Windows 10: Changing Documents location

Following Microsoft instructions, https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/310746/configuration-of-the-my-documents-folder, last updated in April of 2017 and then looking at their instructions on how you can actually still do this in a new 2019 instruction piece, https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/storage/folder-redirection/deploy-folder-redirection, if you have a business enterprise with a server and your workstations are running Windows 10 (or 8.1, or 8, or even 7), and you're running an Active Directory Network Domain Server!


No kidding, there's no throttling down of prior available functionality here! Do we need reminding that you can still do it if you're running 8, 8.1, 7, and even Vista? It's just 10 that they have incredibly, totally DUMBED-DOWN.


They've made it vaguely and remotely possible, with another of their idiotic run around in circles procedure - right-clicking on the Documents folder, going to Properties, then the Location tab, then a convoluted "moving" files from old location to the new, and figuring out how to turn off their insistence on putting everything you place on your Desktop into OneDrive along with all documents you save, uninstalling OneDrive (believe me you will want to do that as soon as you see they're filling it with stuff you never want to put there). OK, so I'm following the instructions. I select the folder where I want to save my documents on a drive other than my system drive.


I used to be familiar with the registry entries that were pretty easy to change on prior systems. If you look at what they did on Windows 10 registry in this regard, it is clear they're trying to hide and obfuscate and make it impossible for you to make the changes now.


Predictably, when I try to apply the "move" step, I get a dialog saying: “Can’t move the folder because there is a folder in the same location that can’t be redirected.” I can't what? What does that even mean? The folder in the same location as what? It can't mean another folder in the location I'm trying to move the documents FROM. It's the only folder in that location, although it is inside another folder (the OneDrive folder where Microsoft apparently wanted to put it in the first place), but there are no other folders inside it than the Documents one. Does Microsoft mean it won't let you redirect the OneDrive folder inside which it placed your Documents folder? I don't get it.


I spent hours trying to navigate the Microsoft rabbit hole of chickens scrambling with their heads cut off. Did it work? Well, NO.


Can I get a meaningful explanation? Is this actually meant to work?

:)

 

Downloads folder is the Documents folder

Hi Chris,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I suggest you to Restore to Default the folders and document settings and see if it helps.

Step 1:

Please follow below steps and check if it helps.

• Go to Download folder.
• Right click on the Download Folder and go to Properties.
• In Properties go to Location tab.
• In location Tab Click on Restore Default.

Step 2:

Please follow below steps and check if it helps.

• Go to Documents folder.
• Right click on the Document folder and go to Properties.
• In Properties go to Location tab.
• In location Tab Click on Restore Default.

After performing above steps change the settings as you required and check if it helps.

Hope these information helps, please get back to us for future support, we’ll be glad to assist you further.

Thank you.

 

Documents Location Changed But Property Location Is Correct - ???


I can't figure out why E:\Gary can't be seen in File Explorer.

Sooooo .... let's try to get the special User folders back to normal

These are ok per the location tab you posted
Music C:\Users\Gary\Music
Pictures C:\Users\Gary\Pictures




Documents: E:\Videos\Documents location points to E:\Gary\Documents
Videos: E:\Videos location points to E:\Videos (Could you confirm that with the properties> location tab)

Try this in this order

On E:\Videos\Documents
Select properties > location tab
Press the [ Restore Default ] button
Yes to move files if prompted

On E:\Videos
Select properties > location tab
Press the [ Restore Default ] button
Yes to move files if prompted

That should put the two user folders back on C:\Users\Gary - please confirm the locations after restoring the default

If everything looks good, then all that is left is to figure out why E:\Gary isn't visible in File Explorer
Then put the folders where you want them. I might suggest a different structure if this becomes a sticky mess

Something like E:\Usr\Gary\Userfolders - but see if the above resolves the issue.

It's very possible that E:\Gary is really E:\Videos and is masked by the slight of hand Windows does with the special folders.

 

Documents Location Changed But Property Location Is Correct - ???


Thanks. My music files no longer appear in the Music library but restoring the default libraries appears to have had no effect on the Documents library. Note: The folder E:\Gary is not visible in Windows Explorer