changing default My documents from C to D
in [Windows XP]
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From: Tim Meddick on 8 Jun 2010 15:18 I will go as far as to admit ALL what you have stated is correct - EXCEPT ...... The data contained within : [HKU\.Default\Software] ....although these keys are NOT present in the loaded hive (ntuser.data) from the "Default User" folder. Nonetheless, they exist in [HKU\.Default\Software] and are transferred to new profiles! (e.g. the key [HKU\.Default\Software\AVG] does NOT exist in the "Default User" hive but "miraculously" appears in new profiles!!!???) That is what I merant when I said you were ignoring my statements. == Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message news:ez6c4jpBLHA.420(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >I did not "skillfully avoid" anything. I didn't want to start an argument >and I simply decided to let it slide because I thought you would do your >own tests and realize for yourself that your assertion that "... *any* >registry settings...WILL be transferred (from HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT) to any >new user profiles..." is wrong. > > You can easily test this with something as basic as the Wallpaper > setting. Do any changes in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control > Panel\International or HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop or add > any bogus keys or values in HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software and see the > results for yourself, these changes *will* *not* be transfered to new > users. > > Some legacy applications might read and write to this key, even Microsoft > applications might do so for compatibility reasons and some programs and > services that run as Local System will write to this key but the notion > that the HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT hive is the default profile for new users is > a common misconception that some Windows 9x users carry with them to NT > operating systems. > > On W9x operating systems user profiles are optional, you can log on to a > W9x installation without a profile. Unless a certain network key is set > in the W9x registry you can simply hit "Cancel" when asked for a User > Name or password and the system will log you on without a profile, when > you do so you use the HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT profile. On W9x installations > new profiles are created out of this hive but on NT systems things are > different, profiles are not optional, you cannot hit cancel and logon > without a profile and new profiles are not created from the > HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT, HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT is the System profile. > > http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2007/03/02/1786493.aspx > The .Default user is not the default user > > As for the suggestion that the default profile path can be changed for > any new users by making changes to the "Personal" value at > HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User > Shell Folders that too is easy enough to test. > > To change the default profile path for new users you need to do two > things: > > 1- Copy the %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Default User *and* the > %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\All Users folders to the new folder > of your choice. > > 2- Modify the ProfilesDirectory value at > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows > NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList to reflect the change in the Default User > and All Users directory location. > > John > > Tim Meddick wrote: >> Whatever, John, as I said, what you say may be true. >> >> However, you skilfully avoided parts of my reply. >> >> Please re-read (carefully) my re-quote : >> >> "I can see that the hive in "Documents and Settings\Default User" >> (ntuser.dat) is different (incomplete) to that of what you call the >> SYSTEM's (HKU\.Default) key, but nonetheless, there are registry >> settings >> in HKU\.Default\Software that are translated to new profiles where they >> do >> not even exist in the loaded hive from "Default User" folder...." >> >> ...and you will see that the first part of it *agrees* with you! >> >> But what about the rest???? >> >> == >> >> Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :-) >> >> >> >> >> "John John - MVP" <audetweld(a)nbnot.nb.ca> wrote in message >> news:OzdxqnFBLHA.420(a)TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... >>> It's a common misconception, >>> >>> < clipped > >>
From: ro1414 on 16 Jun 2010 15:23
I just figured out the same issue on my computer. Open Regedit. Click on the local machine hive "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" then click File->Load Hive. Browse to C:\Documents and Settings\Default User" and choose "ntuser.dat". You can make a backup copy of the file prior to this if you want to be safe. The Default User folder is not shown by default so you will have to have hidden files showing (Tools, Folder Options, View -> Show Hidden files and folders). Regedit will ask you to name the hive. Choose whatever you'd like ("temp NTUSER" was my choice). Now navigate to HKEY)LOCAL_MACHINE\temp_NTUSER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]. Change the "Personal" key to whatever value you want (I.e. "D:\%USERNAME%") Then navigate back to the top of that hive you just created so it is highlighted and click File->Unload Hive. Create a new user and see where their documents go. Just tried it in a VM I'm running and it worked as required. -Riley "mw" wrote: > How do I go about changing the default My documents directory so that any > user or new user will have their documents not on the C drive but on another > hard drive? I understand how you can go in and change it from the users > profiles but I want to make the change permanent so that any new users that > are added will automatically have the My documents folder routed to a > different hard drive (D) instead of ( C )? > > > Thanks > > . > |