Disable Libraries in Windows 7

[007bond]

ill be honest, i dont like the libraries feature at all. i want to be able to look at my documents like i did in vista/xp. i know i can access a regular folder in an explorer window but i want to be able to access it in the start menu and desktop.

so any help?

[pasty2k2]

Ditto, it would be nice to be able to customize which links on the start menu end up as library views, and have some as the normal designated folders within your personal area.

For example. All my music is in one place, but my vids are split over two disks. It would be handy to have the video link act as a library browser, but the music link just take me to the My Music folder like it did in Vista.

[HawkMan]

Does it matter, if you have all the music in one place, that's all you get in the library anyway and it will act exactly the same way as if it was the folder.

to top it off right click an empty area in the left side panel in explorer (where the lirbaries and folders are shown) and choose "expand to current folder" to make the treeview automaticalluy track and expand to where you are like it did before.

[pasty2k2]

It doesnt act the same way though. Click the personal folder, and it doesnt show you the personal folder. Just the 4 library views that are there by default.

[darkmanx21]

Can't you just go to the folder? How is it any different? Create a shortcut on the desktop..I don't think any functionailty has been removed in implementing this?

Libraries just aggregate the folders into a nice view. If you don't want it in the library, don't add that folder to be monitored. The folder/file is still in it's original location.

So, in pasty2k2's case, tell Videos in Libraries to monitor the two seperate locations. Tell Music to monitor your folder. When you click Music, it will show you the folder and you can expand and collapse the folder. Same with Videos.

[pasty2k2]

OK, I could get used to the library thing, but it would still be nice. I dont like the idea that what I am looking at isnt a "hard folder" if you get me. Its like im using a database or something, and I just dont like that idea.

Regardless of that, I would want the personal (your name) folder to point to your actual personal location where you can see the 11 standard folders for music, pics, vids, saved games, docs etc. At the moment I can do everything from the start menu except get to that folder.

[Kyang]

OK, I could get used to the library thing, but it would still be nice. I dont like the idea that what I am looking at isnt a "hard folder" if you get me. Its like im using a database or something, and I just dont like that idea.

Regardless of that, I would want the personal (your name) folder to point to your actual personal location where you can see the 11 standard folders for music, pics, vids, saved games, docs etc. At the moment I can do everything from the start menu except get to that folder.

It is actually a "Hard", or rather, "Real" folder when you drag and drop stuff into there. It goes into a real folder called, "My (Whatever)", or whatever folder you choose as the default.

If you don't want to have any other folders show up, or feel like opening a database when you open "Pictures/Videos/Music/Documents", I would just remove the other default library location (There's two by default I think.) so you just work with the one real one. "My Pictures/Videos/Music/Documents."

[pasty2k2]

I can get used to the links on the start menu pointing to Music/Vids etc, but I mean the top one - the actual personal folder. If you click it in the start menu, it shows your libraries that are set up - by default, 4. If you open the personal folder via the desktop, it actually goes to the C:\Users\Username folder. That is what I want the start menu to do, be it in library form or as an actual folder. At the moment, all clicking your personal folder icon will do is load up a list of libraries (as icons). Any way I can get this to act as a normal link to my C:\Users\Username folder?

[007bond]

exactly, i want to have the personal folder show up when i click my name

[primexx]

mm the personal folder seems to be a problem for a lot of people. I just put a shortcut in the sidebar favourites list. How often do you guys actually go straight to your user folder? Even on Vista I don't very much.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

Access to the user folder is something I know the Explorer UX folks are watching and thinking carefully about.

As for the libraries themselves, if you only have one location in them, they should work just like regular folders (plus the added capabilities of the Arrange By views, and better search capabilities).

[pasty2k2]

True, however I dont know why you can only arrange by Album, Artist, Genre, Folder, Song and Rating. Where is Album Artist? Composer? You could do this using the Details list method.

If they bring Album Artist into it, and also have the Personal folder shortcut on the start menu point to the actual folder, Im sold already.

For the mean time, just pin your personal folder from the desktop to the top left of your start menu - itll do for now. Its only to the left instead of the right, hardly a problem as a short term solution. Ive reported the issue.

[burnblue]

OK, I could get used to the library thing, but it would still be nice. I dont like the idea that what I am looking at isnt a "hard folder" if you get me. Its like im using a database or something, and I just dont like that idea.

Regardless of that, I would want the personal (your name) folder to point to your actual personal location where you can see the 11 standard folders for music, pics, vids, saved games, docs etc. At the moment I can do everything from the start menu except get to that folder.

I can understand being upset with the change in the Personal Folder Start Menu link, since I already have quick access to my Library and it would be nice to see my personal folder sometimes. I don;t feel it's that big a deal though, since many times the Libraries way will be more convenient. In the meantime, I just use a shortcut to that folder. So whatever, I understand both sides.

What I find amusing however is what you said first: "I just don't like that idea". I mean, nothing's 'hard' anyway, it's all software.. once you get used to it and appreciate it you'll wonder what you were being superstitious about.

True, however I dont know why you can only arrange by Album, Artist, Genre, Folder, Song and Rating. Where is Album Artist? Composer? You could do this using the Details list method.

If they bring Album Artist into it, and also have the Personal folder shortcut on the start menu point to the actual folder, Im sold already.

Album Artist sounds fair enough, though most of the time Artist should do. Composer is a little out there though, IMO. Anyway, what I would do for any such specific desire is right-click and Sort or Group away.

[pasty2k2]

Artist is no good for compilations, whereas Album Artist will show the "artist" for those compilations as "Various Artists", and then show all the compilations within there. Thats one reason, I have many others.

By "hard" folder I mean a physical location on my hard disk - I dont like the idea of having my items organised for me, I already have all my different types of data organised my own way, and that means using the Personal folder to access it. I agree that libraries are useful, just not a one-for-all solution. I want both :)

I know I came across as being "superstitious" about it, but nobody likes a change in the way they do things if its not a change for the best. Example, I have loads of PSX ISOs in my Documents/ISO Images folder that I have backed up to play on an emulator. I cant get to them through libraries any easier than I could with normal browsing.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

By "hard" folder I mean a physical location on my hard disk - I dont like the idea of having my items organised for me, I already have all my different types of data organised my own way, and that means using the Personal folder to access it. I agree that libraries are useful, just not a one-for-all solution. I want both :)

The By Folder view of a library should give you a physical representation of its contents (and if you have only one location in the library, then that's exactly what it is).

I know I came across as being "superstitious" about it, but nobody likes a change in the way they do things if its not a change for the best. Example, I have loads of PSX ISOs in my Documents/ISO Images folder that I have backed up to play on an emulator. I cant get to them through libraries any easier than I could with normal browsing.

Maybe it doesn't make it easier (although arguably the By Type view may be helpful in this situation), but it certainly shouldn't be any harder. I guess that's the part I'm confused about... do you feel accessing these via the Documents library is harder somehow than via the "normal" folder view?

[burnblue]

I know I came across as being "superstitious" about it, but nobody likes a change in the way they do things if its not a change for the best. Example, I have loads of PSX ISOs in my Documents/ISO Images folder that I have backed up to play on an emulator. I cant get to them through libraries any easier than I could with normal browsing.

Step 1: Create a new Library, or leave it in the Documents Library if you prefer

Step 2: Add ISO Images Folder to Library. This step is obsolete if youleft your ISos in Documents

Step 3: Bam! Two clicks and you're in :)

By "hard" folder I mean a physical location on my hard disk - I dont like the idea of having my items organised for me, I already have all my different types of data organised my own way, and that means using the Personal folder to access it.

I meant that even regular folders are software abstractions, it's not like you physically know where your files are on the disk. The thing about Libraries is that it doesn't actually move or "organize" anything at all for you... ALL it does is show you what you ask it to show, all in one place. Again, they don't act like a database, and they organize nothing for you. They just allow you to show as many or as few folders as you choose in one view. "Both" and "easier" fulfilled. You could even create a Library and say "point to my user folder"... and you're back exactly where you wanted to be.

Artist is no good for compilations, whereas Album Artist will show the "artist" for those compilations as "Various Artists", and then show all the compilations within there.

Off topic:

Why is it that in Windows Media Player, whenever I edit the Album Artists column, the Contributing Artists column always changes? Many times i've lost good data because I want to change a compilation to "Various Artists" and it'll automatically replace all the individual artists names with "Various Artists".. for all the songs. It's a royal pain in the rear, and the foremost reason I miss Advanced Tag Editor. I don't want to do all my metadata editing in Explorer (though I may have to since WMP still doesn't automatically write changes back to the real files in the Library).

[brittosa]

DISABLING LIBRARIES IN WINDOWS 7

Just paste this into a text file, rename it to 'anything.reg' and run it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{2112AB0A-C86A-4ffe-A368-0DE96E47012E}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{491E922F-5643-4af4-A7EB-4E7A138D8174}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{7b0db17d-9cd2-4a93-9733-46cc89022e7c}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{A302545D-DEFF-464b-ABE8-61C8648D939B}]

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderDescriptions\{A990AE9F-A03B-4e80-94BC-9912D7504104}]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]

"{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}"=-

[Access Denied]

To each his own. I finally like the library MS has been trying to accomplish for 20 years, lol. Thanks for the fix just in case I need it some day.

[ilovetech]

thnx for the fix if i need it ever, i am loving the concept of library & in fact it is the one feature that i like the most.

i have put up my songs scattered at different folders & library magically brings them into one roof, nice!. also i created downloads library (one appeared i pre-beta leaks) to keep track of all my downloads i put in different folders. library has made sharing in home group fun & also now i dont need to add folders manually for indexing which is done at default for all folders in library.

don't know why would anyone wants to do away with this!

[UncleSpellbinder]

Never use Libraries. I don't see the point. I just go to the actual folder in question. The whole idea of the Libraries just seems like an extra step to get somewhere I can get to easily already.

Having said that, I don't see a need to disable Libraries. I just ignore the Libraries all together.

Edited August 3, 2009 by UncleSpellbinder

[notuptome2004]

Never use Libraries. I don't see the point. I just go to the actual folder in question. The whole idea of the Libraries just seems like an extra step to get somewhere I can get to easily already.

Having said that, I don't see a need to disable Libraries. I just ignore the Libraries all together.

Right so going to a 3rd HDD < Example to grab a song or movie you wish to watch is much easier then going to your videos in libraries 1 maby 2 clicks away if that and getting the same thing .

in case you been gone on a trip somewhere the past year Quote MS site A library gathers files from different locations and displays them as a single collection, without moving them from where they're stored

In some ways, a library is similar to a folder. For example, when you open a library, you'll see one or more files. However, unlike a folder, a library gathers files that are stored in several locations. This is a subtle, but important, difference. Libraries don't actually store your items. They monitor folders that contain your items, and let you access and arrange the items in different ways. For instance, if you have music files in folders on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files at once using the Music library.

[Owen W Veteran]

ill be honest, i dont like the libraries feature at all. i want to be able to look at my documents like i did in vista/xp. i know i can access a regular folder in an explorer window but i want to be able to access it in the start menu and desktop.

so any help?

I'd just try get used to it. It's a change, I know.......but it's a good one. Srsly, 2 clicks is better than 5, whatever way you look at it.

[mzta cody]

"i know i can access a regular folder in an explorer window but i want to be able to access it in the start menu and desktop."

Your user folder doesn't appear at the top right of your start menu? 7, as regards this detail, is identical to Vista. In fact, one could pretty much ignore the Libraries if one wanted to, no? Unless, of course, I'm misunderstanding the complaint. Wouldn't be the first time :)

[UncleSpellbinder]

Right so going to a 3rd HDD < Example to grab a song or movie you wish to watch is much easier then going to your videos in libraries 1 maby 2 clicks away if that and getting the same thing .

in case you been gone on a trip somewhere the past year Quote MS site A library gathers files from different locations and displays them as a single collection, without moving them from where they're stored

In some ways, a library is similar to a folder. For example, when you open a library, you'll see one or more files. However, unlike a folder, a library gathers files that are stored in several locations. This is a subtle, but important, difference. Libraries don't actually store your items. They monitor folders that contain your items, and let you access and arrange the items in different ways. For instance, if you have music files in folders on your hard disk and on an external drive, you can access all of your music files at once using the Music library.

Point taken. Maybe I've just not played around with it much. Just added a new library called Film. It contains movies from 2 external HD's.

So I guess the whole Library concept isn't that much different than Winamp's "watched folders"? I'll give it another shot. Perhaps I've been

to hasty on this.

Thanks, notuptome2004

[Owen W Veteran]

Point taken. Maybe I've just not played around with it much. Just added a new library called Film. It contains movies from 2 external HD's.

So I guess the whole Library concept isn't that much different than Winamp's "watched folders"? I'll give it another shot. Perhaps I've been

to hasty on this.

Thanks, notuptome2004

Hmm, kinda like the watched folders, but really well aggregated and usable across the whole OS, even if they don't use the fancy new Windows 7 dialogues. Let us know how you go :)

On a sidenote: I've been holding off setting up lots of libraries for the RTM, so that I don't have to do it twice.