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
Some software, such as TweakUI, can modify these default settings, causing incomplete or incorrect information to be displayed on the desktop, start menu, as well as other places.
For example, you can use this information to point the “Shared Documents” folder to a network share. This would be done in order to provide a common directory for all users. You can use the information in the table below to reset the default locations of the User Shell Folders:
| 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 |
Instead of making changes on a per user basis, you can also use this information on a per-machine basis. Navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Foldersand use the table below for the proper settings for each entry:
| 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 |
After updating the above entries, you need to refresh the shell. This can be done by killing the Explorer.exe process, and running a new copy, or simply rebooting. Also, you’ll need to move your files manually from the old location to the new location.