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Tweaking Windows 8.1

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October 22, 2013, 18:16(EDT) By Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

 

Libraries

Libraries are your default locations for Documents. Music, Pictures, and Videos.

The default location for your Libraries is C:\Users\YourUserName.

See: Libraries: Frequently asked questions & Libraries: How to add or remove a folder

Move Your Libraries

My most important tip for Libraries is to move the ones that are important off your C: drive / partition. This is a critical step in the way I set up computers. A problem free backup / restore process depends on you having your docs, music, pics, etc. on a drive or partition other than the one Windows 8 is on. Using this method you do not have to worry that some issue (virus, crash, hardware failure, etc) will mean losing your data. If you move them to another drive it may also speed up access to these items.


How To Move Windows 8 Libraries

– Decide where you want to move these to.

-A second disk is your best option but in a single disk system a second partition will do.

-From Start8 or Classic Shell, Right-click on your User Name in the Start Menu and choose Open

or

-From the Metro screen press the Windows + E keys and navigate to C:\Users\YourUserName.

-Select the libraries you wish to move and copy / paste them to the new location.

-Pick the stuff you wish to be safe from any problems.

-I would do at least: Contacts, Downloads, My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos.

-Once you have finished copying the files. Go back to the original Library, right-click on each folder you moved.

-Choose Properties from the menu. In the resulting window, click on the Location tab, and then the Move… button.

-Browse to the location you copied the files to.

-Click once on the folder you want it moved to and then click the Select Folder button (bottom right of the screen).

image022

This screen will pop up. Click Yes. Repeat this step for all the folders you copied.

image024


 

View Libraries In Explorer

Windows 8.1 removed Libraries from the navigation pane in explorer. Here is how to get it back.

Default view without Libraries.
The Navigation Pane is the section on the left side with Favorites, Desktop, etc.

win81_lib_1

To get Libraries back:
Click View > Options

win81_lib_2

 

Check the Show libraries box > click Apply

win81_lib_3

The Libraries are back.

win81_lib_4

I like this option better:

Check the Show all folders box

win81_lib_5

Adds Libraries + User folder + Control Panel + Recycle Bin to navigation pane.

win81_lib_6
NEXT >>>

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Tagged With: How-To's, This Site, Windows 8

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