Personal User Folder - Restore Missing Folder

How to Restore a Missing or Default Location of User Folders in Vista​

   Information

This tutorial will show you how to restore a personal user folder if it has been deleted, in the wrong location, or is missing from your C:\Users\(user name) or Start menu location.

   Tip

If you have duplicate user folders instead, then you will need to backup the contents of the duplicate user folders, do OPTION TWO below, delete the duplicate folders, then you may need to restart the computer a couple of times first before the default location is restored.

EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders

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EXAMPLE: Personal User Profile Folders Start menu Location

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OPTION ONE

Restore User Folders Using Folder Properties

NOTE: This can help restore the default location of a user folder. If it does not help, then use OPTION TWO below.

1. Right click on the user folder that you want to restore the default location for and click on Properties.​

NOTE: Do this from the C:\Users\(user name) location for the best results and not from the Start menu user folders.​

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2. Click on the Location tab. (See screenshot below step 3)​

NOTE: If you do not have a Location tab, then this is not the correct user folder and is only a normal folder that has the same name as the user folder. You will most likely need to use OPTION TWO below in this case instead.​

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3. Click on the Restore Default button and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

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4. If you get this, then click on Yes. (See screenshot below)​

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5. Click on Yes. (See screenshot below)​

WARNING: If you do not click on Yes, you will have two copies of the personal user folder in the main (user name) folder with one being as described in the NOTE under step 2.​

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OPTION TWO

Manually Restore User Folders with Reg File Download & Registry Editor

   Note

This is a more thorough method of restoring a user folder's default location, or restore missing user folders.

The reg files in the downloads below will restore the default values at this registry location below.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

   Warning

If you have any duplicate user folders, or user folders that do not have a Location properties tab (Option One), then you will need to:

• Backup only the folder's contents to another location to be safe.
• Now proceed with the steps below

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1. Open your C:\Users\(user-name) folder. If the user folder is missing, then create a New Folder and rename it with the name below for that user folder.​

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-300][TR][TD]
User Folder
[/TD]
[TD]
Rename with
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
Contacts
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Desktop
[/TD]
[TD]
Desktop
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
Documents
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Downloads
[/TD]
[TD]
Downloads
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Favorites
[/TD]
[TD]
Favorites
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Links
[/TD]
[TD]
Links
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
Music
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
Pictures
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Saved Games
[/TD]
[TD]
Saved Games
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Searches
[/TD]
[TD]
Searches
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Videos
[/TD]
[TD]
Videos
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

2. To Restore Default Contacts Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Default_Contacts_Location.reg​

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3. To Restore Default Desktop Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Desktop_Default_Location.reg​

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4. To Restore Default Documents Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Documents_Default_Location.reg​

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5. To Restore Default Downloads Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Downloads_Default_Location.reg​

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6. To Restore Default Favorites Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Favorites_Default_Location.reg​

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7. To Restore Default Links Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Default_Links_Location.reg​

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8. To Restore Default Music Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Music_Default_Location.reg​

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9. To Restore Default Pictures Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

Restore_Pictures_Default_Location.reg​

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10. To Restore Default Saved Games Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Default_Saved_Games_Location.reg​

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11. To Restore Default Searches Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Default_Searches_Location.reg​

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12. To Restore Default Videos Folder Location​

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A) Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Restore_Videos_Default_Location.reg​

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13. Save the .reg file to your Desktop.​

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14. Right click on the downloaded .reg file, and click on Merge.​

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15. Click on Run, Yes, Yes, and OK when prompted.​

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16. Open the Start Menu, then type regedit in the search box and press enter.​

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17. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (administrator) or enter administrator's password (if standard user).​

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18. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)​

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HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

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19. In the right pane of Shell Folders, right click on the user folder in the Name column in the registry (see table below) that you want to restore, then click on Modify. (see screenshot above)​

NOTE: If the Name entry in the table below is not there, then right click on a empty space in the right pane, click on New and String Value, and give it the name in bold below for that user folder.​

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-600][TR][TD]
User Folder
[/TD]
[TD]
Name in Registry
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
{56784854-C6CB-462B-8169-88E350ACB882}
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Desktop
[/TD]
[TD]
Desktop
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
Personal
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Downloads
[/TD]
[TD]
{374DE290-123F-4565-9164-39C4925E467B}
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Favorites
[/TD]
[TD]
Favorites
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Links
[/TD]
[TD]
{BFB9D5E0-C6A9-404C-B2B2-AE6DB6AF4968}
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
My Music
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
My Pictures
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Saved Games
[/TD]
[TD]
{4C5C32FF-BB9D-43B0-B5B4-2D72E54EAAA4}
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Searches
[/TD]
[TD]
{7D1D3A04-DEBB-4115-95CF-2F29DA2920DA}
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Videos
[/TD]
[TD]
My Videos
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

20. Type in the full default path (see table below) of the user folder, and click on OK. (see screenshot below)​

NOTE: Substitute User-Name in the full path with your user account name instead.​

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-600][TR][TD]
User Folder
[/TD]
[TD]
Default Path
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Contacts
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Desktop
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Desktop
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Documents
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Downloads
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Downloads
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Favorites
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Favorites
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Links
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Links
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Music
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Pictures
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Saved Games
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Saved Games
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Searches
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Searches
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Videos
[/TD]
[TD]
C:\Users\User-Name\Videos
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

21. Close Regedit.​

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22. Open an elevated command prompt.​

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23. In the elevated command prompt, Copy and Paste the command below for the user folder icon that you want to restore to default. (see table below)​

NOTE: This will set the user folder attributes back to default. You can Copy and Paste these to make it easier for you. ​

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-600][TR][TD]
User Folder
[/TD]
[TD]
Command
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Contacts /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Desktop
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Desktop /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Documents /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Downloads
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Downloads /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Favorites
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Favorites /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Links
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Links /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Music /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Pictures /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Saved Games
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\"Saved Games" /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Searches
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Searches /S /D
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Videos
[/TD]
[TD]
attrib +r -s -h %USERPROFILE%\Videos /S /D
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

24. Close the elevated command prompt.​

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25. Open the Start Menu, then Copy and Paste the Shell command (see table below) in the search box for the User folder that you want to restore, and press Enter.​

NOTE: If this opens the missing personal user folder(s), then you are done and can skip step 26 and go to step 27 instead.​

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[TABLE=class:-grid,-width:-400][TR][TD]
User Folder
[/TD]
[TD]
Shell Command
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Contacts
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:Contacts
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Desktop
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:desktop
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Documents
[/TD]
[TD]
shellersonal
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Downloads
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:downloads
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Favorites
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:Favorites
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Links
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:Links
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Music
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:My Music
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Pictures
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:My Pictures
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Saved Games
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:SavedGames
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Searches
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:Searches
[/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD]
Videos
[/TD]
[TD]
shell:My Video
[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]

26. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to finish restoring the user folder location.​

NOTE: Sometimes you may need to restart more than once for the changes to be applied.​

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27. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file(s) if you like.​

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28. If you have any duplicate user folders left, or user folders that do not have a Location properties tab (Option One), then you will need to:​

• Delete all duplicate user folders without the correct default C:\Users\(user-name)\(user-folder) path (see step 20) and user folders without a Location properties tab.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Fix a Personal User Shell Folder Displayed as a Standard Yellow Folder Icon in Vista
• How to Change a Personal User Folder Location in Vista
• How to Prevent or Allow User Profile Folders Location Change in Vista
• How to Change the Default Location of a User Profile in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[mojopin85]

Just checked again and now both downloads and pictures are back and in their original locations! Its very strange, I didnt do anything atall and now they are back. I guess it just took vista a while to sort the problem out... :S Thanks alots for your help anyway. This is a really useful guide

I'm happy to hear that it sorted itself out for you.

Did you logoff and logon, or restart the computer between then? That can usually help reset them when the correct locations are in the registry for them.

Shawn

I did resart the computer numerous times, mabye 10 - 15 times in total, having read that someone elses problem on this thread was fixed after the restarting 3 times. I guess it just took my pc a few more restarts! Thanks again for your help

 

[Brink]

Thank you for the feedback Mojopin85. I'm happy to hear that they are back for you.

Shawn

 

[bennys]

Help!!!
I'm missing the Downloads personal folder. I went to the User Shell Folders to locate it. All other personal folders are there except the Downloads folder. How can I add it to the User Shell Folders and have it appears to the start menu?
Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hi Bennys,

Use Option Two in this tutorial to double check and make sure that the Downloads folder (long number at top in screenshot below step 5) has the default %USERPROFILE%\Downloads location set for it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

I checked but the %USERPROFILE%\Downloads is not there. Should I create a new one? If so, how?
Thanks.

 

[Brink]

Bennys,

In the registry screenshot below step 5, it is the long number entry under (Default). Is that entry not there, or it does not have the %USERPROFILE%\Downloads in the data column?

 

[bennys]

Thank you for you reply...
No, it does not contain the default number entry nor the %USERPROFILE%\Downloads. I think I deleted somehow when I was learning about the regedit thing.

 

[Brink]

Ok. In that case, you will need to create a new administrator account to use instead, then delete the old one from within the new one when done creating it. This way you will have all of the folders again. Be sure to select the Keep Files option when deleting the old account to keep your user files.

If needed:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/93009-user-account-create.html

and

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/93026-user-account-delete.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[bennys]

It works. thank you so much. :D

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Bennys.

Shawn

 

[Christena]

Thanks very much , that helps me much...

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Christena, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[BOSSLADYBBW]

Hi i really need some help.... i am using a Compaq laptop-window vista of course and i experienced that my entire (my pictures) folder/shortcut from the start menu was inactive and that i lost all my files and sub-folders (included==thousands of images/files) so this concerned me because i didn't delete them because i use them frequently business only.

Now i followed the steps in the tutorial and i was successful at getting the original my pictures shortcut/folder back (shows a yellow folder on start menu) However all my subfolders and files are no longer showing/available..

Im totally confused and is there a way to find out what happened and how i can restore if I didnt personally remove these files at all???

 

[Brink]

Hello BossLadyBBW, and welcome to Vista Forums.

If you had the Pictures folder located somewhere else before this, then double check there to see if your images may still be there in another folder. You may also do a thorough non-index search on the entire computer for one of the image files. For example for a jpg file, you would use *.jpg to search with. The * is for any name with that file extension. It may find them for you if they are still on the drive somewhere.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/75451-advanced-search.html


If you are sure you have the correct default location set in the registry for the Pictures (My Pictures) in the registry, then this tutorial below may help get the green folder back for it instead of the yellow one.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/90705-personal-user-shell-folders.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Jeff47]

THanks for the great walk-through - this issue has robbed me of hours.

One question - How do I do a complete restor of all the "user data" (shinny green) foldes. I need a "reset" button so-to-speak.

Also, do you know how to restore/bring back the contacts folder? This folder seems to have different charicturistics than the others. It's not even listed in the "user shell" registry section your tutorial directed us to.

To be clear I have 2 questions:

1: Is it possable to restore the entire user data folders listed under ...C: drive/users/**my name**?

2: How do I restore the contacts user file. It's currently there but not visable (except in the "tree view" on the left) and it' not a green folder - normal yellow.

THanks for the help - I'm SO glad I found this forum.

J.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jeff, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Q1) A system Restore using a restore point dated before you lost them may be able restore the data folders for you and Q2.


Q2) Have you already tried the shell:contacts folder command?

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Jeff47]

Thanks for the reply. I tried the restore point without success so looks like I have only 2 options. 1) open a new user profile and transfer my stuff or 2) live with it missing - which probably wouldn't bug me since I never use it (Outlook handles that for me).

Added later: I've done the new user profile and -except for the pain in the @$$ of resetting absolutely every customization - I'm back to full operational status. Thanks for the help.

P.S. Maybe you can help clear up the situation that started this entire problem...

My issue began when I tried to relocate my "user" files onto another drive. The first thing I did was I moved the contacts to the drive but (...as I now understand) didn't create a new folder (believing in error that windows would actually move the green folder in a nice and easy manner.) So, I lost the folder and couldn't move it back because of an error with the D: drive - which was now my actual "contacts" location.

Anyway. I still need to move the "user" folders to a more secure second hard drive but I am nervous and would welcome a clear guide to this probably simple process.

 

[mansrm81]

Jeff47 these tutorials will show you how to move your personal folders.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/107990-personal-user-shell-folders-move-location.html?filter

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/1...ers-prevent-allow-location-change.html?filter

Hope this helps

 

[Jeff47]

Thanks for the links mansrm81.

 

[dinesh]

excellent