My Documents folder has vanished !!!

[colliedug]

Hi all,

When I use FILE/OPEN within any programme the "My Documents" folder is missing from the list. It is there and I can access it in Windows Explorer. I've got round the problem temporarily by making a My Documents shortcut on the desktop and I can then acces the folder when using FILE/OPEN within programmes. I'm using Windows 98 SE and have recently reinstalled from CD - that's when the problem appeared! Any ideas anyone?

Many thanks in anticipation of a flood of erudite responses,

Colin

 

[micker377]

I've done system upgrades where the "My Documents" was re-installed fresh, and the original was renamed and placed elsewhere. Check all the directories for your missing data.

 

[micker377]

A thought: do a search for a file you know is in the directory, and see if it appears in more than one place.

 

[colliedug]

Nice idea looking for different locations of folders within My Documents - they appear only the once where I'd expect to find them - in C/My Documents.

Nothing is actually missing - it's just the non appearance of the My Documents folder when I go to FILE/OPEN in any programme!!??

Colin

 

[micker377]

What "programs" are you trying to use "file/open"?

 

[colliedug]

Open Office, Nero, ACDSee, Notepad, Windows Media Player etc - every single programme that uses FILE/OPEN to open a file!?

 

[micker377]

OK, I just fired up my 98 system. In notepad, it opened to "My Documents" by default. In Media Player, file/open opens up to "Media" (default). When you use NotePad, what does open when you click on file/open?

 

[colliedug]

Media player and Notepad open at the last folder I opened a file from even if it happens to be a folder within My Documents. If I then browse back out to My Documents the folder is there - if I then go further to C drive I find that My Documents folder no longer appears !? This happens with every programme I've tried.

Colin

 

[DanPenny]

Open regedit. Drill down to;

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Documents

In the RH pane, if there is a DWORD key labeled "DisableStartInMyDocs" and the value is 1, change it to 0.

If there is no DWORD key, add one with the above description and value of 0.

Normal registry caveats apply; backup first etc.

Post back if this helped or not.

<FONT COLOR=blue>It's a good day when you learn something</FONT>

 

[colliedug]

Thanks to those who have given me advice. It could have been a virus - my USB functionality went next which means no broadband. I've done a clean reinstall and I'm back to normal.

Colin