Booboo when moving Pictures folders, how to undo???

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kiwifidget

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#261353 22-Nov-2019 11:37

Hello.

I am setting up a brand new computer. It has a smallish C: and a bigger D:.

I moved the location of the Pictures folder to D: but I forgot to create a folder there first, so now Pictures is the root of D:.

Big booboo! But now I cannot undo what I have done.

I tried the Restore to Default option but that did not work. I wish I had written down the error but I didn't.

So I reset the PC with the delete everything option. I recreated the user account and it has put Pictures in D: without me even doing anything.

Is there any other way I can move Pictures back to the User folder so I can create the relevant folders in D: and then move it again?

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Hammerer

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#2359304 22-Nov-2019 13:02

Reset doesn't reinstall which is why you end up with the same configuration which you actually want to restore to back to the default.

1. The usual method is to go to the folder properties and move it so you don't have to reset/reinstall Windows. But you won't be able to do that for a root directory.

2. Windows restore defaults hasn't worked for you, again, probably because it is not a folder.

3. For one folder it should be easy to change the Registry key value back to the default. The following article has a list of the defaults.

https://www.winhelponline.com/blog/windows-10-shell-folders-paths-defaults-restore/

It sounds like you're not using OneDrive, but if you are then those defaults are in the article as well.

4. There are programs/scripts to restore defaults.

The following article mentions automatic scripts:

https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/how_to_restore_default_shell_folders_(musicvideospicturesdocuments).html

By the way, which version of Windows?

kiwifidget

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#2359305 22-Nov-2019 13:03

@Hammerer, sorry I forgot to mention, its Windows 10 Home 1909.

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wellygary

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#2359320 22-Nov-2019 13:51

In File explorer, can you right click on the pictures library? . it should show you what physical folder it is linked to, and then create a new path and delete the old one...

kiwifidget

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#2359324 22-Nov-2019 13:55

wellygary:

In File explorer, can you right click on the pictures library? . it should show you what physical folder it is linked to, and then create a new path and delete the old one...

Hi, I can't even get to this point, as any folder I create in D: now becomes part of the Pictures Library.

I will try the registry ideas when I am feeling a bit sharper.

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kiwifidget

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#2359482 22-Nov-2019 20:24

I have everything back in the C:\user location now.

New problem...

After manually changing the file locations in the registry to the new folders I created on D:, OneDrive keeps reverting the shell folders back to C:\user when it syncs.

Due to some known issue in Windows I cannot use the Move function anymore.

https://appuals.com/fix-cant-move-the-folder-because-there-is-a-folder-in-the-same-location-that-cant-be-redirected/

There are some days when you just wish you had never got out of bed.

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