Move Shared Folders in Windows XP

In How to redirect shared folders in Windows XP?, a few registry keys are edited/created but it doesn't tell you to create any folder(s) or if the folders are created automatically on reboot.

In the section on "relocating sub-folders ", new registry keys are created in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ User Shell Folders

but corresponding registry keys already exist in

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ Shell Folders

and I don't know why new keys should be created in a different location or whether the new keys "override" the existing ones.

I have moved several XP folders to a second partition but I never touched the Shared Documents folder (and the default subfolders). The reason is that my computer has a single user and ... ... I never share documents with myself. The multiple user setups I have done have not wanted to use the Shared Documents folder. However, the below would be my attempt to do the deed. Take note that I have not verified that it works!

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the first key mentioned above. Click File > Export > name it and save to a location where it can be easily found. Navigate to the second key mentioned above and repeat the procedure. Now, both keys are backed up.

In Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\ > right-click on the Shared Documents folder and choose copy > navigate to the desired location, e.g. D:\ > right-click an empy space and choose paste. Close WE.

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the first key mentioned above. In the right hand pane, double-click on the Common Documents key > edit the path to point to the new location (e.g. D:\Shared Documents). Navigate to the second key mentioned above and repeat the procedure for the CommonMusic, CommonPictures and CommonVideo keys (e.g. D:\Shared Documents\CommonXXXXXX). Close the Registry Editor.

Now, the folders should be copied (not moved) and the original registry keys backed up. If this doesn't work, all you should have to do is find the registry backup files and double-click on them to restore the original values, pointing to the default location.

Restart the computer.

In the Registry Editor, verify that the edited keys still point to the new location.

Open MS Word or any other text editor. Create a test document and save it in the Shared Documents folder. Open Windows Explorer and verify that it ended up in the new location.

If all is well, you should now be able to delete the default Shared Documents folder and free up the space on C:. You can also delete the *.reg files (to avoid any accidental clicking).

I repeat: I have not verified that this will work. If you want me to, I will do it!

Christer

 

Well, if you decide to try my suggestion, please, report back with the results.

(I know that I will test it on my own system, sooner or later but right now, I'm "somewhat" short of time. It might be a good addition to the guide.)

Christer

 

Just a piece of chinese wisdom that I picked up somewhere ... ... that you need to "get your hands dirty" to really learn.

I use another one in different places: "You know that you're old when it takes longer to rest than it took to get tired" and that one is not chinese ... ... it's my own!

Christer