Help me organize my files

I'm tired of needing several mouse clicks to find files so have decided to combine/consolidate my library. But I'm finding that it's not so easy. See the attached image.

How can I put all of my documents in one place, and then also combine "My music" and other library folders?

Sorry for the multiple images. They're all the same (duplicates).

thanks

Sorry to respond to my own post but I'm having trouble with this new format finding how to edit my original.

On reviewing my original post I find that I wasn't clear with my query. What I'm hoping to do is to collect all my files that are categorized by "Documents", "Music", "Pictures" and "Videos" and then consolidate them in those singular locations. This would be like the pre-cloud Windows versions were my documents were located in the local folder "C:\My Documents". Attempting to revert back to the old style of storage locations I have created considerable redundancy and have found the duplicity of storage confusing. So I retrieve a file and make/save changes then after a few months retrieve an older version of the file.

So I've decided that I now want to stop fighting Microsoft's new paradigm and join. But attempting to combine buckets of files from several folders into one that is a branch C/Users/.../OneDrive/.... I'm getting error messages indicating that the folder is either not found or the destination folder is the same as the source.

Much of the "not found" error is due to files being in drive(s) with different letters. I can rectify that. What I hope to do is to combine all (or most) of my files into the 4 Library "buckets" designated ("Documents", "Music", "Pictures" and "Videos"). Your help will be appreciated.

Thanks

IMO , just using folders rather than libraries is the easiest way to accomplish organization. I haven't used libraries in forever,
Add or Remove Libraries in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11

Another thing that really helps me is to have 2 instances of file explorer open at the same time (or sometimes 3) and have them side by side> There are several ways to do this but I find snap layout to be easiest.

To open a 2nd instance of file explorer hit windows key+E

If you haven't used snap layout here's how. Hover mouse over the square to the left of the Close X. Different laylous will appear, select one by clicking inside its box. That window will become positioned on the screen in that manner. Then do the same with another file explorer window, choosing another box in the same snap layout. Snap is the best thing since sliced bread if you will learn to use it. Here's a tutorial. Scroll down to Option 3 for snap layout

I answered another similar thread about how to organize file. See my lengthy post #5 here Data overhaul

Hope this helps

You can ignore Microsoft folders and just create your own, like My_Documents, etc.
Of course some programs can create their own directories in the Microsoft folder, e.g. in Documents/My Games

glasskuter said:

IMO , just using folders rather than libraries is the easiest way to accomplish organization. I haven't used libraries in forever,
Add or Remove Libraries in File Explorer Navigation Pane in Windows 11

Another thing that really helps me is to have 2 instances of file explorer open at the same time (or sometimes 3) and have them side by side> There are several ways to do this but I find snap layout to be easiest.

To open a 2nd instance of file explorer hit windows key+E

If you haven't used snap layout here's how. Hover mouse over the square to the left of the Close X. Different laylous will appear, select one by clicking inside its box. That window will become positioned on the screen in that manner. Then do the same with another file explorer window, choosing another box in the same snap layout. Snap is the best thing since sliced bread if you will learn to use it. Here's a tutorial. Scroll down to Option 3 for snap layout

Snap windows into Layouts in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you different ways to Snap windows into zone layouts for your account in Windows 11. You can use Snap windows in Windows 11 to automatically resize and arrange all your open windows into zone layouts using the mouse (drag), keyboard, or the Snap Assist feature. Snap...

www.elevenforum.com

I answered another similar thread about how to organize file. See my lengthy post #5 here Data overhaul

Hope this helps

Click to expand...

Re: "IMO , " Thanks so much for your O. I'm hoping for more Os from those like yourself that have expertise. I'll look seriously at your suggestions.

One thing that I didn't mention in my OP is file security. Another of my reasons to go to Microsoft's cloud storage is that it presumably is more secure. I keep finding empty folders where I know that I stored important information. And I now that I didn't knowingly delete it. Initially I assumed that I must've inadvertently did something that deleted everything from the folder. That doesn't really make sense because I'm looking for a couple of files from the many in the folder. Why would the hack delete everything there?? The only reasonable assumptions are:

• Some jerk accessed the file(s) and deleted material just because he/she can (cyber vandalism)
• I use Duplicate Cleaner Pro a lot to find/delete duplicates from my 10TB or so HDD/SSDs, and I may have pushed too many buttons
• My computer or router caused data loss during one of the many power outages that I experience (unscheduled shut-down/restarts)

I 'm removing the dup cleaner option from my logic because I also typically export findings to an Excel file and have found that previously saved files are no longer present. Of course that still doesn't eliminate the inadvertent delete issue, but it happens too frequent to be a reasonable answer.

Anyway - I digress. My main point is that if I DO as you suggest I may keep local copies of important files in addition to MSFT ...OneDrive... cloud storage. I'm just frustrated because of the lengthy routine of needing to go through the C:\ Users... circus to find files, the duplicate files that I'm creating (forgetting which is most recent) and my suspicious file loss. For those reasons I decided to undergo the painful choice of using the presumably safer OneDrive option.

I really appreciate your comments.

lbeck said:

I decided to undergo the painful choice of using the presumably safer OneDrive option.

Click to expand...

That answers the question as to why you are having such a difficult time.
So are you saying then that your personal folders documents, desktop, pictures, videos now show a default location as being Onedrive? That be so and you intend to stop using Onedrive you first have to get your files back into your user folder on your local drive and there is a proper sequence of events to accomplish that. If you are using OFC 365 its files will default to onedrive unless you specifically save each one to your local drive each time you create a file.

lbeck said:

One thing that I didn't mention in my OP is file security. Another of my reasons to go to Microsoft's cloud storage is that it presumably is more secure.

Click to expand...

It is secure, so much so that there's been a few posts about OneDrive, and a few other cloud types, that no one could access it. I don't travel where I'd need access to files when away, prefer storage on my LAN with a NAS.