I'm confused about the 'My Documents' in Windows 8.

I'm coming from Windows XP where there was one single 'My Documents'-folder where I stored all my stuff.

Now I just got Windows 8 and I'm a bit confused...
I would like to have all my sub-folders (which I like to name Images, Audio, Video and so on), in one single main-folder.

But which folder should I use for that?
In windows 8 there are various candidate folders like for example:
-Libraries
-Documents
-"Username"
Then within "Username" there is a folder called 'My Documents' but the folders called 'My music' and 'My pictures' etc are not within it.

I think this all is a bit confusing.

To clarify what I want to accomplish it is this:
A main folder called 'My Documents'
Within it I want folders named:
'Images'
'Video'
'Text'
...and so on. But then I don't want the other 'My Pictures' or 'My Music' etc. since they would be redundant.

What is the best way to accomplish this?

Everyone had the same issue. But if you want your Win 8 to look like XP or Win 7 where you can easily see My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, etc. folders, start by installing Classic Shell. Google it up. It's free. It will bring back the start menu for easier access on your folders.

I don't think that is his problem?

In the folder options, choose these and see if it suits you:
1- Don't show hidden files---etc
2- Hide protected Operating system

This will limit your view to your user folders. You can then create the folders you mention, and copy your contents into them, if you wish.

Already got Classic shell installed which is great but irrelevant to my question.

Hiding stuff is not what I want either since I like to see everything.
I just want stuff to be where I would like it to be.

Welcome to EightForums, whitek.

Wow! XP to 8 would be quite a shock on Libraries if one didn't experience the changes through Vista and 7. Even more complicated in 8 with Modern apps using folders.

Quite honestly I'm not that savvy enough to know if what you're trying to accomplish is possible. I'll have to investigate further. Perhaps someone else will come along that may know.

Either way, hang in there!

HippsieGypsie said:

Welcome to EightForums, whitek.

Wow! XP to 8 would be quite a shock on Libraries if one didn't experience the changes through Vista and 7. Even more complicated in 8 with Modern apps using folders.

Quite honestly I'm not that savvy enough to know if what you're trying to accomplish is possible. I'll have to investigate further. Perhaps someone else will come along that may know.

Either way, hang in there!

Click to expand...

Thank's for the encouragement!
Yup, let's hope someone is savvy enough to solve it.

whitek said:

Already got Classic shell installed which is great but irrelevant to my question.

Hiding stuff is not what I want either since I like to see everything.
I just want stuff to be where I would like it to be.

Click to expand...

Basically, all folders should be within "Libraries"

"Username" is when you have more than one user on your PC.

There would be no redundancy if you just use the default "My Music" , "My Pictures" folders. What you need to do is to create your own subfolder under those default folders (ex. My Music>>>"Whitek").. it's quicker to navigate that way. And that's where each file type should be. You don't have to manually point your media application from which folder to play or open the files from. Media applications are programmed to open files from those default folders.

Cheers!

And BTW, welcome to 8F!

Like it or not Library's is what you use for this, there are many good reason's for this but they would be difficult to explain to someone coming from XP. It all becomes more obvious if you are setting up a secure network with drive shares etc.

It's easy enough to figure out how the file system works if you start from square one, the link below makes it easy.

I'm not sure what classic shell does to your system but I imagine that Library's would still function.


You can easily create a new Library and name it what ever you want, you can also assign a special icon to this new Library for easier reference.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/13050-library-create-new-library-windows-8-a.html

In XP 'My Documents' was stored somewhere like C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\My Documents\. Therefore, the equivelent would be C:\Users\USERNAME\.

However, if you don't want to use the pre-made folders (especially as programs put their own clutter in the 'My Documents' folder for example), I can't think of a reason why you couldn't create a new folder in C:\Users\USERNAME\, name it something like 'Whitek's Folder' and keep your files there. Although, as someone else mentioned you need to keep in mind that some programs may still try to open/save from the default folder locations as their default setting.

Personally, I don't use any of the user folders/libraries as I keep my files on a second drive and if I didn't have a second drive, I'd create a partition and store them there. But I'm quite obsessive with my files, so I don't think that's 'the norm' and looking how disorganised some people are with their files, it's probably better for them to just use the default folders.

ETA: Looking at the above post, it seems there are some uses for Libraries afterall, but I can't comment on that as I don't use them.

For what you want to do look at C:/users/(name)/My Documents. In order to be compatible with some programs the My Documents name is a default. In Windows 8 they keep this name but it is a link to a physical folder. That physical folder can be anywhere on your system by your choice. Right click on My Documents and select Properties and Location and you will see the default physical folder and also an option to move it to another physical location without disputing the My Documents link. You can right click My Documents and add other folders like 'Images' 'Video' 'Text' just like in XP. Under Libraries under Documents there should be a My Documents link also. These are all links to the physical folder. Take a look and post back for any questions.

Jim

For the various user folders there is a special properties tab called Location.
Right click on one, say My Pictures, and look at Location. It allows you to re-locate it anywhere.

Hello,

There is a folder already on your system for this, My user name for my account is "Tony" and there is a folder "Tony" on my system from default, there are several ways to reach this folder.

1a Go to the desktop (if in the metro tiled start screen then click desktop on the lower left corner)
b click on the file explorer (yellow folder) shortcut icon on the taskbar to open what was Windows Explorer
c On the left side of screen under the libraries heading click on your user name

This will give you your user folder with My Documents, My Music and My Pictures in etc.

2. The 2nd way is navigate to that folder via file explorer (windows explorer), press and hold windows key and press E at the same time, double click on C: then users then the folder for your name, this will take you to the same folder above.

If you really wanted to move you music and everything in to my documents then you can move the libraries but it might be more hassle than it's worth, You will get used to the new ways of doing things, give it a week or 2.

I would strongly advise you to download and install a program called Start8 (Start8™ for Windows® 8 - Bringing back the Windows Start menu) you can try it for free and if you want to buy it's only £3-4, this program will give you your start button back, My Documents etc etc can be accessed from the new start menu button. It'll be the best £3-4 you spent on your computer!!

Good Luck

Tony

I am not sure why the OP wishes to see the hidden and system folders (post #4), but, with that request, I don't think there is a viable solution to his initial request.
As I said in post #3, The easiest way, to avoid clutter, ( as also suggested by Frank1, is, indeed, to hide everything which has second priority in use, and create your desired folders in "My Documents" You can then hide (sorry, Whitek - the only solution, Imo ) those default folders.
I have no desire to see the libraries so have removed them from the nav column in Explorer. Arachnaut's solution has never worked for me, I'm afraid. I get an error message.

This is all I see when I open Windows explorer, works for me!

Whow, an impressive amount of advice here. Thank you fellows!

I don't want to use the C:\Users\UserName\ since that contains the appdata-folder which bugs me. And I don't want to hide files since I want to be able to see what's there.

What I've done this far is to use the "My Documents" folder within C:\Users\UserName\Documents
Within this "My Documents" I created folders:
'Images'
'Audio'
'Video'
...and so on.

I've also deleted most of the libraries and made new ones pointing to the above mentioned folders. This makes it quick to find all my stuff from the navigation-tree in explorer. I don't like having to make several clicks to reach my destinations.
It seems to work well this far.
But it might be that there is a more proper way to accomplish what I've done this far (using libraries feels a bit redundant since I don't use their actual functions).
We'll see how it goes...

Jim gave you the answer...

Libraries gives each type a whole section of it's own it's the same in Windows 7 and Vista as it is in 8. XP had everything as a subfolder of My Documents. With 7 and 8 you can also Create a library, by pointing to a folder where you stash stuff. I have about 4 extra libraries I use for Apple iOS IPA files, and other files I keep. I have about 7,000 IPA files, all sorted as to type, date, and what they do.

You must have come from XP and are trying to replicate this terrible XP setup. But that defeats the nice libraries setup completely. I always hated the mess in the documents folder of XP. Now that you have a clean setup possibility, you should use it.

Study the library concept and use it to your advantage. And if you want to seperate your owh files and folders from the system and program generated files, create a data partition and define folders for Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music there. The right click on those folders and INCLUDE them into the corresponding library. Then move your own stuff (and only that) to those folders.

The advantage of that setup is that your data does not go down when your system collapses and your own stuff does not get mixed up with the system's and program's stuff - especially in Documents.

There is only one Documents folder, fear not. The rest are libraries or shortcuts: both like links to the original folder.

Documents or so called 'My Documents' is found in C:\Users\YourUserName\Documents. The library Documents and the one called My Documents point to the same folder.

azasadny said:

Jim gave you the answer...

Click to expand...

Who is "Jim"?