Windows 7: more folder name change confusion

[mgo]

Geeze....

First it was "My Documents" (in XP), then it was just "Documents" (in Vista) and now, it's "My Documents" again in Windows 7. Silly name changes are just dumb.

Then there's "Favorites". Favorites used to be only in Internet Explorer. Now, there's another "Favorites" in Windows Explorer. I am not sure what the heck it's for yet!

And "Libraries"???? What's that all about? More confusion thanks to needless folder name changes. I give up. Those propellerheads in Redmond are still changing things just to change things...fooey!

Microsoft won't get a nickle out of me for Windows 7 unless I can get it via my Tech Net subscription. Otherwise, I will stick with Vista or Windows Server 2008. Heck, '08 runs about as fast as Windows 7 anyway, and is plenty good enough for little old me...

[Marin85]

Those propellerheads in Redmond are still changing things just to change things...fooey!

Then there's "Favorites". Favorites used to be only in Internet Explorer. Now, there's another "Favorites" in Windows Explorer. I am not sure what the heck it's for yet!

An example: when you save something (e.g. some download or some changed file), you are prompted with a window giving you nice explorer overview. Within this window you have on the left side a bar with shortcuts to some central places like My Computer, Pictures, Documents etc. If you want to add some special folder of yours to that bar, you only have to add a shortcut to it in the Favorites folder Unfortunately, this new "feature" of Vista doesn´t work with all applications

Cheers

Marin

[basketb]

...First it was "My Documents" (in XP), then it was just "Documents" (in Vista) and now, it's "My Documents" again in Windows 7. Silly name changes are just dumb...

From MS's point of view, this one is actually not very dumb. They screwed up in Vista and learned. Since more people will switch from XP to Windows 7 than from Vista, fewer people will complain than if they kept calling it just "Documents".

...An example: when you save something (e.g. some download or some changed file), you are prompted with a window giving you nice explorer overview. Within this window you have on the left side a bar with shortcuts to some central places like My Computer, Pictures, Documents etc. If you want to add some special folder of yours to that bar, you only have to add a shortcut to it in the Favorites folder Unfortunately, this new "feature" of Vista doesn´t work with all applications ...

FYI, a similar feature is already available within XP if you use Tweak UI (you can customize up to five special folders).

[EvilH]

I'd rather they have an option to choose between having it say "My Documents" or just "Documents". Renaming doesn't work all the time and I hate having that my prefix since I have those folders linked to my NAS which isn't "my" documents but the whole houses.

[Marin85]

FYI, a similar feature is already available within XP if you use Tweak UI (you can customize up to five special folders).

Hm, thanks, I didn´t know that. I found TweakUI just causing more problems than I already had with XP. Anyway, I abandoned XP long time ago...

Marin

[mgo]

OK, I get it now...

unlike Vista where one merely right clicked in the right pane to create a new folder within a folder, in Windows 7, first I have to left click and go to "open folder location" because Windows 7 defaults to Libraries.

So, that's an extra step required in Windows 7 if I want to create a new folder inside a Library. Allright....I can live with that. Kinda "unusual", but whatever....

Still and all.....I'm really getting to like Windows 7 a whole bunch...

[Marin85]

Still and all.....I'm really getting to like Windows 7 a whole bunch...

To paraphrase you: Lunatics need love too But I have to agree, Win 7 looks more and more attractive with every next day of use...

Marin

[GomJabbar]

Kinda related.

In W7b I was trying to paste a file in a folder. I do this all the time in XP. In Windows Explorer with the folder open, I would just right click in the file list and choose paste. Doesn't work in W7b. W7b Explorer wants to run whatever file I happen to do the paste operation over. In W7b I actually have to paste the file on the folder icon for it to copy over properly.

[beGi]

Yes, I hope that copy/paste operation is a bug, rather then a "feature"...

Regarding Libraries, My Documents & Documents, I was completely lost and confused when I discovered them all within filesystem.

Although it is a bit confusing at first, I got used to it and option to add additional folders within certain Library folder has potential.

Things I don't like for now (advice needed if anyone knows), or would be really nice to change:

1. Is there one level up arrow within windows explorer, I don't like that address bar clicking ...

2. How to make WinKey+E shortcut to open windows explorer on disc partitions level (not Libraries). In fact, I can't manage to make explorer start anywhere else but in Libraries.

3. It is impossible for me to "pin down" custom folder shortcut on taskbar...it keeps open that f Libraries instead folder that I want...

4. Taskbar is new (mixed feelings). It seems that is combination of quicklaunch and "classic" taskbar. If you pin shourtcut to it then it is basically like quicklaunch, but when you click on icon and app opens, and you want to open the same app in new window (like in case when you browse on the net, and wish to open a new browser window), then already opened window minimize/maximize. To open that new window, you must click on icon and while holding push it a bit and then new menu pops out wich gives you various options (right click on icon does the same)... Hmm...

Again, I hope all this are bugs, not features...

Overall, I really like W7, much more than Vista.

[mgo]

Yes, I hope that copy/paste operation is a bug, rather then a "feature"...

Regarding Libraries, My Documents & Documents, I was completely lost and confused when I discovered them all within filesystem.

Although it is a bit confusing at first, I got used to it and option to add additional folders within certain Library folder has potential.

Things I don't like for now (advice needed if anyone knows), or would be really nice to change:

1. Is there one level up arrow within windows explorer, I don't like that address bar clicking ...

2. How to make WinKey+E shortcut to open windows explorer on disc partitions level (not Libraries). In fact, I can't manage to make explorer start anywhere else but in Libraries.

3. It is impossible for me to "pin down" custom folder shortcut on taskbar...it keeps open that f Libraries instead folder that I want...

4. Taskbar is new (mixed feelings). It seems that is combination of quicklaunch and "classic" taskbar. If you pin shourtcut to it then it is basically like quicklaunch, but when you click on icon and app opens, and you want to open the same app in new window (like in case when you browse on the net, and wish to open a new browser window), then already opened window minimize/maximize. To open that new window, you must click on icon and while holding push it a bit and then new menu pops out wich gives you various options (right click on icon does the same)... Hmm...

Again, I hope all this are bugs, not features...

Overall, I really like W7, much more than Vista.

here are a couple of ideas that may work for you:

for "up arrow" help try this site:

http://www.howtohaven.com/system/missin ... orer.shtml



for the "open in specific folder" perhaps this will work:

Let's say that Explorer opens at C:\ and you want D:\ to be open on startup. Find the shortcut in the Windows\Start Menu and change the properties from:

C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,C:\
to
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /n,/e,D:\

[beGi]

Thanks for the help...

I was aware of that "arrow workarounds", I still find arrow to suit my needs better...

Other part of your post is more helpful (it works), and the "strange" part (if someone can say that for beta) is if you pin down shortcut with address and commands you provided on the task bar, the shortcut works differently than others, to be more specific it works like quicklaunch (how many clicks you make, you get that many windows) instead minimize/maximize like others do...

Thanks

[Marin85]

I have to correct myself. Favorites doesn´t bring any particular folder in the side bar. This is done by the folder Links

EDIT: Actually both do this, but for different "explorer sidebars", confusing

[dstrauss]

Sorry, but the whole concept of "libraries" is stupid. I understand that it is an attempt to idiot proof the users so they can find all their JPG files scattered in various folders, but it wrecks havoc in a business network environment mixing your network and local folders, particularly for notebook users. I know we want to make computer work for the lowest common denominator, but is it really so tough to ask users to at least stay with central folders for each category of document (My Videos, My Pictures, My Music).

[Marin85]

I beg to differ. After a while of getting used to the new explorer features I found the libraries concept pretty useful, if not much more comfortable than anything on Windows before...

[beGi]

It seems that libraries concept will be altered, more info here:


http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2009/0 ... -beta.aspx

[dstrauss]

I beg to differ. After a while of getting used to the new explorer features I found the libraries concept pretty useful, if not much more comfortable than anything on Windows before...

I guess "libraries" are just disconcerting to us anal-retents who want order out of chaos. I like knowing where my files are, physically, because some stupid old programs (Frontpage 2003) want to store files in their own subdirectory...so if you don't back up all file locations on the system, that hard drive replacement becomes pretty dicey for losing data.

[beGi]

I guess "libraries" are just disconcerting to us anal-retents who want order out of chaos.

Wow, that is really old classification... And is really easily misinterpreted (for those who don't have any idea what are you referring to)...

Obsessive is more accurate and up-to-date (with no misinterpretation issues ), or obsessive-compulsive if your/anyone's habit is pathological...

Sorry for offtopic, I just had to post...

Other than that, I agree with you, libraries are something that we'll have to learn to use...

[yak]

Pitty. I really like the Vista paths. A lot better (and shorter) then XP's.
C:\Users\<user>
C:\Users\<user>\Documents
C:\Users\<user>\Videos
...

A least the "Users" directory is still there in W7b, right?

[EvilH]

Yes the USERS directory is still there. You can also rename the folders to get rid of the "My" and it doesn't change back or have a new My Documents folder created like XP.

[Marin85]

I guess "libraries" are just disconcerting to us anal-retents who want order out of chaos. I like knowing where my files are, physically, because some stupid old programs (Frontpage 2003) want to store files in their own subdirectory...so if you don't back up all file locations on the system, that hard drive replacement becomes pretty dicey for losing data.

Same with SPSS (advanced statistics software). Per default it creates its work folder in the user subfolder. Now, the funny part is that there is no direct way to access the complete user folder from within explorer, one should go to C:\, then users etc., the old way, just not so comfortable. Another issue that I had with libraries (probably a bug of Win 7) was that I couldn´t create a new library pointing to a folder on my main drive with the message that it is not possible to include a folder (into the library) that is on a removable hard disk... Go figure. IMO, it would be better though if M$ were just to improve the libraries functionality instead ot entirely removing this feature.

[dstrauss]

I guess "libraries" are just disconcerting to us anal-retents who want order out of chaos.

Wow, that is really old classification... And is really easily misinterpreted (for those who don't have any idea what are you referring to)...

Obsessive is more accurate and up-to-date (with no misinterpretation issues ), or obsessive-compulsive if your/anyone's habit is pathological...

Sorry for offtopic, I just had to post...

Other than that, I agree with you, libraries are something that we'll have to learn to use...

Not to ramble too far off topic, but ALL things NEW are not BETTER; there's really no mis-interpretation.

If "libraries" were a choice, I'd say go ahead for those who want them, but that's one of the reasons I couldn't get used to OS X, I don't want, nor need, the helping hand of either Steve organizing things for me.