Whenever you open or save a file, Windows prompts a predefined dialog. On the left hand-side, the so called Places Bar shows 5 places on your computer. By default, these included places like recently viewed places, your libraries.
If these places are not the ones you need, change them simply within a hidden Windows menu - no need to change the registry or to download a program.
How to change the Windows File Open Dialog
- Open the Windows Control Panel
- Type "Group policy" into the search bar (alt: Go to Windows 8 Start screen and use the default Windows search, you will also find it under preferences)
- Select User Configuration
- Select Administrative Templates
- Select Windows Components
- Select Windows Explorer (May be: File Explorer)
- Select Common Open File Dialog
- Open Items Displayed In Places Bar policy
- Check Enabled
- Fill the 5 input fields with the places/folders you desire
- Click OK and check if everything works
You may fill the input fields with values like these:
- C:\
- D:\
- D:\Downloads
- FTP locations (full path including username and password)
- Network locations
- Shell locations like Favorites or My Computer (read on)
If you need special folders like My Computer, read more about the shell folders.
Use shell folders
If you need folders like My Computer, Favorites or other automatically generated folders, you are looking for Shell folders.
Common Places FS Folder Shell:::{d34a6ca6-62c2-4c34-8a7c-14709c1ad938}
Computer Shell:::{20d04fe0-3aea-1069-a2d8-08002b30309d}
Favorites Shell:::{323CA680-C24D-4099-B94D-446DD2D7249E}
Libraries Shell:::{031E4825-7B94-4dc3-B131-E946B44C8DD5}
Network (WorkGroup) Shell:::{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
Programs Folder Shell:::{7be9d83c-a729-4d97-b5a7-1b7313c39e0a}
Programs Folder and Fast Items Shell:::{865e5e76-ad83-4dca-a109-50dc2113ce9a}
Public Folder Shell:::{4336a54d-038b-4685-ab02-99bb52d3fb8b}
Recent Places Shell:::{22877a6d-37a1-461a-91b0-dbda5aaebc99}
Recycle Bin Shell:::{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
User Folder Shell:::{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5-5595fe6b30ee}
User Pinned Shell:::{1f3427c8-5c10-4210-aa03-2ee45287d668}Just fill in the desired Shell location and it will appear in your Places Bar. Enjoy your new productivity by getting quicker to places you actually need.