I've lost the My Documents shortcut, how do I get it back?

Advanced Search

I've lost the My Documents shortcut, how do I get it back? A Web Exclusive from FAQ for Windows John Savill Desktop Environment InstantDoc #15418 FAQ for Windows	Email this Article Printer Friendly Reader Comments Digg This Del.icio.us RSS
Subscribe to Windows IT Pro \| See More Systems Administration Articles Here \| Reprints \| Or get the Monthly Online Pass—only $5.95 a month!

A. If you deleted the My Documents shortcut from the desktop and want it back just perform the following:

Double click My Computer
Select Folder Options from the Tools menu
Select View tab
Check 'Show My Documents on the Desktop'
Click Apply then OK

End of Article

This won't work in most cases as the loss of the system shortcut is more difficult to fix

na April 17, 2001

It worked for me. It also added My Documents back to the places bar on the left hand side of the standard File/Open and File/Save dialogs.

milbertus April 27, 2004

It only works of the 'show my documents' is there.

On my xp setup...it aint.

All I did was inadvertainly delete the my document folder on the desktop.
ALl other indications of it being around is there.
Ie; the location, the start menu ..etc.

Currently using a shortcut I created to work.
But am wanting to see the fix that brings back it as is, (Relizing that it really is a kind of a shortcut I assume)?

Anonymous User January 27, 2005 (Article Rating:

)

In XP:
Right-Click on Desktop
Select 'Properties'
Select 'Desktop' tab
select 'Customize Desktop'
Ensure 'My Documents' is checked

Anonymous User March 17, 2005 (Article Rating:

)

You must be a registered user or online subscriber to comment on this article. Please log on before posting a comment. Are you a new visitor? Register now

Top Viewed ArticlesView all articles

WinInfo Short Takes: Week of November 23, 2009

An often irreverent look at some of the week's other news, including some post-PDC some soul searching, a Google Chrome OS announcement and a Microsoft response, Windows 7 off to a supposedly strong start, the Jonas Brothers and Xbox 360, and so much more ...

Command Prompt Tricks

One reader shares his tip for setting up the command prompt to reflect a remote path. ...

2009 Windows IT Pro Editors' Best and Community Choice Awards

Picking a favorite product from an impressive crowd of competitive offerings is never an easy task, and such was the case with our Editors' Best and Community Choice awards this year. ...

Related Events Deep Dive into Windows Server 2008 R2 presented by John Savill

How to Make Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Your Zero-Cost Technology Windfall

Building a Secure and Compliant Windows Desktop

Check out our list of Free Email Newsletters!

Windows OSs eBooks Understanding and Leveraging Code Signing Technologies

A Guide to Windows Certification and Public Keys

SQL Server Administration for Oracle DBAs

Related Windows OSs Resources Introducing Left-Brain.com, the online IT bookstore
Looking for books, CDs, toolkits, eBooks? Prime your mind at Left-Brain.com

Discover Windows IT Pro eLearning Series!
Clear & detailed technical information and helpful how-to's, all in our trademark no-nonsense format

ADS BY GOOGLE

Job Openings in IT		SPONSORED LINKS		FEATURED LINKS
		Calculate your savings now See how SAN is 57% cheaper than DAS over three years Free CDs Offer Fundamental Content for IT Pros Are you up to speed on the latest technologies and solutions? Don't miss out on your chance to get up to speed quickly on fundamental, in-depth information on some of the hottest topics in our library of content. Let Your Users Reset Their Own Passwords: Free Download Try a 30 day free trial of Desktop Authority Password Self-Service – it provides an easy-to-use, robust system for allowing users to reset their own forgotten passwords or locked accounts.		Exchange Server 2010: Deploying Unified Communications - Virtual conference December 1, 2009 - Free Registration. Build your Unified Communications future on a strong Exchange Server 2010 foundation. Get Windows IT Pro & Mark Minasi’s Favorite Power Tools Guide Order Windows IT Pro now and get "More of Mark Minasi's Favorite Power Tools"--a in-depth guide to the most useful Windows commands --FREE with your paid order! Subscribe today, and save 58% off the cover price! Migration, Virtualization, Availability, and Desktop Management Realize the importance of a workload optimization strategy...it can affect your bottom line! Deep Dive into VMware vSphere, eLearning Series Join John Savill to explore the major functionality capabilities of the vSphere virtualization platform, including identification of the changes from ESX 3.5.

Windows IT Pro Home

FAQ for Windows

WinInfo News
Europe Edition

About Us

Media Kit

Affiliates / Licensing

SQL Server Magazine

Office & SharePoint Pro

DevProConnections

IT Job Hound
Left-Brain.com

Technology Resource Directory

asp.netPRO

ITTV

Windows SuperSite