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Copy Windows 7 Desktop Folder To Another Partition / Drive

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by James Martin, 2018/12/19.

  1. 2018/12/19
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Is this possible?

    I plan to reinstall the OS over the holidays, and I have an untidy desktop with some important files and shortcuts that I would like to save to another location, and bring them back after the reinstall.

    I can easily access the desktop info via an Acronis backup, but that program's GUI is plain vanilla (like Windows 10), and it makes it a bit harder to search for what I want (all the folders & such look alike - blech!).

    Thanks, and Merry Christmas.
     
    James Martin,
    #1
  2. 2018/12/20
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Now, tell me why you have "some important files and shortcuts" scattered around an untidy desktop? I never let my desktop get untidy but keep my files and shortcuts, important or not, in the appropriate folders. Move the files and shortcuts to the folders that you plan to backup anyway and you're done.
     
    Christer,
    #2


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  4. 2018/12/20
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    I agree with Christer.

    That said, what you see on your desktop are really shortcuts anyway and can be found in your Desktop folder. Search for that folder and your files should be there.

    Do note that having a cluttered desktop can greatly impact your boot times as all those shortcuts must load every time you boot. And if those shortcuts become corrupt, or point to a missing file, for example, it can cause your PC to fail to boot! What I do is create a folder I keep on my desktop, then I move all those shortcuts to that folder. Then when I boot, only the one shortcut to that one folder needs to load.

    And why do you want to reinstall the OS? That should ALWAYS be a last resort option during a troubleshooting process. Reinstalling the OS - especially such an old OS as W7, will put you YEARS behind in updates and security.
     
    Bill,
    #3
    James Martin likes this.
  5. 2018/12/20
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I poked around my own Windows 7 desktop and tried to sort out which folders correspond to which shortcuts and which files, respectively. It seems like they are located in different "desktop folders", depending on how they ended up on the desktop. Hoping that I get it right in english:

    Shortcuts, if they are created by an installer and the program is to be used by all users (most likely the default if the user doesn't say otherwise) - C:\Users\Public\Desktop

    Shortcuts, if they are created by an installer and the program is to be used by the current user only - C:\Users\Username\Desktop

    Shortcuts, created by the current user - C:\Users\Username\Desktop

    Files placed on the desktop by the user - C:\Users\Username\Desktop
     
    Christer,
    #4
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  6. 2018/12/20
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Because I am messy! :D

    Actually, I did some tidying up not long ago, but it still looks a mess. Critical / sensitive files are encrypted and stored elsewhere however.
     
    James Martin,
    #5
  7. 2018/12/21
    Bill

    Bill SuperGeek WindowsBBS Team Member

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    Then again, I recommend you create a folder (or a couple folders) on your desktop and drag and drop all those shortcuts into those folders. While you can have dozens of shortcuts in that folder, Windows will only need to load one single shortcut to that folder when you boot. And your desktop will be much more tidy too.
     
    Bill,
    #6
    James Martin likes this.
  8. 2018/12/23
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Funny you say that. I was just viewing a YouTube video last night that coincided with what you and Christer said about having too many shortcuts and such on the desktop that can slow boot times.

    I'll fix this ASAP.
     
    James Martin,
    #7

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