1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Windows Vista Folder madness

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by noclue, 2009/02/12.

  1. 2009/02/12
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    So, you have the main-topic folders in your favorites, and by being heavy-handed with your mouse, a main-topic folder gets put into another main-topic folder, thereby mixing it up with the sub-topics of another totally unrelated main folder.

    I have tried all of the tricks I know, and I cannot get the wayward folder to go back into its rightful place in alphabetical order with the other main-topic folders.

    For instance, "Computer help" (which includes this board) is now seemingly permanently stuck under "Greeting Cards." "Radio" is stuck under "Finances." They will not move! Even if you go into "organize folders" and click on "move," all that gets you is a move of a main-topic folder somewhere. :confused: No provision for errant sub-topics.

    Didn't the designers of this program figure that sooner or later someone would do just what I've done?

    I'm sure someone out there has figured this out... Please share!
     
  2. 2009/02/13
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2002/06/10
    Messages:
    8,198
    Likes Received:
    63
    You are talking about Favorites? Like Internet Explorer Favorites?

    In the Start Search bar, type explorer and open Windows Explorer. Look down the left-hand column for Favorites. That will be the folder where your favourites are kept. Hopefully, you should be able to unravel them there.

    Matt
    PS If you have set your favourites to list in alphabetical order, reset that to default first, see if they can be "unsorted" easily then.
     

  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2009/02/14
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi, mattman --

    Thanks for your reply. Yes, Internet Explorer Favorites. I should have be clearer.

    I did what you suggested, and I found lots of files and programs, but no "Favorites." That's weird, huh?

    I have been having problems saving *anything* to my desktop; however, I am able to open my Favorites and get right on to the Internet with no problems.
     
  5. 2009/02/14
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/30
    Messages:
    12,279
    Likes Received:
    246
    Look in C:\USERS\Your User Name\FAVORITES (or there abouts)
     
  6. 2009/02/14
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hello, Steve --

    Thanks for participating in this rescue mission...

    I went to Start > Computer where I found Hard Disk (OS (C) and Recovery (D).

    Clicking on OS (C), I found several tabs; I chose "Organize," but there was nothing about Favorites there. Nothing in Views, Properties, System Properties, Uninstall Programs, or Map Network Drive.

    Am I in the right place?
     
  7. 2009/02/15
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    2,975
    Likes Received:
    49
    Hi noclue,
    See if this helps:

    Your close....you need to expand c: to a folder named "user" and then expand that to your account name where your favorites folder will be located.

    --------------------alternative ways to get there-------------------

    1. Click Start [Vista's ORB], type shell:favorites and press ENTER. The Favorites folder of your user account will open.

    Note:
    If wishing to use windows explorer to locate this folder, it can be accessed by a right click on the start orb and choosing the option of "explore ". The icon for this green folder will have a gold star on it. By opening windows explorer in this fashion it will open in your account by default [the account currently logged into] unless you've customized windows explorer view to open in other ways.

    ---------------------------
    While in "Organize favorites ", within IE, can't you just dragNdrop these where you want? That includes folders within subfolders as well as any links found in any of the folders. Everything should be drag and droppable.

    --------------------
    Another idea....
    From with in IE
    >if your menubar is shown[= the one with file edit view tools help heading across it]
    >click view
    >Explorer bar
    >favorites
    This will open favorites list on the right side of ie.
    >once again anything there should be drag and droppable, should you need to reorganize or move a folder/subfolder/link.
    >A right click on any of these will offer a "sort by name" which will alphabetize them.

    ----------------and just an in case your doing this wrong-------------
    Keep in mind that you have to have the individual specific item you wish to move highlighted, whether this is a folder, subfolder within a folder or an url link. [but once again you can dragNdrop them even from the organize/move popup].
     
    Last edited: 2009/02/15
  8. 2009/02/17
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi, Goddez1 -- Thanks for pitching in. This has been a bear!

    RE: solution #1: I got a screen which said "shell:favorites" cannot be found." so I tried right-clicking on the orb > explore > and found a list of my favorites, but I couldn't move stuff around.

    RE:#2: No dropping and dragging allowed.

    RE: #3: I have no "edit-file-view" in my menu bar. I tried looking in the drop-down menus under "tools" and "Page," but didn't find them there. I know what you're talking about; I had those headings with IE, but not with Vista.

    So, maybe I should just dump the errant folders & contents, look all that stuff up on the Internet and re-save it?
     
  9. 2009/02/17
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    2,975
    Likes Received:
    49
    Hi noclue,
    What is the full path the favorites is using, in other words where is the favorites folder located. Has it been moved from where it should be located? What icon is it using?
     
  10. 2009/02/17
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Uh, well... when I open it by clicking on the gold star just under the blue "back" arrow, it appears down the left-hand side of the page. Is that what you mean? :confused:
     
  11. 2009/02/17
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    2,975
    Likes Received:
    49
    :) no, I mean path or full directory line such as c:\users\noclue\favorites. Need help on how to determine this? It may help you to see this in a picture: [refer to the second picture below]
    http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/20...ection-for-favorites-on-the-same-machine.aspx

    As for the menubar, just:
    To enable or disable the Menu bar in Internet Explorer, right click on a empty area of the tool bar and click on Menu Bar to check (enable) or uncheck (disable) it.

    http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/92073-menu-bar.html
     
    Last edited: 2009/02/17
  12. 2009/02/17
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thank you, Goddez1. I'll have to read the blog later, but I wanted to tell you that I went to "view" (after getting my menu bar back -- thanks for those instructions :)), then Explorer Bar where I did, indeed, find "Favorites" with a check mark side it. But nothing opened up.
     
  13. 2009/02/18
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    2,975
    Likes Received:
    49
    Hi again noclue,

    I'm beginning to think you may still be dealing with Favorites ACL assignment, permissions, security or uac problem. I really need to find out, first, if you have accidentally moved your favorites by a drag mistake, that's why I have asked for the full path it is using. Favorites will misbehave if it's not where IE or your system thinks it should be. Please refer back to previous thread #10 and the link-ala-pictures I suggested. When using this method for a properties check of "favorites ", the tabs and buttons, may come in handy, particularly if favorites path is showing anything other than c:\users\your account name\favorites. Notice that "restore default" button?

    Note*(corruption of a link or subfolder may also be an issue, but we can cross that road when we get to it.)

    ----------------------------------------------------

    It's strange that the find command shell:Favorites is not opening your favorites nor is an ie "explorer bars" menu opening your favorites.

    You say that your menubar>view>explorer bars>favorites has a check next to favorites already? Try unchecking it and rechecking it. Does the same problem occur if you choose history or feeds?

    Are you getting any warnings, errors or permission requests while working with IE? Any other problems with IE?

    Are you logged in as a user with administrator rights?

    ----notes to myself------------

    Hmmm...I may have to rethink the uac problem, I see by this past post that at one time you had favorites as well as the ability to dragNdrop them, working. You had a small problem with sort but overcame that.
    http://www.windowsbbs.com/internet-explorer/81003-ill-behaved-favorites.html#post441366
     
    Last edited: 2009/02/18
  14. 2009/02/20
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    I am logged in as an administrator with the accompanying "rights." I messed up my folders by accidental dragging -- I was using a mouse with a tired battery, and I think that's how I re-located those two sub-folders.

    Not getting more than the usual warnings from IE (do you really want to.../secure, non-secure/etc.) I will go back and see what happens if I un-click that check mark next to my favorites.

    One thing I did a couple of weeks ago is download Google Chrome in an attempt to fix an email problem (per recommendation from an email discussion site). Would that be causing my inability to find the stuff you're asking me to find?

    Sorry to be so sporadic with my replies; life is messy right now!
     
  15. 2009/02/21
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    2,975
    Likes Received:
    49
    No problem noclue,

    If fixing this problem can not be high on your priority problem list, I can work at your pace, as time permits. I've been a member of this board for years (11 years to be exact) and am not going anywhere. :) Don't feel rushed and take your time.

    Google Chrome? I don't think this would have been a problem for IE as they are compatible, much like IE and Firefox, separate browsers, separate problems. Windows will run with multiple choices and installs of internet browsers. While this can not be eliminated as a possibility there are other things that are higher up on the root cause list. More likely if you went the whole gmail route in IE and are using igoogle as a homepage, have a google toolbar and are using google bookmarks to keep backups of bookmarks online, are continually signed in to igoogle/gmail account, altered a google homepage to show google bookmarks on the home page. Addins/plugins and chores for ie in this situation can cause problems. I tried this for all of 15/20 minutes and found it bogged IE down so much I got rid of the whole mess. I didn't need a gmail account as I have a yahoo account I have used for years and years. It was a curiosity but the results proved unacceptable for myself. I realize gmail is widely used and wouldn't begrudge anyone their choice for such, but it just wasn't worth pursuing in my case.

    I hate to keep beating this poor horse to death but I still need the full path to your Favorites....:eek: This could be a major problem if IE is running in protected mode and you have dragged or relocated the favorites to an area that requires high/medium rights.

    If you wish to see a peek-a-boo crystal ball look at the whole write up of the running log I have been keeping for ALL the possibilities and suggestions I have thus far tagged for your future exploration, I will paste them further down. If you'd rather not be overwhelmed by the information overload close your eyes and ignore the following:
    -----------------
    #1
    Try running IE7 without add-ons- right-click the desktop icon and start
    without add-ons. If the problem disappears, re-enable add-ons one at a time
    until the problem returns.

    The troublesome program may not show up as an add-on. Disable other
    security, privacy, ad-blocking programs to see if one of them is causing the
    problem. Any program that interacts with Internet Explorer could be causing
    this. The connection with IE may not be obvious. Examples would be Google Desktop, Google bookmarks.
    ------------------
    #2
    The personalized favorites option may has been known to interfere with the show favorites for some users. You could try to disable this.
    *Click on tools, internet options,
    *click the advance tab,
    *go to the browsing section and uncheck "enable personalized favorites menu ".
    *Did this help? If no read on......
    ------------------------
    #3
    I gave you this link before but as yet have not received response to a properties path check, so here it is, yet again: (adding another couple of whacks to that poor horse)

    http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/20...ection-for-favorites-on-the-same-machine.aspx
    --------------
    #3
    ?????icalcs problems???????

    http://kmwoley.com/blog/?p=332

    1. Open up a command window by going to Start menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt. Be fore opening command prompt: Right click this and select "run as administrator "or from "properties" put a check in "run as adminstrator" option.

    2. Copy/paste or Type in the following command:
    icacls.exe Favorites /t /setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)L

    OR
    icacls X:\your path to\Favorites /setintegritylevel (OI)(CI)low

    ^where x: is your drive or partition letter
    "Path to" equals the directory path to favorites
    ---------------------
    #4
    A very long name for the new favorite, can produce odd Internet Explorer behavior. Some examples would be:
    *you cannot remove the focus from the Add Favorite dialog box.
    *Internet Explorer stops responding (hangs).

    This problem occurs because Internet Explorer 7, the version that is currently included in Windows Vista, does not let you type a favorite name that is longer than 221 characters

    http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13468
    -----------------------
    #5
    While reading some of your archived posts, I noticed UAC was driving you crazy. I'm am having difficulty in trying to decide the advisability of suggesting anything that may compromise your security but there comes a time when quality, fun and ease of using your computer get's choked and the whole ordeal becomes confusing and frustrating. As I understand it, your computer is not used for business but purely as a toy for your enjoyment, let's see if we can put a little joy back in. First off please read and review this link and note the discussion on risks. While doing anything to lower security, if your careful, have a good virus program, malware program, and are firewalled risks can minimalized. That said, please see the following:

    tweak uac advice:
    http://www.windowsbbs.com/windows-vista/77402-why-i-killed-uac.html

    Download
    http://www.tweak-uac.com/home/
    Run on the middle setting or quiet mode. Uac is still on but will not nag you so much.
    -------------------------------
    #6
    Protected Mode shouldn't cause this, but try disabling Protected Mode from
    Internet Options> Security.
    928675- Separation of Internet Explorer 7 from the Windows shell [protected
    mode]:
    http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/928675

    For experimental purposes let's see if running IE in non protected mode or turning uac off TEMPORARILY helps. Set this to option one, which will run IE with uac protection off. So long as you or the account you are currently logged into, has full admin rights and permission and permissions for the "favorites" is set to allow you full control, you should be able to work with favorites as you please. Did this help? To do so use tweak uac to turn uac off.

    Alternate method:
    1. In Internet Explorer, click Tools, then Internet Options.
    2. Click the Security tab.
    3. Click to remove the checkmark from the Enable Protected Mode checkbox.
    4. Click OK to save your settings. You will receive a dialog saying that disabling Protected Mode wil put your computer at risk. Click OK to clear this message.
    5. Restart Internet Explorer.

    ----------------------------------
    #7
    Create another account and try that one.
     
    Last edited: 2009/02/21
  16. 2009/03/04
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi, goddez1 --

    I didn't forget you! That last post borders on doctoral dissertation material. Wow! I have printed it out and put it with my other sacred computer notes.

    Here's what's happened: I had several other weird things going on with my computer (par for the course; if it's a computer, and I touch it, weird things are going to happen), so I got a geek-guy out here who immediately detected that I didn't have IE set as my default browser. :eek: Not sure how that happened, but once it was taken care of, I have been dropping and dragging to beat the band. Oh, and I can move stuff around now, too. :D

    Thanks for not giving up on me and for giving me that wealth of information that I will likely be able to use at some point. I was just glad to end up with a simple solution.
     
  17. 2009/03/04
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

    Joined:
    2002/06/10
    Messages:
    8,198
    Likes Received:
    63
    Nothing beats sitting in front of the machine ;).

    I would wonder why the system appeared to be so "off track ". What "non-default" program was causing it? Will it happen again? Don't expect it has magically gone away. Look at why it happened.

    And...you owe goddez1 a beer or maybe several :D

    Matt
     
  18. 2009/03/04
    goddez1

    goddez1 Inactive

    Joined:
    2002/01/12
    Messages:
    2,975
    Likes Received:
    49
    Phew,

    I'm ecstatic that the problem was so minor. I wasn't even aware that not having IE assigned as default browser could cause such aggravation.

    The write-up was no problem and no loss. Someone, somewhere will find it handy. Your most welcome and as always thanks for the update.

    Thanks for the pitch mattman, but can I make that coffee, iced tea or a Bloody Mary (with huge celery stalk and an olive or two)? <- I like to think of that as a non "empty calorie" drink, healthy even...;)
     
    Last edited: 2009/03/04
  19. 2009/03/04
    noclue

    noclue Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2008/08/27
    Messages:
    139
    Likes Received:
    0
    Bloody Marys all around then. Cheers!! :)

    And Mattman, it's NOT going to happen again lest I end up in a straight jacket... :rolleyes:
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.