-click & delete it.

That's it. If you have any problems or questions, post back.

Keith
 
You're welcome.

Keith


A Baffled User said:
Dear Keith,

Excuse me--I just clicked the wrong button and replied to you individually
rather than to the group. In any case, I finally followed your instructions,
and they worked like a charm.

Many, many thanks for your assistance!

Joan

In Folder Options, 'View' tab, uncheck "Hide Extensions for known file
types". You need to do this to create .reg files with Notepad. You can
check it again when you're done.

For My Documents on the desktop and in folder view of desktop, copy & paste
everything BETWEEN (but not including) the dashed lines (the two blank lines
at the end are necessary) into notepad and save it as "HideMD.reg". Then
right click the file & select "Merge".

-----------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\NonEnu
m]
"{450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}"=dword:00000001


-----------------------------------------------

To eliminate My Documents under My Computer while keeping "Shared
Documents",

Start -> Run -> Regedit

Locate the following key (looks like a folder) and select it:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFol
derPaths

In the right-hand pane, you should see your username in the name column.
Right-click & delete it.

That's it. If you have any problems or questions, post back.

Keith


A Baffled User said:
If I had my druthers, I'd have no "My Documents" icon on the desktop, no "My
Documents" icon under My Computer, and no "My Documents" icon in Windows
Explorer.

Is that possible?

Thanks for writing!

Joan

Hi Joan (or Ethel :-),

Are you familiar with shortcuts? That's all that "My Documents" on the
desktop and "Ethel's Documents" under My Computer are. They are both
shortcuts to the actual folder found here:

"C:\Documents and Settings\Ethel\My Documents".

So no disk space is wasted by their presence.

That being said, you still have the right to have you computer display what
you want. So, what do you want:

1) No "My Documents" icon on the desktop?

2) No "My Documents" icon on the desktop and no "My Documents" icon when
exploring the desktop?"

3) No "Ethyl's Documents" under My Computer?

4) No "Files stored on this computer" at all under My Computer?

5) All of the above?

Keith
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