Win 11 File Explorer Document Folder problems

Question

I had to do a clean install of Win11 due to some problems running programs. After the installation and restoring of my personal files from the cloud, I've been having problems with my Documents and Pictures folders showing in File Explorer. I am having trouble keeping them synced in the 4 FIle Explorer locations;

williamsturgis----My Name

This PC----where the correct copies should be

C:/users/wjstur----Where the correct copies seem to be

Libraries

I had some problems with OneDrive, Which I thought I had disabled, But there always seem to be a piece of it sticking around, which I couldn't delete, so I renamed it. Didn't seem to help. I hope somebody can help me out of this mess. Thanks

Answer 1

Hi William,

Download the registry file from the link below:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvS3D6xKILojrUJWb2yjl6y2kEn...

Right click the downloaded reg file and select 'Merge', then confirm the merge.

Restart (not shut down) your PC for those changes to be applied

That will reset the registry entries so the correct folders are referenced

To tidy up, you may need to move files from the Documents folder in that OldOneDrive folder into the correct Documents folder, and also from the Pictures folder inside OldOneDrive folder into the correct Pictures folder in your user folder.

Answer 2

The OldOneDrive folder used to be OneDrive, which I had been trying to get rid of since I think that was the source of my Problems. So I renamed it to OldOneDrive hoping I could get it to go away but with no success. Check the 2 images I included and you can see the problem.

Answer 3

Hi William,

Sorry, I was offline.

Thank you for the screenshots, your user folder being used by Windows is C:\Users\wjstu and the registry indicates the Documents folder is the Documents folder inside OldOneDrive inside that user folder, that would not have been created by Windows, did you create the OldOneDrive folder, your Pictures folder is also located inside OldOneDrive too.

Answer 4

Here are the two screenshots you wanted. Hope this helps. I'll be gone until late tonight or tomorrow morning. Thanks Again

Answer 5

Hi William

I am Dave, I will help you with this.

1

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 provide a screenshot of that Registry Editor page.

2

Open Command Prompt and run this command:

whoami

Please provide a screenshot of the output from that command.