Duplicate documents/pictures folder in music

Oddjob

Hi, I hope you guys can help. I have a Windows7 laptop. Whenever I do a new document, upload a photo, or download a program to BBC I-player folder, it duplicates it in my music folder in a file called 'unspecified'. If I delete it from there, it deletes it from the Documents folder too. It means my laptop is getting clogged up my such a lot of duplicate files.
Please can anyone tell me why its happening, how to stop it happening and how to get rid of the duplicates without getting rid of the originals?
Not very technically minded so simple, easy to follow solutions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Strider590

They're not duplicate files, "Documents" is like a library or a virtual folder where it links to every document you have created in certain locations. Imagine having a folder A, with folder B, C and D inside (all full of files), well the library shows you every file from every folder as if it were in the same folder, even if the file names are the same. It makes a complete mockery of any sort of folder structure.

Like taking a bunch of filing cabinets and emptying the contents out on the floor with nothing but a small tag to say where each file came from.
It is bloody stupid and very annoying/confusing because you can't easily figure out exactly where each file actually is.

If you go to "Documents" there's a section under "Documents Library" that says "Includes: X Locations", click on that and restrict it to JUST "C:\users\<username>\Documents".

That way it won't show you files from folders within the listed folders (if that makes sense).

It's one of a whole list of things that annoy me about Win7, Microsoft pandering to iDiots and confusing the hell out of people who actually know what they're doing.

Oddjob

Thanks, so what you are saying is that they are not on the disc twice, just listed twice.
That would explain why, when I delete them from the music folder, it also deletes it from documents. As long as they are not taking up twice as much space, I can live with that, although I will try your fix. Thanks.

Oddjob

Strider590 wrote: »

.........
If you go to "Documents" there's a section under "Documents Library" that says "Includes: X Locations", click on that and restrict it to JUST "C:\users\<username>\Documents".

That way it won't show you files from folders within the listed folders (if that makes sense).

I just right clicked on Documents and went to properties but couldn't find anything that said 'Includes: X Locations', the only thing that seems to be ticked is "C:\users\<username>\Documents".
There is a thing that says 'Include a folder, but that has nothing ticked, likewise with looking at the Music library. So I don't know what to change to make it stop happening.

Exo

What appears as duplication is actually Windows 7 > Libraries feature.
The library feature can adjusted to include the folders you require or just left empty and ignored. It is your choice.

This explains in further detail if interested.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/10283/understanding-the-libraries-feature-in-windows-7/

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341721,00.asp#fbid=y-CAOfBN6t0

It is a useful feature if you need regular access to data, especially if it is stored on multiple hard drives in your system.

Strider590

Oddjob wrote: »

I just right clicked on Documents and went to properties but couldn't find anything that said 'Includes: X Locations', the only thing that seems to be ticked is "C:\users\<username>\Documents".
There is a thing that says 'Include a folder, but that has nothing ticked, likewise with looking at the Music library. So I don't know what to change to make it stop happening.

The option is in the folder itself, above the listed items, but hopefully the posted links have shown you the way

The "libraries feature" is Microsoft trying to pander to iDevice users (because Apple don't use a traditional file system), but what it does is causes people like yourself to lose data, because they think the files are all duplicated.