Windows 10: How do we duplicate core folders to appear under "This PC" to avoid having to access them...

I've encountered a new issue while trying to transfer my Documents, Pictures, etc. over to my new Windows 11 computer from my USB flash drive. On my old Windows 10 computer, my Documents, Pictures, etc. appears listed in the left column of File Explorer under "This PC" to access them directly and conveniently. The folders and their contents were also automatically duplicated under another section "Quick Access" which appeared above "This PC" as well as in the core folder located under This PC > Windows C > Users > Joseph.Now, on the new Windows 11 computer, Documents, Pictures, etc.

:)

 

Duplicate Public Folders

Hope this helps someone identify the problem.

• Q: What happens when you delete the duplicate folders?
• A: Nothing. They're successfully deleted.

• Q: Does it happen to all of your folders or only those with pictures?
  • A: Only the default Public Folders (Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos).
  • A: All of the Public Folders have customized folder icons.
  • A: The above image shows yellow, empty folder icons (duplicates).

• Q: Any steps you've tried to troubleshoot this issue?
  • Actually, this has been a problem since Windows 7.
  • What I noticed then is that certain Windows programs created the duplicates:
    • Windows Media Player (stopped using)
    • Internet Explorer (stopped using)
    • Plus others, which I can't recall.
  • Only certain programs for Windows 10, as well:
    • Microsoft Edge (don't use it often)
      
    • Groove Music (never intentionally use it)
      
    • Plus others, which I haven't tracked.
      • I only notice it when I go to Public Folders.
      • By then, I've long since forgotten what was accessed.
  • I've googled for answers but most of those only address
    moving the Public Folders to another Drive.

 

Duplicated Quick Access Folders


Hi,
let's get down to business. This all started when something happened to my registry and I was unable to create new folders. I surfed around the internet until found a forum post to fix it which led to this link
[ New Context Menu - Remove Restore Default Menu Items - Windows 7 Help Forums ]

I followed all the steps to fix my issue and it work, but then it created another problem. On my "Quick Access" tab in my File Explorer, it duplicated all the folders. At first I thought it would simply correct itself if I restarted my laptop, but it made it worse. Now the duplicated folders have no names and I can not delete them because an error pops up saying that the folder does not exist. Please Help! (btw i tried unpinning and it did not work)

 

Duplicated folder on LEFT column of This Pc

I don't think this is the same; I know that after every major upgrade I have to edit the registry to get rid of the duplicated fixed hard drives shown BELOW This PC. Look at my screen shot - the RIGHT side Folders are just as wanted. The LEFT however has a spurious F:\ entry - which is my Videos folder, also listed on the Left. Both point correctly to my videos folder. I don't want the spurious F:\ entry, assume it came about when moving my Videos from their default location on to a seperate drive of their own - as I have done fine with my Music folder as well. Thanks regardless, and if anyone has any other thoughts or suggestions. For example, is the This PC layout defined in the registry, and if so where. I assume it is, given the messing around with duplicate entries already mentioned.