Deleting the "My Documents" Folder May Cause Error Message

ID: Q137735

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Office 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Office for Windows 95, version 7.0
  • Microsoft Access versions 7.0, 97
  • 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
  • Microsoft Windows 98

SYMPTOMS

If you try to delete the My Documents folder, one of the following error messages appears.

In Microsoft Windows 95

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

In Microsoft Windows 98

My Documents is your documents folder. It cannot be deleted. If you wish to delete this folder, first choose another folder to be your documents folder.
NOTE: In Microsoft Windows 98, if you remove the My Documents icon from the desktop, the My Documents folder is not removed. The icon on the desktop is only a shortcut to the My Documents folder.

If you try to delete the Recycled folder, you receive a similar error message.


WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, change the path that your program uses to locate the folder in which to save files instead of deleting the My Documents folder. To change the path for the default folder, use one of the following methods.

Microsoft Word

To change the path, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. Click the File Locations tab.


  3. Click Documents, and then click Modify.


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


  5. Click OK, and then click Close.


For additional information about how Word determines where it saves files, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q134725 Where Word 95 Saves Files

Microsoft Excel

To change the path, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. Click the General Tab and type the full path to the folder you want to use in the Default File Location box.


  3. Click OK.


Microsoft PowerPoint

To change the path, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. Click the Advanced Tab and type the full path to the folder you want to use in the Default File Location box.


  3. Click OK.


Microsoft Access

To change the path, follow these steps:
  1. On the Tools menu, click Options.


  2. Click the General Tab and type the full path to the folder you want to use in the Default Database Folder 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. Note that you cannot change the default directory that is used by this toolbar button.

For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Q136727 OFF: Cannot Change the Default Folder for Opening Files


MORE INFORMATION

If Microsoft Office 7.0 or Microsoft Word 7.0 is reinstalled, the My Documents folder is re-created.

Additional query words: 8.00 word95 word7 word97 xl97 xl7 off7 off97

Keywords : kbualink97 offwin offinterop
Version : WINDOWS:7.0,95,97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: May 5, 1999
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