First thing I install on a windows puter is “Everything” app by Voidtools. I don’t know how windows users can find anything at all without it. It’s a must.
How do you save stuff without knowing where you’re saving it? Genuinely curious, as I really don’t understand what this meme is referring to. Windows search has also become better over the years, and recently it’s been good enough for my uses. “Everything” is still a handy tool though.
Almost all software that I use, ask about the target location and/or filename when you save it. There’s also some software with default saving location, but it’s usually quite easy to find out from i.e. settings or some other part of the interface.
Also - saving stuff to unknown folders is related to the software not being clear about the target folder, I don’t really know why people would blame Windows for the software being unclear. Unless we’re talking about something specific to Windows which I’m just not familiar with. :D
Once upon a time windows had absolute pathing. When you saved, it went in the directory you were in out where you told it.
Some time ago windows went to path relative to user. So now when you save to ‘desktop’ it could be one of several desktop folders. Windows tries to hide this by mapping ‘desktop’ to your user relative desktop, but it does this at the application level rather than in the base O/S. (Or, it does it on extended file system APIs). Some apps handle it, some apps don’t. If you have multiple users on a PC, it’s a mess.
It gets further complicated by things like OneDrive. My mom was surprised a few weeks ago by how much stuff was being saved to the cloud instead of in a local folder, because Windows doesn’t make it particularly obvious when one is in the local Documents, or the OneDrive Documents
My second install after Firefox. Did you know there is a beta version with dark mode? https://www.voidtools.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9787
I feel this way about iOS.
Mobile in general. At one point, I tried setting up Syncthing to be able to manage files remotely for vlc, but android wouldn’t let the two programs access the same space with read/write permissions.
Last week, I was trying to convert a video and the program(FFShare) wouldn’t tell me where it was even saving the file to.
I have limited experience of Android. I appreciate this as it gives me a heads up for my work phone.
I think it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. I have a Samsung because it’s what my carrier sent me when my other phone died under warranty. I heard those are worse for things like this. At least most of my troubleshooting seemed to hit wall because of that. I intend to get a GrapheneOS compatible phone next.
I don’t understand. On Android I can just open the file manager and “last downloaded object” is at the top of the list no matter where it went, letting me “open file location”
It’s a thing on my Fold and I know it was a thing on my Pixel 2 and 3 as well. Maybe just these 2 brands?
The one that bugs me is that they don’t have a “Home” link by default on the explorer sidebar. When I first install windows I add it, but when I have to help someone else for some reason and have to go to the home directory the easiest way to do it is to go through “This PC”>C:>Users>[Name] then try to find what they are looking for. Why not just open that location at default instead of the nebulous “everything you’ve ever used or interacted with”? Half the time it’s full of garbage or one off files they have no interest in reviewing but are too afraid to delete.
Better yet, why not auto sort web downloads based on file extensions to their relevant home folder? I had that setup on a Linux box for a minute and I legit miss it.
The thing that bugs me is how the sidebar is basically gimped by default. A couple tick boxes in the Folder Options and it will always open to the folder you’re in, then you can jump through the tree of folders without just going up and down branches. They simplify it so much that it becomes less practical.
They simplify it so much it becomes less practical.
Yeah. My habit and instinct as someone who understands file trees is to open somewhere like Downloads then use the go up one directory button to home, but windows doesn’t want to do that, it basically acts as a back button in that instance and dumps you back to the recents window.
I feel like I’ll never have the perfect setup because I’m too opinionated to want to deal with windows, and have too many niche games and software that were coded like shit to run well in wine or proton (like Kingdom Hearts 1+2 on PC that switches renderer for video cutscenes and break the compatibility layer. Who wants to play a Disney JRPG without the cutscenes and videos?).
How does everyone sort their files anyway? I remember a few years ago it used to be really easy to find the newest Download file but now it seems like for no rhyme or reason some files go to the bottom of my folder (but not the VERY bottom!) and I’m stuck there sucking my thumb wondering if I actually downloaded it or not. I try setting it to “last updated/last modified” but that makes it just as confusing with different file extensions.
I keep a place for everything, and everything in its place. My download folder is cleaned regularly, usually right when I download the file I move it to it’s appropriate place. Sometimes it still fills up with old installers or what have you, if it is a hard to get installer like for old devices, old games, or niche hardware I store it in a safe place on my encrypted cloud, otherwise if it is new software or frequently updated I just delete it after I’m done.
dont need to worry just ask the NSA where your files are
Microsoft Outlook puts attachments that you open in some insane temporary folder. That’s fine for viewing a file but god forbid you save without changing the full path.
Also it deletes calendar invites once accepted. People put other stuff in those emails! Like meeting links and stuff. Why would you delete that???
