Applies ToGeneral

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows registry

INTRODUCTION

Microsoft Windows operating systems have some user profile folders that are known as user shell folders. These user shell folders can be redirected to any path. You can use Profile Maker to redirect a user shell folder by creating a new registry item in a user configuration.

More Information

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.The following procedure is an example of how to redirect the "My Documents" folder to a specified path. To redirect the "My Documents" folder, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Profile Maker console.

  2. In the console tree, right-click Configurations, point to New, and then click User Configuration.

  3. Type a name for the user configuration, and then press ENTER.

  4. Right-click the user configuration that you created, point to New, point to Property, and then click Registry Setting.

  5. In the Action list, select Replace.

  6. In the Hive list, select HKEY_CURRENT_USER.

  7. In the Key Path box, type the following path:

    Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell FoldersNote This value is only for Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 client computers.

  8. In the Value name box, type Personal.

  9. In the Value type list, select REG_SZ.

  10. In the Value data box, type u:\%logonuser%.

  11. Click OK.

The following table shows the user shell folders that you can redirect. This table also shows the corresponding registry entry names that you should use.

The user shell folders that you can redirect

The corresponding registry entry name that you should type in the Value name box

Application Data

AppData

Desktop

Desktop

Fonts

Fonts

Local Settings

Local Settings

My Documents

Personal

My Pictures

My Pictures

Network Neighborhood

NetHood

Print Neighborhood

PrintHood

Programs Group

Programs

Recent

Recent

Send To

SendTo

Start Menu

Start Menu

Startup Group

StartUp

Templates

Templates

Notes

  • The Cookies folder cannot be redirected to a Universal Naming Convention (UNC) path. The Cookies folder can be redirected only to a local path or to a mapped drive.

  • The Temporary Internet Files folder can be redirected only to a local path.

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