Archive for the ‘Windows’ Category.

Reset the Shell Folders paths to defaults

Introduction

Windows stores the location of per-user special folders under the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders

When you redirect special folders using Tweak UI or by moving the folder to another location, the User Shell Folder registry path is modified accordingly. To reset the User Shell Folders values to defaults, try this:
Resetting the special folder paths to defaults

*

Open Registry Editor and navigate to this location:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders

*

Backup the above branch to a .REG file.
*

In the right-pane, change the Shell Folder path accordingly. The default values are mentioned in the table below for reference:

Shell Folder Path
AppData %USERPROFILE%\Application Data
Cache %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
Cookies %USERPROFILE%\Cookies
Desktop %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
Favorites %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
History %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History
Local AppData %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
Local Settings %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings
My Music %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Music
My Pictures %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures
Nethood %USERPROFILE%\NetHood
Personal [My Documents] %USERPROFILE%\My Documents
PrintHood %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood
Programs %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
SendTo %USERPROFILE%\SendTo
Start Menu %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
Startup %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Templates %USERPROFILE%\Templates

Note: You can automate the above using the FolderRedirector utility, or using TweakUI Powertoy.

You may also this REG fix to reset the User Shell Folders values to Windows XP defaults, for the current user profile.

To reset the per-machine shell folder paths, navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders

Refer the following table for the default values:
Shell Folder Path
Common AppData %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data
Common Desktop %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop
Common Documents %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Documents
Common Programs %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
Common Start Menu %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu
Common Startup %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
Common Templates %ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Templates

NOTE: After the Shell Folders values are updated, you need to move your files manually from the old path to the new.

How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command

   Control panel tool             Command
   -----------------------------------------------------------------
   Accessibility Options          control access.cpl
   Add New Hardware               control sysdm.cpl add new hardware
   Add/Remove Programs            control appwiz.cpl
   Date/Time Properties           control timedate.cpl
   Display Properties             control desk.cpl
   FindFast                       control findfast.cpl
   Fonts Folder                   control fonts
   Internet Properties            control inetcpl.cpl
   Joystick Properties            control joy.cpl
   Keyboard Properties            control main.cpl keyboard
   Microsoft Exchange             control mlcfg32.cpl
      (or Windows Messaging)
   Microsoft Mail Post Office     control wgpocpl.cpl
   Modem Properties               control modem.cpl
   Mouse Properties               control main.cpl
   Multimedia Properties          control mmsys.cpl
   Network Properties             control netcpl.cpl
                                  NOTE: In Windows NT 4.0, Network
                                  properties is Ncpa.cpl, not Netcpl.cpl
   Password Properties            control password.cpl
   PC Card                        control main.cpl pc card (PCMCIA)
   Power Management (Windows 95)  control main.cpl power
   Power Management (Windows 98)  control powercfg.cpl
   Printers Folder                control printers
   Regional Settings              control intl.cpl
   Scanners and Cameras           control sticpl.cpl
   Sound Properties               control mmsys.cpl sounds
   System Properties              control sysdm.cpl