Deleting the "My Documents" Folder May Cause Error Message

• Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Office for Windows 95
• Microsoft Access 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Access for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft PowerPoint 97 for Windows
• Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Windows 95

SYMPTOMS

The following error message appears if you try to delete the My Documents folder in Windows 95:

   My Documents is a Windows system folder and is required for Windows
   to run properly. It cannot be deleted.

WORKAROUND

Rather than delete the My Documents folder, change the path that your program uses for saving files. To change the default folder, use the following steps:

Microsoft Word

   1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

   2. Select the File Locations tab.

   3. Select Documents, and click the Modify button.

   4. Type the path that you want the application to use for opening
      and saving files.

   5. Click OK, and then click Close.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q134725
   TITLE     : Where Word 95 Saves Files

Microsoft Excel

   1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

   2. On the General Tab, type the full path to the desired folder
      in the "Default File Location:" edit box.

   3. Click OK.

Microsoft PowerPoint

   1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

   2. On the Advanced Tab, enter the full path to the desired folder
      in the "Default File Location:" edit box.

   3. Click OK.

Microsoft Access

   1. On the Tools menu, click Options.

   2. On the General Tab, enter the full path to the desired folder
      in the "Default Database Folder" edit box.

   3. Click OK.

Microsoft Office

The "Open a Document" toolbar button on the Microsoft Office Shortcut Bar also defaults to the "My Documents" directory. However, the default directory that is used by this toolbar button cannot be changed.

For additional information, please see the following article(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: Q136727
    TITLE     : OFF: Cannot Change the Default Folder for Opening Files

MORE INFORMATION

If Microsoft Office for Windows 95 or Microsoft Word for Windows 95 is reinstalled, the My Documents folder is re-created.