[brianc]

Hello.
How can I change the folder that my Internet Explorer points to? Somehow it is now pointing to the c:\windows folder. And of course, I'd like it to point to c:\documents and settings\users\{username}\favorites.
Thanks in advance.

[RickJ]

Right click on the shortcut icon and choose Properties.

Replace what's in the Target field with
"C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Favorites"

[brianc]

Thanks for the reply, Rick. I'm not sure I understand your reply. The shortcut to my Internet Explorer points to "c:\program files\internet explorer\iexplore.exe". I don't think I'd want to change that.

This is now a little stranger than I originally thought. I went to the registry under hkey_current_user\software\microsoft\windows\curre ntversion\explorer\user shell folders
All the keys (AppData, Cache, Cookies, etc.) pointed to %USERPROFILE%\... except for Favorites, which was pointing to C:\WINDOWS. I changed it to match the others (%USERPROFILE%\Favorites), but now when I go to IE, Favorites is pointing to an empty (new) folder - c:\windows\favorites.

I'm checking now to see if it's a virus.

[Curlyben]

I'm assuming that there is more than one user on this machine, if so then the reg hack seems like the only way.
Dirty but if it works then its all good.

[NeedKarma]

If you have XP then you are correct that IE points to the Favorites folder in the current user's profile. The fact that it is pointing to C:\Windows would trigger a red flag for sure. Move the folder in C:\Windows that it is currently pointing to, maybe make a new folder in C: and call it TestFavorites. Also move your Favorites folder from your profile into that test folder. Now open IE, Favorites should be empty, save a website and see where it got saved.

[RickJ]

I see I goofed - and only addressed where the shortcut resides. Sorry 'bout that.

I do not understand, though, what you mean by referring to IE. Is it that when you click on your IE shortcut, IE does not open... or is it that your favorites are not in their proper location?

Or am I just on the wrong planet altogether and neither is the case :o

[NeedKarma]

A little searching brought me this:
http://malektips.com/xpwtw0018.html

[Curlyben]

"As long as you use Windows Explorer to move the Favorites folder, Windows will update the internal fields that identify it. Suppose the current Favorites folder is C:\Windows\Favorites. Right-drag this folder to the location you want to use instead, and choose Move here from the menu that pops up when you drop the folder.

Otherwise you can edit the registry and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders. In the right-hand pane, the value named Favorites should contain the full path for the Favorites folder. Double-click it and change it to the correct location."

From here: http://www.md4pc.com/questions/20.htm

[brianc]

Rick, my Internet Explorer opens just fine. Browses fine too. It's just that when I click on the Favorites menu option, I don't see the contents of my Favorites folder (c:\documents and settings\%user%\favorites). I see the contents of c:\windows\favorites. (Originally I saw the contents of c:\windows.)
Hope that's a little clearer. As I said, I'm investigation the virus possibility.

[Curlyben]

I just tried this and it works a treat.

The right click move option that is.

[brianc]

This (TWEAKUI fix) did the trick. Thanks so much!

A little searching brought me this:
http://malektips.com/xpwtw0018.html

[ScottGem]

Just as an aside I moved my dopcuments and Settings Folder to my D partition. I did this for a couple of reasons:

1) Security, most hacks just assume its on the C drive, If its not there, they can't do anything
2) Backup, I backup all my data nightly, by having everything on my D drive it makes it easier to backup.

There are instructions on the WEB for how to move this folder. It does require a registry hack.