How to change default Save As file

[calohr]

I have seen in the past a tip on
how to change the save as default on XP from My Documents to say
"desktop".  I thought I had saved the tip but now can't find it.  Can
someone tell me how to do this?  Thanks in
advance.

[KHT]

there may be a more definitive way but i`ve always simply selected the folder from the drop down box after i`ve clicked on Save As.

everytime after that when i do a Save As it will want to save the file to where i saved it the last time. (ie. desktop instead of my documents)

[reboot]

But it will default back to My Documents after a restart. I'd also be interested in finding the way to fix it permanently. I had a way to do it in 98, but that "fix" doesn't seem to apply in XP.

[Statica]

My XP seems to remember Save As .. locations for most every program that I use .. even through restarts.

[KHT]

another thing you can do, (slipped my mind), is right click on My Documents\properties. under the target box there should be a "move" button to relocate the default folder. simply click the move button and select the new location and click OK and VOILA!!

[reboot]

A "move" button? What OS are you on?
Just a note. You must do this through My Computer, My Documents, right click, etc. It does not work through Explorer.

[Statica]

'boot .. the move button is there for XP. It works by right clicking any instance of My Documents (be in the desktop or start menu or explorer).

Although in this situation .. it wouldnt help much, as it moves the entire My Documents folder, not just for the save as.

[KHT]

Ok, here`s a registry tweak.

Go to [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders]

My default setting, under the personal value was (still is) %USERPROFILE%\My Documents. For fun I made it %USERPROFILE%\Cookies (temporarily) I opened a word document and clicked save as and cookies came up as the default.

[reboot]

AH, but if I right click on c:\documents and settings\username\my documents, select Properties, there IS NO "Move" option using Explorer.
If I click My computer, right click My Documents...it's there.
Just FYI, I edited the reg, and made it %SystemDrive%\Downloads
Works good.

[calohr]

to 
KHT

 

I tried to do that but it will
not let me click ok after I moved it.  When I just took out the "My
Documents" and changed it to Desktop it says "Folders on the desktop are
not allowed as targets?

 

[reboot]

You can't automatically save to the desktop that way. You must specify c:\Documents and Settings\username\Desktop as the target.

[KHT]

Just kinda curious about this because I`m able to enter %USERPROFILE%\Desktop and it will set the Desktop as the default.

I tried it and was able to save directly to the desktop.

I`m doing this on W2k pro, signed on with my username and a member of the admin group. XP pro should work the same, not sure about XP home though.

[pillainp]

In Microsoft Word, select TOOLS>OPTIONS. Under File locations, set the "Documents" path to point to your desktop. That is Microsoft Word only, and probably influences the rest of the Office suite. The rest.......

But then again, would not saving all your files on the desktop make it slow to load?