Solved Cannot add a folder to Windows Explorer "Favorites" in navigation pane

[LeeTutor]

I have a Windows 7 Ultimate dual booting with Windows 8 Consumer Preview on a Dell XPS 410. When I bring up Windows Explorer on the Desktop app, I would like to add several folders to the "Favorites" section of the navigation pane on the left side of the window, as I have done in Windows 7. However, I don't seem to be able to do it. I have tried dragging the folder in the right pane onto the Favorites link, as I do in Windows 7, but nothing happens; the folder is not added to the list (which, by the way, is empty.) I have also tried navigating to the folder I want to add to Favorites and then right clicking the Favorites link and selecting the option from the context menu of "add current location to favorites", but again nothing happens.

On the off chance that it might be a corrupted system file, I just finished doing a System File Checker with the SCANNOW option, but no problem was detected by SFC.

I wonder if this is a bug in the Consumer Preview? Has anybody else encountered this problem? I also would like suggestions for what else to try to correct the problem, if it seems to be a problem with my system but nobody else's...

 

[NiFu]

I have tried dragging the folder in the right pane onto the Favorites link, as I do in Windows 7, but nothing happens; the folder is not added to the list

Here it works all fine - like in Windows 7

the folder is not added to the list (which, by the way, is empty.)

My favorites folder is not empty - contains the default links to "Desktop" and "Downloads".

So I think something is wrong with your installation.


　

 

[Brink]

Hello Lee,

Is your Favorites empty? If so, then you might see if the tutorial below for Windows 7 may help fix this as well.

Favorites Empty in Navigation Pane - Fix - Windows 7 Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[LeeTutor]

Thanks, NiFu, for letting me know that it works on your machine; that tells me something is corrupted on mine. I am now logged back into Windows 7 and have been busy researching this problem. I've found two useful pages:

Tips and Tricks to Make Full Use of Favorite Links

Remove Favorites from Windows Explorer in Windows 7 | TechRepublic

From the above articles I obtained a bit more understanding of the registry locations where Windows Explorer Favorites is stored, and when I get back into Windows 8 Consumer Preview, I will see if I can use that info to correct the problem.

And thanks to you too, Brink, and I will research that article when I get back into Windows 8 again...

 

[LeeTutor]

Well, it looks like everything is working correctly now. The Windows 7 fix linked to by Brink wasn't necessary, but what I found from my investigations was that my user account profile directory was missing the Links folder, where the items under "Favorites" are stored as shortcuts. When I created a new Links folder, everything worked.

 

[Brink]

That's great news Lee. I'm glad you got it sorted.

 

[NiFu]

but what I found from my investigations was that my user account profile directory was missing the Links folder, where the items under "Favorites" are stored as shortcuts. When I created a new Links folder, everything worked.

Yes, this is always a little bit irritating:

In user profile you have a "Links" folder and a "Favorites" folder.

And Windows Explorer shows "Favorites".

• But the "Favorites" folder is the Favorites folder for Internet Explorer.
• And the "Links" folder is the Favorites folder for Windows Explorer.