My Documents Clutter

supermonkey

Hi All,

I've always managed without a problem to utilise the my docs folder for file storage, and have always spent far too long keeping it organised.

However, I'm noticing more and more that lots of software seems to be "dumping" files in there. My Documents is surely just for user created data!

Some appear to be files that the user really does not need access to and in the past, these kind of files were always stored within Program Files or Application Data. My application Data folder seems to be empty!

Others appear to be folders setup to store the files created within that particular software. I never use these as I save things where I want them! And to novice users, these can create confusion as to where things are.

I've tried deleting them, but they just come back. I guess they need to be moved from within the software that created - if thats possible.

And perhaps developers don't care because of the use of Libraries (which personally I don't use).

Anyway, all of this makes my once organised set of files look like a mess. I can no longer just backup My Documents either. Anyone have any tips for this?

bengalknights

Uninstall the programs then reinstall them with the alternate path you want used for saving things ie program files and this should stop a large amount of it.

free4440273

bad of a sign software install -- installs should not be dumping install data into MY Docs; very unusual. you might wanna try a clean out/tidy up with ccleaner too - could be a potential corruption somewhere/I don't use Libraries either but they are misunderstood by some i find/ they can be useful /

supermonkey

don't think I explained it well - they are not actually the programs - just extra folders they create.

EG in C:User -
Gimp2.6
Thinupload
Thumbnails
Contacts
Searches
Tracing

In My Documents
Bluetooth Exchange Folder
Fax
My Corel Shows
My PSP Files
My Received Files
My Stationary
My Weblog Posts

I have hidden them all so they don't appear, but they still show in the left tree!

I think I might Create a "Documents" folder within My Documents. It will be less messy but longer - C:\Users\User\My Documents\Documents

I did wonder if there was a clever way to use Libraries to tidy things. Eg - Documents, Music, Photos & Videos Library. But of course in the case of Documents, I couldn't just add the documents folder as it would still include the "clutter". And if I add each folder within my documents, any files in My Documents would be missed.

debitcardmayhem

You will also find loads of "clutter" in C:/users/YourName/Appdata too.
They (applications) do that all the time, and yes Libraries are not much better except ....what are you trying to really do. Set the default on your real usefull programs to save in "where you want to save it" and then live with the carp you don't want to manage.

Edit: Except they usually use their settings in Appdata so don't remove those

asc99c

I always seemed to have had this problem. Loads of folders created by particular programs - I've got BWMonitor, Compiere, Image Converter Plus, My Google Gadgets, My PSP Files, My Skype Content, My Skype Pictures, Nero Recode, NeroVision, Red Kawa, Visual Studio 2005 and loads more besides.

I also don't bother with the libraries, I've just got a 'Other Documents' folder which over time has come to mean just about everything of mine.

supermonkey

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

You will also find loads of "clutter" in C:/users/YourName/Appdata too.
They (applications) do that all the time, and yes Libraries are not much better except ....what are you trying to really do. Set the default on your real usefull programs to save in "where you want to save it" and then live with the carp you don't want to manage.

Edit: Except they usually use their settings in Appdata so don't remove those

Thought Appdata was empty, forgotten it was hidden so the files inside didn't show. It contains over 2Gb of files though!

closed

Move all your docs somewhere else, place shortcut on desktop

supermonkey

oops - do not hide the app date or desktop folders! had a panic when suddenly half of my programs in the start menu disappeared!

supermonkey

closed wrote: »

Move all your docs somewhere else, place shortcut on desktop

Not sure about that - if you move where u keep stuff, software will not come up with the correct default save location.

closed

most applications (office etc) either allow you to change the default location, or go to the directory of the last save