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in windows 10, what is the difference between "this PC" and the "c drive" files?

Anonymous
2019-07-19T15:15:36+00:00

What is the difference between files in "this PC" and the "c drive" files?  

I am the only user on this PC.  I saved files to the "c drive" within my user name, but they do not show in file explorer in "this PC".  Where should I be saving files?? Why aren't my files showing within "this PC"??

Thanks for your help!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2019-07-19T19:16:17+00:00

    "This PC" is your entire computer, with all the drives it has. The "C: drive," for most people, is just one of the drives on "This PC." Most people have a C: drive and a D: drive, and sometimes others.

    So, for example, if I look at "This PC" on my computer, I see the following drives:

    C:         an SSD

    D:        a hard drive

    E:         a hard driveF:         a hard drive

    G:         a DVD drive

    W:        a networked drive on my wife's computer that I have mapped to my computer

    and sometimes

    U:          a thumb drive plugged into a USB port.

    You probably don't have as many drives as I have. Most people don't.

    There is no "should be" for where files are saved. What's best for one person isn't necessarily best for everyone. But files aren't saved directly to "this PC"; they are saved to a folder within a drive that is part of "This PC." By default, that folder is usually C:\Users\your user name\Documents, but it can be changed. You probably haven't changed it, so that's where you should star looking for files you've saved.

    If they aren't there, do a search for the name of one of the files, and that way you will find out where they are saved.

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  1. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-07-19T16:30:30+00:00

    Hi 2views

    This happened in a recent Windows Update, where your Documents folder was moved inside the OneDrive folder, whether in error or otherwise . . .

    That is why I asked for the Registry Editor screenshot, because this can be resolved by 2 changes in the registry, I just needed to see the current state of that registry page . . .

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  1. DaveM121 868K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2019-07-19T15:46:55+00:00

    Hi 2views

    Do you mean you save files to the Documents folder on your C Drive and they are not showing in the Documents folder under 'This PC'?

    1

    If so, on the left, click 'This PC', on the right, right click your Documents folder and choose Properties, what is the reported location of that folder

    Do the same for the other Documents folder, do the reported locations match for those folders?

    2

    Click your Start Button, type regedit and hit Enter to open the Registry Editor

    Click View and make sure 'Address Bar' is turned on

    Paste this into the Address Bar at the top and hit Enter

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

    Please post a screenshot of that Registry Editor window . . .

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  2. Anonymous
    2019-07-20T01:24:08+00:00

    Here's a screenshot of the reg edit you requested. It shows the OneDrive entry!

    Is this how it is supposed to be now???

    Thanks for all your help!

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  3. Anonymous
    2019-07-19T16:18:56+00:00

    Thanks for your help.

    The path for This PC/Documents goes to OneDrive not my local drive! Is that the default setting? I only save documents to One Drive that I need to share with others outside my home network.

    I've recently had a hard drive crash and I'm trying to restore my files. I don't remember this being an issue on my old Windows 10 PC.  

    I did not do the regedit changes you suggested now that I see why this is happening.

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