PC World Community: Change Outlook's Default Attachment ...

Magazine

Subscribe & Get
a Bonus CD

Customer Service

Up to Discussions in Business Center

16 Replies Last post: Mar 1, 2009 5:08 AM by BigAlofSfS 1 2 Previous Next

PCWorld

35,855 posts since
Aug 1, 2007

Jan 8, 2009 12:39 PM

Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Post your comments for Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder here

HilltownRoots

2 posts since
Jan 8, 2009

1. Jan 8, 2009 1:36 PM

in response to: PCWorld

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Tried it in Outlook 2007. Didn't work. The path was the same to get to the "correct" key, but when I tested the change, I still get the same old default attachment folder contents. I did close and restart Outlook. I verified that the registry change took. I changed the drive to M:\ where I store all my stuff that I am likely to attach. I redid the change selecting a folder on the C:\ drive thinking I may need to stay on the same drive where Outlook is installed. It didn't make any difference. Any thoughts?

justrick

50 posts since
Apr 15, 2008

2. Jan 8, 2009 2:37 PM

in response to: HilltownRoots

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

It might just be a different registry key for Outlook 2007. I'll do some searching and update the post if I find anything.

davejoh

4 posts since
Aug 24, 2008

3. Jan 10, 2009 10:13 AM

in response to: PCWorld

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Hmm. I am curious, Rick, why don't you store your documents in the My Documents folder? That's been the stadard location for 20 years now... it seems you're just making your workflow needlessly complicated by not using it.

number6

2,239 posts since
Mar 28, 2008

4. Jan 10, 2009 10:21 AM

in response to: PCWorld

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

What a coincidence. I use a folder called Data instead of My Documents too. There is a way to change the location and name of My Documents to your choice, but I wouldn't do that because I don't like to keep my data in a system folder. Hence my using the Data folder instead of My Documents.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310147

CCleaner - Freeware Windows Optimization

Watch: Greed
Google Watch

justrick

50 posts since
Apr 15, 2008

5. Jan 10, 2009 1:35 PM

in response to: davejoh

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Well, Davejoh, I've had the same arrangement for more than 20 years, and I'm not looking to change now. Besides, why can't I store my documents wherever I want? It's Outlook that's needlessly complicating my workflow by not letting me set a default folder, the same way I can in Word. It has a million bloat-generating features that I don't need and never use, but lacks something as simple as a default-folder setting.

justrick

50 posts since
Apr 15, 2008

6. Jan 10, 2009 1:37 PM

in response to: number6

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Excellent point. I don't necessarily want my most important documents to reside in a system folder either. That's the first place a hacker or bit of malware would look, no?

number6

2,239 posts since
Mar 28, 2008

7. Jan 10, 2009 1:39 PM

in response to: justrick

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Correct, and it also makes it harder to do backups because it's not treated as a normal folder.

Watch: Greed
Google Watch

davejoh

4 posts since
Aug 24, 2008

8. Jan 10, 2009 2:27 PM

in response to: justrick

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Well justrick, you were used to using DOS once too. Are you still using that?

The reason to use the Documents folder is that so many apps expect you to store your data there. Backup programs, productivity apps, and the gammut of WIndows software have been engineered for years to look for your stuff in the "known folders" of My Documents, My Pictures, etc. If you really want to use a different file location for your data, you could redirect My Documents to this other location. That's a system supported workaround, and does not rely on potenially dangerous hacks to the registry like the one you were experimenting with.

number6

2,239 posts since
Mar 28, 2008

9. Jan 10, 2009 2:31 PM

in response to: davejoh

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

For one thing, My Pictures, My Videos, etc. is new as of 2000 or XP, I believe, so many older programs don't use those folders.

Also, registry hacks don't seem dangerous to me. It's backed up daily and anyone who edits the registry should have sense to back it up externally.

Watch: Greed
Google Watch

justrick

50 posts since
Apr 15, 2008

10. Jan 11, 2009 7:20 AM

in response to: PCWorld

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

So, Davejoh, your takeaway here seems to be that I should work the way Microsoft wants me to (nay, forces me to), not the way I want to. Thanks, but no thanks.

davejoh

4 posts since
Aug 24, 2008

11. Jan 11, 2009 7:27 AM

in response to: justrick

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Wow, Justrick, we're being very formal with each other. May I call you Rick?

I only bring it up becuase we all adopt the PC's standard conventions in so many other ways, choosing to save files in the OS's designated location doesn't seem that egregous to me, and it would shortcut soooo much potenial heartache. It's like insisting that you'll continue to smack yourself with a hammer because it's your choice to do so. And when you consioder that you can easily redirect My Docs to any location (such as yor Data folder) and you choose not to, that seems almost like you're begging for the universe to rain inconvenience down upon you.

justrick

50 posts since
Apr 15, 2008

12. Jan 11, 2009 7:44 AM

in response to: davejoh

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

Only if I can call you Dave...

You can't honestly be saying that I should store my data in "the OS's designated location" (whatever that's supposed to mean) rather than where I want to store it, and that failing to do so is the equivalent of "smacking myself with a hammer." It's that kind of thinking that has helped put Microsoft in the boat it's in today.

Perhaps you can explain why Word, Excel, and most other apps let you set your own default directory for data stores. Oh, right, because it's up to the user, not the OS. Come on...you haven't got a leg to stand on.

davejoh

4 posts since
Aug 24, 2008

13. Jan 11, 2009 7:55 AM

in response to: justrick

Re: Change Outlook's Default Attachment Folder

I suppose I'm a lover, not a fghter. It's not worth it to me to fight Windows, so I just store the files in the known folders and move on with my life.