How to move My Documents in XP HE?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dehlia
  • Start date Start date
D

Dehlia

I have XP Home on a standalone machine. In Documents and Settings I
have:

a) Administrator
b) All Users
c) Default Users
d) Dehlias

I wish to move Dehlias' My Documents to another partition.
I've seen Article ID 310147 where I'm told I can move My Documents
this way:

1. Point to My Documents.
2. Right-click My Documents, and then click Properties.
3. Click the Target tab.

But I have no Target tab in Dehlias My Documents Properties! or in any
My Documents of other profiles! why?

Thanks for any clue.
 
I suggest you do not try to move that unless there is a requirement of some
type. Things like that can cause problems with Windows that are not
expected.

Frank
 
Hi Dehlia,

1. You should login to the 'subject' user profile in order to redirect it's
My Documents folder
2. The "Target" tab will available if you right-click the My Documents icon
in the Desktop, Start Menu, or in the Common Tasks.
 
FrankV said:
I suggest you do not try to move that unless there is a requirement of some
type.
Click to expand...

If there were not a "requirement of some type" why do you suppose the OP
would be interested in moving the folder?
Things like that can cause problems with Windows that are not
expected.
Click to expand...

Except by you?
Frank
Click to expand...

If the folder is moved properly, there's no reason to expect anything
bad to happen. Moving My Documents to a different partition or drive is
good practice. It facilitates backups, and creates added security for
important files.
 
Hi Dehlia,

1. You should login to the 'subject' user profile in order to redirect it's
My Documents folder
2. The "Target" tab will available if you right-click the My Documents icon
in the Desktop, Start Menu, or in the Common Tasks.
Click to expand...

Vow! that's where I was going wrong. I was getting into Properties
from Windows Explorer not from the Desktop (I've just used TweakUi to
put My Documents back there). I've managed to do it now, thanks!

I don't agree with Frank either - sorry Frank, no doubt you mean well
but I feel safer having My Documents on a different partition, away
from the system.

Somehow I don't have a *login* at the moment, I don't know why. I get
the welcome screen and come straight onto the desktop. I'm not sure
how they've set this up. I guess I can create my own login?

Thanks all anyway - very helpful.
 
I guess I can create my own login?

To disable the automatic logon, create a password for your user account.
Windows XP automatically logs in if there is only one user account and if it
has no password.
 
Dehlia said:
Vow! that's where I was going wrong. I was getting into Properties
from Windows Explorer not from the Desktop (I've just used TweakUi to
put My Documents back there). I've managed to do it now, thanks!

I don't agree with Frank either - sorry Frank, no doubt you mean well
but I feel safer having My Documents on a different partition, away
from the system.
Click to expand...

Depends..

Is the "different partition" on an actual different physical hard drive?
If not and the problem happens to be that the system hard drive (physical)
dies, then so does all other partitions on that drive and you have gained no
"safety" by moving them to a different partition.
If the "different partition" is on an actual different physical hard drive
then you likely have gained some performance and safety cushion you did not
have before.

While it is true that if you have to reformat the system partition and
reinstall, your "My Documents" would be safe on the other partition even
*if* you had to reinstall - it just doesn't save you from a hardware failure
of that device. I have systems that have not been reinstalled in 3+ years
and are running fine thanks to simple maintenance, this does not preclude
hardware failure. =)
 
Hi,

Are you stating that after you moved the My Documents folder, Autologon
began? Very interesting, if so. Or perhaps while using TUI, you set that
as well? Either way, see if this helps:

1. Go to Start/Run and type in: control userpasswords2 and press ok.

2. On the Users tab, left click your user name and check off that the Users
Must Enter A User Name And Password To Use This Computer check box and then
click OK.


--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
 
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