Disable The New Libraries Feature On Windows 7

I get them but don't really like em, mostly because it's hard to keep an overview of files when there is just way way way too much in one library. For Audio and Video it can be useful though, not documents, in my case.

unruled

If you don't like or "get" libraries... i feel for you.

I tried this, and it works great, however the libraries section is still there when you are saving a file and the window pops up asking where you want to save it.

Not that it really matters, but cool tweak.

kevinklemm

@pdok: That's the reason I don't understand libraries. I don't see any way to make third party programs see the libraries, so I may as well organize my files using this wonderful invention called the file system and call it a day.

It seems they are more or less similar to "smart folders" in Outlook or "smart playlists" in Itunes. If I think of them that way, I may be able to come up with a use for them.

@Meocene: If you don't understand why people can have different opinions, then I feel for you.

@Meocene: I don't get them at all. Would you do me the favor of explaining them and why you like them, please?

redteam

I think starting Explorer in "My Computer" is better than disabling libraries. It's annoying that the default bar icon opens Libraries when I just want to modify some files in a directory.

See here: [blog.taragana.com]

Confuzius

Libraries, love em. I'm still not sure how to make sure the stuff is all backed up, since it's all over the place, though.

pdok

I like them, it's a nice likeness to DFS in the server OS or multipath like in XBMC.

I love libraries, can't live without it now. I'll try to explain how/why I use it. Perhaps others can see why they might like it?

I use custom libraries like so, rather than loading "my computer" and browsing to files. The Downloads and Videos libraries are what I really use often.

Desktop: it's just that, quick, easy way to access desktop (when I have windows open and dont feel like minimizing them to get to said desktop). The only thing on my desktop is something I just downloaded in Firefox, not including anything torrenting.

Documents: I have a documents folder on my secondary hard drive, running my quicken files, Firefox profile, etc. Then another folder on my NAS box with every other document for myself and my wife. I put this in "list" view, then can see BOTH folders at the same time in the same window, without having to browse to it.

Music: set to NAS box music folder

Games: again, 2 folders, one on secondary drive with game ISO's that are mounted with Daemon, and a NAS box folder with everything else for my games that doesnt need lightning fast access.

Pictures: points to 3 folders on the NAS where I keep pictures. One for business, one for regular photos, one for internet crap/wallpapers. List view, so I can see everything in one window at once.

Software: points to C:program files, etc. Plus to NAS software installation folder where I store everything for when I reinstall windows.

Downloads: (torrents only) points to my NAS download folder. Which has all the torrent files, a completed folder, and an incoming folder. This all leads to the....

Videos: points to the Videos folder. As well as the Complete and Incoming folders of the above said Downloads folder.

Now, I can just click the libraries. What do I want to see? Just my torrents and what is downloading, boom click Downloads. Want to see videos? Click that, and it shows me what is already "sorted" into the Videos and TV folder, as well as what is incoming and completed (ready for sorting to Videos folder).

I see all of those in one window. So why again should I use Windows Explorer?

My computer is VERY organized. Not one thing is stored on C, not one icon on my desktop. Libraries lets me see all, in one easy to use solution.

orellius

Libraries, one of my favorite Wind7-features.

I suppose I have been using a work-around for a while, I just edited the libraries so that they only point to the one folder where I keep all the files for that particular library type.

The only way libraries are super useful is if you have a terrible file management thing going on.

BlackSmokeDMax

Why oh why would you do this, libraries have helped me organize my computer how i want to inordinately

dajmeister

@Meocene: I don't like libraries, I set my filesystem up properly, they're messy. I have things properly set up, why does win7 want to pretend I don't?

It doesn't effect the command line anyway, which is where I do most of my navigation, so whee :D

@wjglenn: Yeah, I have some own specific favourite folders, which is quite nice. Haven't tried creating an own library. Ought to give it a go, thanks.

unruled

@daddydave: I really love the idea of Libraries, it's easy to use. I'm worried about tying together the 1000 locations on all my hard drives (6, plus externals) where everything lives and then having to figure out how the backup is supposed to work.

Ah well, I might as well just move it all around and reorganize anyway...

pdok

The sooner you lot stop fighting against the operating system the easier your lives will become.

just_laze

Really glad to see this little tweak. ^__^ The Libraries feature has only been an useless irritation to me. XDD

I already have my files set up in my own personal file system and know where to go to get something when I need it.

Having W7 "mash" everything into a lump category folder system just does not work for me. A place for everything and everything in its place...

@Meocene: Like Phoshi, I do not like the libraries feature either. To me it is simply an irritation to be disposed of...I already have my files organised exactly the way that I want and like.

@unruled: I don't use the built-in Documents library for just that reason, plus it's easy enough to add specific folder locations to your favorites.

But, you can create your own libraries and those can be pretty useful.

@redteam: In previous versions of Windows, you had the My Documents (or just Documents) folder. But, many people had their files scattered in lots of places. Maybe on another drive, maybe on a network location, whatever. And they didn't want to move everything into My Documents.

The library feature shows you a virtual folder named Documents. You can add as many folders as you like to that library. The actual My Documents folder is added by default. But you could add a network folder, a documents folder on a separate hard drive, etc.

When you open the Documents library, it shows you all of the folders and files from all of those locations you have added, without having to relocate the actual folders.

There are also libraries for Pictures, Videos, and Music. And you can add your own.

You can do some clever things with libraries.

@orellius: this was in response to a couple of people that asked for an explanation as to how or why it is used. Sorry if it's too long, but that's my explanation!

It has nothing to do with poor file organization, as some have said. I am very organized. I just need to see multiple things in the same window at the same time, it helps. And often you cant help it, to be organized, stuff needs to be buried deep in levels of folders. That's the nature of it.

orellius

I find libraries useful. I use them all the time. Initially it was a bit confusing when I tried to add a folder to libraries. I right clicked and the only option was to create a new library. After some digging, I found that after creating a new library, I can add any folder to a library or create a new one. It is a very easy way to organize folders.

arungupta

I would recommend no to do this, I've done it in two different computers and as a result the Windows Media Player libraries disappeared and i was unable to manage them anymore , thankfully is very easy to get the libraries back. I hate the libraries too but I use WMP most of the time and my library is really important for me so i will have to find another way of "hidding" them.

wall-e

I have been using libraries to gain quick access to my current work projects while also maintaining a nice, logical file structure underneath. For example, I may have 30 project folders, but only 4 or 5 that I'm working on at any given time. Adding the current items to a library just makes it a bit more convenient to find a project in a list of 5 as opposed to 30.

JayDeEm

Hierarchical filesystems have failed. It's time for Microsoft to just give us the WinFS relational filesystem.

brianary

@Phoshi: Nerd :)

"It doesn't effect the command line anyway, which is where I do most of my navigation, so whee :D"

Mr_Human

Can someone provide some examples of how Libraries interfere with anyone's existing organizational structure?

I have everything organized in specific folders and locations too, but even with Libraries on, I still save and move files to where I want as I have for years.

Kyang

@just_laze: It is not about fighting against the operating system...it is about making it do what you want and need. ^__^

@Mr_Human: Hey, nobody can excuse me of liking 7 for the eye-candy :P

i love the libraries. between my 2 machines running windows 7 it's just too simple; what i don't quite grasp is when i want to connect from my xp machines, or how my bro can browse my movies libraries from his mac, what with the different homegroup with passkey thing.

would i still type it \\server\share? hasn't worked thus far

@diamonddnice: any particular specs it doesn't work on in case i might run into trouble too?

@wjglenn: Thank you for that explanation! I guess I feel like a few others on here - I already organize my files pretty well, so now I'm wondering what I should use libraries for. You're right, you can do some clever things with libraries - at least I imagine someone can. Can anyone describe any interesting things they've done with libraries?

I just made one for my downloads folder and my Dropbox folder. Let's see how this works out.

redteam

@Mr_Human: if he were a true nerd, he would have said affect, not effect.

But more on topic, I also don't like libraries. If you organize your files in any decent manner, you shouldn't ever have to use them.

psychiccheese

have honestly had nothing but problems with windows 7. would not download any file and would not transfer files across my network. Both rendered it not useful. hopefully i have a bad build but it's supposed to be final so i'm not enthused.

diamonddnice

Libraries are OK, but I prefer the start menu search for speed.

I recently installed Win7 on my laptop. At first I was confused as to what they were, but once I figured it out: Libraries just plain rock.

wunch

@Phoshi: Having things "properly set up" is a subjective term. You may have things set up the way you want, but that doesn't make it any more or less "proper".

Libraries have a genuine use. If you don't like them, then don't use them; but don't be so egotistical as to think that your way is "proper" and theirs is not.

The only thing I don't like about libraries are that they don't like network folders/drives. Otherwise, I love anything that can make my already good filesystem a bit better across my 3 drives and NAS.

No matter how organized your "personal filesystem" is, if you have multiple data drives (I have 3), there is no sexier way to get to all of your movie, music, etc folders in one convenient place.

I'll admit, I didn't like them at first (especially when I was trying out the beta) but now that I've got the RTM installed, I love the libraries

FrancesTheMute

Just to make sure I get this straight. Something as simple and foolproof as folders has now been upgraded to what are essentially playlists? Because playlists make finding what you want so much simpler?

Hlaode

@just_laze: I agree. This is the same argument people have with the ribbons in Office. The only real problem is that they're different than what people are used to. The basic argument runs something like: "I don't like the internet. The telegraph works just fine for me."

@Raspop: I think the two combined are something that takes a day or two of use to get used to (searching rather than drilling down, etc.) but make it easier to find things overall.

JerryA

@Hlaode: I think you're confused about what exactly a Library is. It's just a way to virtually aggregate several folders into one folder. So, suppose you have several external HDs all packed full of MP3s. A library would let you aggregate them into one convenient virtual folder (ie a library).

As far as I know, a playlist is an organizational tool that lets you gather songs and play them in a pre-set order. I'm not sure how that's similar to a Library.

@Meocene: I agree with the men. The libraries don't serve a purpose for those of us who already know how to arrange files.

Files go on F:
Music goes on M:
Tech goes on T:
Videos are on V:

Thats right, real men have a server.

LetMeSayThisAboutThat...

When arranged by folder, libraries seem kind of pointless. The same thing can be accomplished by moving folders around or using NTFS junctions.

When the contents are indexed, they can be viewed in other ways, and that might be useful. I'm still not sure this is useful because my stuff is organized, but I'm willing to give it a try.

I just came to realize that after using "libraries", my save/open actions end up taking more time, not less... one extra folder jump here, one more level there... instead of My Documents, I have Libraries - Documents. And for what? Til now I'd just rationalized it as the ability to search from Start. Yet, no, that's not necessary to use the search. They're performing absolutely zero function for me. Every file I save goes in an appropriate folder, except stuff on the desktop. So what good are libraries? I think they only serve to keep people more cluttered... one folder for everything, that kinda thing.