Desktop Redirection

squimmy · Nov 30, 2005

Windows looks for desktop files under the folder desktop
(Documents and Setting/<username>/Desktop) right? Is it possible for me to change that? I've found a reg key under:
HKey_Current_User->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->Explorer->UserShellFolders

and then there is a key

Desktop which has the value "%UserProfile%/Desktop"

Would I be able to change this to the required folder and the desktop would update itself?

Thanks.

I am using Windows XP Home.

poertner_1274 · Nov 30, 2005

I'm not sure I understand you completely. You want to change the location of the Desktop? Why not just add some shortcuts or something to the desktop? A little more information about what you are actually trying to do would be helpful.

BTW
:wave:Welcome to TechSpot:wave:

gbhall · Dec 1, 2005

power tools

There are many free utilities available to do what you want - if you look at TweakUi in Windows power tools you get a flavour of what some of the more advanced 'tuning' tools can do. Yes, all they do is mess with the registry settings like you have found.

And no, I can't image what you want to do that for, and don't advise using these tools anyway - it's possible to wreck your registry and/or lock yourself out of your PC

In the simple case you give, changing the registry entry to say c:\myowndesktop will work, but you would have to manually copy the desktop files from their current location to get anything other than a blank desktop.

Desktop Redirection

squimmy

poertner_1274

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gbhall

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