Windows 10: Why does Windows contain so many programs, folders, files, and documents that the device...

This may seem a bit elementary to most, but I would just like to ask why this is. Not just the program files, but some of the settings, permissions, allowances, inheritances, when I go through the properties and settings detailed in Windows 11, quite a few head scratchers are found. What is the purpose of having these folders and files where the end user can see that they are there, but has no way to access them or have any idea who does have access to them, or why they are needed. It seems like there are a lot things going on in the background at all times and just a lot saved and logged, but

:)

 

?? How do I PW protect Folders in windows

hmmm?
Sharing files and folders overview You can share the files and folders stored on your computer, on a network, and on the Web. The method you choose depends on whom you want to share files with, and what computer they will use to access the files.

When you share files or folders, they are not as protected as they are when you do not share them. People with access to your computer or your network might be able to read, copy, or change files that are in a shared folder. You should always be aware that the files and folders that you share are available to other people and be sure to monitor your shared files and folders on a regular basis.

Important

If your computer is not joined to a domain, you can use the Network Setup Wizard to automatically turn file and printer sharing on or off. To start the Network Setup Wizard, click Start, click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Setup Wizard.
If you both use the same computer

You can put the files you want to share in the Shared Documents folder. Files stored in the Shared Documents folder or its subfolders are always available to other users on your computer.

Step-by-step procedure
Note

If you are connected to a network domain, the Shared Documents, Shared Pictures, and Shared Music folders are not available.
If both computers are on the same network

You can share a folder or drive on your computer with others on the network. You can also control whether the files in the shared folder can be modified by other users.

If your computer is connected to a network domain, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure
If your computer is connected to a workgroup, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure
Note

If you are connected to a network domain, you will need to set the Access control for the folder or drive after sharing it. For more information, go to To set, view, change, or remove file and folder permissions.
If you want to share your files online

You can publish pictures and documents on the Web using the Web Publishing Wizard. The files will be stored in a private, online folder that you manage.

Step-by-step procedure

If you don't want others to access your files

You can prevent other users from accessing your folders and the files they contain. When your computer is connected to a domain, this is called setting permissions for your file or folder. When your computer is connected to a workgroup, this is called making your folders private.

If your computer is connected to a network domain, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure
If your computer is connected to a workgroup, use this procedure:

Step-by-step procedure

'HELP' it can be your friend *Smile

 

Windows XP - "My Computer" not displaying "My Documents" folder

No policies are active

In "My Computer", with "Arange Icons by Type", and "Show in Groups" selected, "My Documents" does not show up in the "Files stored on this computer" section for any user. For a limited acount, only "Shared Documents" appears, but for an administrative user, there is one Icon for each user's Documents directory. It may be that when I was using my account as an administrative user, I never noticed it because I was able to select the appropriate user's directory.

"My Documents" does appear in the "Other Places" Section for all users.

(Hmmmm.... I just noticed that if I go "Up" from "My Computer" I can see "My Documents" in the Desktop view. Maybe that is the one I have been expecting to see?)

Admin user environment:
C:\WINDOWS\system32>set
ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\Blackburn Admin\Application Data
CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
COMPUTERNAME=JTBLACKBURN
ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
HOMEDRIVE=C:
HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\Blackburn Admin
LOGONSERVER=\\JTBLACKBURN
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
OS=Windows_NT
Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\AT
I Technologies\ATI.ACE\;C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7, GenuineIntel
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
PROCESSOR_REVISION=0207
ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
PROMPT=$P$G
QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
SESSIONNAME=Console
SystemDrive=C:
SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\BLACKB~1\LOCALS~1\Temp
TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\BLACKB~1\LOCALS~1\Temp
tvdumpflags=8
USERDOMAIN=JTBLACKBURN
USERNAME=Blackburn Admin
USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\Blackburn Admin
windir=C:\WINDOWS

C:\WINDOWS\system32>

Limited User Environment:

C:\Documents and Settings\John and Tracy>set
ALLUSERSPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
APPDATA=C:\Documents and Settings\John and Tracy\Application Data
CLASSPATH=.;C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
CommonProgramFiles=C:\Program Files\Common Files
COMPUTERNAME=JTBLACKBURN
ComSpec=C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
DBCONFIG=C:\Adabas\sql
DBROOT=C:\Adabas
DBWORK=C:\Adabas\sql
FP_NO_HOST_CHECK=NO
HOMEDRIVE=C:
HOMEPATH=\Documents and Settings\John and Tracy
LOGONSERVER=\\JTBLACKBURN
NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=1
OS=Windows_NT
Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\AT
I Technologies\ATI.ACE\;C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\Adabas\bin;C:\Ad
abas\pgm;C:\Program Files\NTP\bin
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7, GenuineIntel
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
PROCESSOR_REVISION=0207
ProgramFiles=C:\Program Files
PROMPT=$P$G
QTJAVA=C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_06\lib\ext\QTJava.zip
SESSIONNAME=Console
SystemDrive=C:
SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS
TEMP=C:\DOCUME~1\JOHNAN~1\LOCALS~1\Temp
TMP=C:\DOCUME~1\JOHNAN~1\LOCALS~1\Temp
tvdumpflags=8
USERDOMAIN=JTBLACKBURN
USERNAME=John and Tracy
USERPROFILE=C:\Documents and Settings\John and Tracy
windir=C:\WINDOWS

C:\Documents and Settings\John and Tracy>

The registry paths are all fine. I think it's probably me expecting too much from Microsoft.

 

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.