renaming "documents and setting" directory name

Many times when using non-Microsoft applications, one must scroll to the
right to read the file name because of the long base built into WinXP
file system. For example, every name of an .mp3 file in the MyMusic
folder is built on the base:

C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\My Music

Can one change the name of the “Documents and Settings” directory to
something shorter, perhaps “DocNset” without screwing up other aspects
of Windows? I realize that the “Documents and Settings” listing at the
top of Windows Explorer is really a short cut to the “Documents and
Settings” directory, and changing its name does not change the path name
to the files in the “Documents and Settings” directory.

"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a9ydnZSk_6OX4yjeRVn-sA@comcast.com...
> Many times when using non-Microsoft applications, one must scroll to the
> right to read the file name because of the long base built into WinXP file
> system. For example, every name of an .mp3 file in the MyMusic folder is
> built on the base:
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\My Music
>
> Can one change the name of the “Documents and Settings” directory to
> something shorter, perhaps “DocNset” without screwing up other aspects of
> Windows? I realize that the “Documents and Settings” listing at the top
> of Windows Explorer is really a short cut to the “Documents and Settings”
> directory, and changing its name does not change the path name to the
> files in the “Documents and Settings” directory.
Isn't this one of those directories whose names are reserved to XP? If so,
you won't be able to change the name.
Jim

windsurferLA wrote:

> Many times when using non-Microsoft applications, one must scroll to the
> right to read the file name because of the long base built into WinXP
> file system. For example, every name of an .mp3 file in the MyMusic
> folder is built on the base:
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\My Music
>
> Can one change the name of the “Documents and Settings” directory to
> something shorter, perhaps “DocNset” without screwing up other aspects
> of Windows? I realize that the “Documents and Settings” listing at the
> top of Windows Explorer is really a short cut to the “Documents and
> Settings” directory, and changing its name does not change the path name
> to the files in the “Documents and Settings” directory.

No but you can change the location of some of the special folders within
the Documents and Settings folder such as My Music using Tweak UI.

--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

windsurferLA wrote:

> Many times when using non-Microsoft applications, one must scroll to the
> right to read the file name because of the long base built into WinXP
> file system. For example, every name of an .mp3 file in the MyMusic
> folder is built on the base:
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\My Music
>
> Can one change the name of the “Documents and Settings” directory to
> something shorter, perhaps “DocNset” without screwing up other aspects
> of Windows? I realize that the “Documents and Settings” listing at the
> top of Windows Explorer is really a short cut to the “Documents and
> Settings” directory, and changing its name does not change the path name
> to the files in the “Documents and Settings” directory.

Wrong approach. Don't mess with the "Documents and Settings" folder
name. The system uses it for a lot of things and if you rename it then
user profiles won't load, user security setttings will get munged, among
other ungood possibilities.

Copy all your mp3s to a simpler folder structure and in the future
direct new mp3 downloads to that location.

Steve N.

windsurferLA wrote:
> Many times when using non-Microsoft applications, one must scroll to the
> right to read the file name because of the long base built into WinXP
> file system. For example, every name of an .mp3 file in the MyMusic
> folder is built on the base:
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\Michael\My Documents\My Music
>
> Can one change the name of the “Documents and Settings” directory to
> something shorter, perhaps “DocNset” without screwing up other aspects
> of Windows? I realize that the “Documents and Settings” listing at the
> top of Windows Explorer is really a short cut to the “Documents and
> Settings” directory, and changing its name does not change the path name
> to the files in the “Documents and Settings” directory.


The user profile folder (C:\Documents and Settings\) is a protected
systems folder, and _cannot_ be renamed. Why not simply create a new
folder, such as C:\Music, and store your music there?


--

Bruce Chambers

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