4 Reasons for NOT Using the Default Folders in Windows


Each of these may contain, documents, pictures, spreadsheets
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When you installed Windows 7,8,10 or any previous version, you had default folders on your C:/ drive. Windows call them the libraries folders: Documents, Pictures, Music, Downloads etc. (or My Documents, My Pictures...etc. in some versions of Windows). 

These are the default locations where Windows saves new files in, according to the type of each folder.

Using these default folders have several drawbacks, and the alternatives are way more safe and easier to use (at least based on my 25+ years of experience as a user, few of which as a programmer too).

I'll first discuss here the drawbacks, then I'll tell you in brief what the alternatives are. (For more detailed explanation of the alternatives please refer to my article (Folders and Files Organization ... Best Practices)

 4 Reasons for NOT Using the Default Folders in Windows:


1. Files will be lost if you have to reinstall Windows.
2. The folders will become so congested in a few weeks.
3. It contradicts the natural way our minds classify information.
4. Creating folders for projects/work/study will be a nightmare.

1.  Files will be lost if you have to reinstall Windows.

Since all these default folders are on your C:/ drive, which contains the operating system too, reinstalling windows (because of a crash or a virus) means, in most cases, reformatting drive C:/, hence all your files will be lost.
Some might suggest to always backup your files on the cloud to be safe. But practically, frequent clouding means big cost for single users (cost of internet traffic + cost of extra storage space).

   2. The folders will become so congested in a few weeks.

If you were already used to save all your files in those folders, you sure know what I mean. Lots of subdirectories inside each of those default folders to keep things as organised as possible. And yet, they'll remain too cumbersome to be used easily.

3. It contradicts the natural way our minds classify information.

We don't view information as file types, but rather as content's subjects. You would be interested in History, Cinema, Commerce, Politics and so on, and it's natural that you'd want to save everything related to this or that area of interest in one place (i.e. one folder). You don't care if it is a Word document, PDF, MP3 file, JPG picture or any other type of files, you want all the information and data about this subject or topic in one place. Right?

4. Creating folders for projects/work/study will be a nightmare.

People who use Windows default folders, usually do one of two things, Either create subfolders inside
each default folder (ex. C:/Documents/Math; C:/Downloads/Math; C:/Pictures/Math) or creating folders
for each topic, and use shortcuts to the files saved in the default folders.
The first solution will keep you jumping from folder to folder while working on a serious project.
The second might be practical, but still, you have the three previous drawbacks (especially number 1 and 2), Besides it is not really neat.

This leads us to..

The Alternatives for Using Windows Default Folders:


I've dealt with these alternatives in details in my previous article (Folders and Files Organization ... Best Practices). But if you are in a hurry here are the main points:
1. Create a main folder for each topic
2. Always save your files in these folders, not in the default Windows folders.
3. It is preferable to have two partitions on your hard drive (C:/ for Windows and all other programs & D:/ for all your project/work/study files).



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