Shared Documents Folders Are Missing From My Computer (319825)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

CAUSE

This problem may occur if a computer is prepared by using an OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK) tool, such as Sysprep.exe. With this type of computer preparation, the component revision number for the Ee4uinit.exe and Shell32.dll files for the user is not reset, and the user's locale is empty. Because of this, Explorer does not start Ie4uinit.exe or Regsvr32.exe.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date       Time   Version      Size     File name
   ----------------------------------------------------
   23-Apr-02  15:20  5.1.2600.43  532,480  Msobmain.dll
   23-Apr-02  15:19  5.1.2600.43  930,304  Syssetup.dll

WORKAROUND

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this problem if the computer is already in this state, manually add the registry entries. To do so, use Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe) to locate the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths

Add the following registry value, and then quit Registry Editor:

Value name: user name
Data type: REG_SZ
Value data: user profile\My Documents

Replace the user name and user profile environment variables with the literal values for each user who logs on to the computer.

NOTE: In each user's My Documents folder and subfolders, open the Desktop.ini files and modify the Owner value under the "DeleteOnCopy" section to match the user name.