Forum Discussion
Destructured Seven Libraries
I take care of my mother's computer which is running Windows 11. Following formatting, I did something wrong and all the libraries were found in the Videos folder: E:\Doc, E:\Music, E\:my images E:\My documents
and E:\My downloads which end up in duplicate with C: \Users \Download
And videos can be found at DOC:\E (the score with all personal documents).
There is also the BRIGITTE-PC icon which suggests "Do you want to restore files from this backup?"
I don't know what it is so I haven't touched it.
I tried the default library restore feature, but it didn't work.
I also tried creating a new user account, but once I arrived at this new session, the problem is exactly the same.
Do you think I can find the normal library tree?
5 Replies
Hi,
It looks like the issue is not only with the Libraries, but with the actual user shell folders (Documents, Pictures, Downloads, etc.) being physically moved to the E: drive. When this happens, “Restore default” in the Library properties does not work, and the problem appears for every user account.
You can check the current folder mappings with PowerShell:
Get-ItemProperty "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders"If the paths for Personal, My Pictures, My Music, Downloads, etc. point to E:\ or to the Videos folder, Windows will keep redirecting everything there.
To fix it:
- Open Regedit
- Go to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
- Restore the default values, for example:
- Documents → %USERPROFILE%\Documents
- Pictures → %USERPROFILE%\Pictures
- Music → %USERPROFILE%\Music
- Downloads → %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
- Log out and log back in
- Then use Library → Properties → Restore default if needed
The “BRIGITTE-PC” icon is simply a backup entry from a previous configuration. It is not related to the folder redirection issue.
Once the shell folder paths are corrected, the normal library structure will return.
It sounds like the library locations were accidentally redirected to the E: drive, which is why Documents, Music, Pictures, etc. all appear inside the Videos folder. You can fix it by right-clicking each library folder (Documents, Pictures, Downloads, etc.) → Properties → Location → Restore Default, then apply the changes to rebuild the normal folder structure.
It sounds like the libraries and folders on your mother's Windows 11 PC are misconfigured, likely due to incorrect folder locations or a corrupted library setup. The presence of the "Brigitte-PC" icon and the backup prompt suggests some backup or restore configuration is involved.
Right-click each library in File Explorer, select Properties > Location > Restore default, then apply and restart your computer.
Instead of being in the Videos folder, her personal documents and videos are stored at E:\Doc and E:\Videos.
