How to force Windows not create public files?

[Artas1984]

Is there registry fix so that Windows would not create any Public folders in ''C:/Users/Public''? Just seeing them annoys me.

 

[Frick]

Is there registry fix so that Windows would not create any Public folders in ''C:/Users/Public''? Just seeing them annoys me.

I have never seen such a folder in my life.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Is there registry fix so that Windows would not create any Public folders in ''C:/Users/Public''? Just seeing them annoys me.

This should do it;

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/50179-turn-off-public-folder-sharing-windows-10-a.html

This might also be worth your time;

Disable public folders

So I recently installed win10, coming from win7, and i set it up to my liking. One of the things i did was moving all user folders such as downloads or desktop to D:, and because i hate seeing any

answers.microsoft.com

 

[Bill_Bright]

Interesting. I have the Public folder, and it has several Public folders under it, but they are all timestamped with the date W10 was installed on this computer or last year on June 1 when the last major W10 update was installed. But there are no files in any of those folders.

I don't see a problem with just leaving it.

 

[newtekie1]

No you can't get rid of them, just like you can't get rid of the Default user folders. The best you can do is set the Public folder to hidden so it doesn't normally show up unless you have Windows set to show hidden files/folders.

 

[lexluthermiester]

No you can't get rid of them, just like you can't get rid of the Default user folders. The best you can do is set the Public folder to hidden so it doesn't normally show up unless you have Windows set to show hidden files/folders.

It is possible, it's just a pain in the neck. The reward is not worth the hassle..

 

[newtekie1]

It is possible, it's just a pain in the neck. The reward is not worth the hassle..

How do you do it?

 

[Isaac`]

lee

How do you do it?

t hacks and a ton of restoring backups until it doesnt kill windows

 

[lexluthermiester]

How do you do it?

A combination of registry edits, permission changes and some take-ownership + delete action. It's a bit messy and some aspects of the file manager will not work afterwards. A third party file manager will be needed. It's a change not for the faint of heart. It's easier just to disable the functionality.

 

[Isaac`]

A combination of registry edits, permission changes and some take-ownership + delete action. It's a bit messy and some aspects of the file manager will not work. A third party file manager will be needed. It's a change not for the faint of heart. It's easier just to disable the functionality.

I had to restore 3 times while trying to do it
windows does not like it when you delete the wrong reg keys after misreading

 

[Bill_Bright]

If you ever want to share files with another computer on your own local network, you might just want to leave that folder alone.

 

[lexluthermiester]

If you ever want to share files with another computer on your own local network, you might just want to leave that folder alone.

Not everyone cares about that functionality. Portable storage is cheap and easy. Networking equipment isn't.

 

[newtekie1]

Not everyone cares about that functionality. Portable storage is cheap and easy. Networking equipment isn't.

Networking equipment is definitely cheap and easy.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Networking equipment is definitely cheap and easy.

Opinion not supported by merit.

A good router will run someone north of $150, cabling another $65(if running wired) or wireless adapters for $45 each(minimum). But then one also needs the knowledge to setup a home network properly, which most common users don't have. Setup a network the wrong way and you open that network to the internet in an unprotected way.

Portable USB based storage is cheap, easy and requires no additional knowledge to make data transfers a simple, quick task.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Not everyone cares about that functionality.

Ummm, really?

Portable storage is cheap and easy. Networking equipment isn't.

Huh? Just about everyone already has a router with an integrated 4-port switch. No additional networking equipment needed.

And did you notice the "If"? And that I said "another computer"? If there are two adults in the household, chances are there are two computers. And even many single person homes have more than one computer they might want to share files with.

Networking equipment is definitely cheap and easy.

Opinion not supported by merit.

Of course it is. And it is supported with fact too - which just a few seconds of homework and Bing Google would show anyone. Newegg for example, has dozens of wireless routers with 4-port Ethernet switches for under $50. And it is pretty much plug and play - can't get much easier. And with no additional network equipment needed.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ummm, really?

Yes, really.

Newegg for example, has dozens of wireless routers with 4-port Ethernet switches for under $50. And it is pretty much plug and play - can't get much easier. And with no additional network equipment needed.

"Plug & play" networking is often anything but. And you assume that everyone has all the equipment they need already and that 100mbps is fast enough for them.

But I digress. We're getting off-topic.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Yes, really.

LOL - Again, did you not notice the "if"? That implies not everyone cares about that functionality. Perhaps you didn't know that rolling the eyes rolleyes also indicates sarcasm.

And you assume that everyone has all the equipment they need

It is fun, in a sad sort of way, watching folks who cannot admit that others might be right too, and instead dig themselves deeper and deeper.

But yes, in this case I am assuming they already have a router with an Ethernet switch, or wifi (or both) since most people want Internet access and even the basic residential gateway devices provided by ISPs support one, or the other, or both. Very few today go directly from computer to modem then out to the Internet.

You, on the other hand, assume everyone already has some type of portable storage, and they don't mind hand carrying it back and forth between each computer.

And yes, plug and play is right. Plug the wireless router into the modem, connect the computers to the router, and boom - Bob's your uncle. You may have to reboot the computer, or enter the wifi passphrase - but one would have to do that for Internet access anyway.

And contrary to what Lex seems to be implying, setting up sharing over a network is not hard - especially between W10 computers.

Sure, "IF" the user already has an external drive or flash drive (big enough for all the files they want to share), they can lug it back and forth between computers each and every time they want to share them. Like that's really convenient - especially if the external drive has its own power supply. (Ummm, I'm being sarcastic again.). I am sure if Computer #1 is on the top floor, East end of the house, and Computer #2 is in the basement on the West end, everyone would love running up and down the stairs. (Do I need to say it?)

But with sharing enabled, everyone can stay in their chairs and with just a few mouse click, transfer files back and forth all they want.

and that 100mbps is fast enough for them.

LOL You're the one who keeps making assumptions. Again, with just a couple seconds of homework with Bing Google anybody can easily see several of those under $50 routers support 1Gbps Ethernet and 802.11n and some even support 802.11ac.

And for the record, I am not suggesting folks settle for an under $50 wireless router. I was just illustrating how the necessary network equipment is not expensive - though most folks already have it on hand.

You can keep arguing and suggesting that your way is the only way anyone would ever want to use, Lex. That's up to you. Everyone else knows other wise. And of course no doubt some would argue there's always cloud storage for sharing too. But that's for yet a different discussion.

 

[newtekie1]

I don't see what the argument here is. If someone already has multiple computers, and those computers both have internet using the same internet connection, then they are already networked. There is absolutely no extra cost involved, they already have the hardware the need. And even if your ISP supplied router is only 100Mbps(how old is that shit?) a 5-port Gigabit switch is $15.

Then there is the setup, and yeah it is mildly more complex than using a flash drive to transfer files, but it isn't rocket science. Windows makes it pretty darn easy and there are tons of guides online that walk you right through it.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I don't see what the argument here is. If someone already has multiple computers, and those computers both have internet using the same internet connection, then they are already networked. There is absolutely no extra cost involved, they already have the hardware the need.

Exactly!

Then there is the setup, and yeah it is mildly more complex than using a flash drive to transfer files, but it isn't rocket science. Windows makes it pretty darn easy and there are tons of guides online that walk you right through it.

Exactly again! And after sharing is set up, there is no need for the user to run back and forth between computers.

And for the record, I know quite a few people who don't have an external drive - including me. I have a docking station on this computer, but not on the other 4 computers in this house. So that would mean I would have to lug the docking station and its power cord, a drive, and a USB cable around to each computer. What a pain.

I do have a couple flash drives, but I know several people who don't. But again, I would have to carry them back and forth to each computer I wanted to share files with. Still a big, and unnecessary pain.

And another problem - though it may be mostly personal, but I don't like using USB in this manner. IMO, USB (and in particular, USB flash drives) just aren't that reliable. They certainly are not as trouble free as internal drives,

 

[Valantar]

Opinion not supported by merit.

A good router will run someone north of $150, cabling another $65(if running wired) or wireless adapters for $45 each(minimum). But then one also needs the knowledge to setup a home network properly, which most common users don't have. Setup a network the wrong way and you open that network to the internet in an unprotected way.

Portable USB based storage is cheap, easy and requires no additional knowledge to make data transfers a simple, quick task.

Uhm, did you miss the part where the vast majority of PCs are connected to this thing called the internet? Which, unless you're running ISDN or dial-up, means connecting to some sort of network? It's far more likely for people to already have networking equipment than portable storage of a useful size.

As such, the only cost for network sharing of files is the minimal effort required to enable it.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Came in here to help Artas, not to argue. Done, I'm out. Go have your last word now..

 

[newtekie1]

Back on topic, I'd like to point out the Public folders are nothing new. They have been in Windows since at least Windows 2000. I don't see why it would bother anyone that they are there. They are used by a lot of programs.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I checked a couple other computers here and I found a few files under a couple subfolders under that Public folder. So for a test, I decided to copy those files to a safe place, then delete them from those folders to see if anything broke.

So far, as far as I can tell, everything still works fine.

Still, I see no reason to worry about them. This is especially true if your computer has more than one user. When you install a program that prompts to install for "Just you" or "All users", this folder is often used with the "All users" option. And as noted above, if access is needed from other computers on your local network.

 

[Artas1984]

I guess i have no choice, but to leave that Public folder.

 

[Bill_Bright]

Its not hurting anything.