Rename and Relocate Shared Documents for Quick Home Networking Access

This tweak will Rename and Relocate “Shared Documents” in “My Computer” and “Other Places”
This tweak is very efficient if you wish to have quick access to a customized shared folder. Great for Home Networks - Quick access to your shared files.

Follow these steps:

1. Create a folder you want to have “Shared Documents” point to. It can be anywhere on your system. A suggestion would be: “My Network Folders” located on a seperate drive dedicated for sharing if available.

2. Rename “Shared Documents” in C:\Documents and Settings\All Users to the name you want to appear in “My Computer” and “Other Places” It must be the same name as the Folder you created in Step 1.

3 Open regedit

4 Go to : My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

5 Edit the value of “Common Documents” to the path of the folder you created in Step 1

6 Go to : My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

7 Edit the value of “Common Documents” to the path of the folder you created in Step 1

8 YOU MUST REBOOT IMMEDIATELY AFTER CLOSING REGEDIT FOR SETTINGS TO TAKE EFFECT.

Editor’s note: This will leave the Shared Pictures and Shared Music folders where they are. If you want to relocate these too, repeat the steps above for these folders. The registry entries are Common Pictures, Common Music, Common Videos,… If you share the folders on a network you’ll have to reapply the shares for the new folders.