Introduced back in 1996 in Windows 95^{(1 Wiki)} the concept was simple, a standardized place for all user created files. In an effort to tidy up the desktop and separate program files, operating system files, and user files; a place called My Documents was formed. I’ll be honest I’m not much of a Mac or Linux guy so this rant, if you will, shall stay focused on my main flaw with Windows. This is a flaw that has become ever more prominent over the last few years as an unfortunate trend begins to catch on. No longer are users able to call My Documents their home for their photos, music, videos, and anything else they so choose. No, these days everyone is attacked by programs and games forcing their files where ours should be.

Let’s break down PC game files these days into three main categories. You have your core game files which are rather set in stone. You have your configuration files, for controls and video/audio settings. Then we have our saved game files. The majority of people don’t need to touch their core game files and so they remain tucked away in Program Files somewhere so no one can accidentally tamper with them which is good. However, often people need to copy their saved games and sometimes their configuration files to transfer to a new computer or to not lose them during a reformat. We’ve now hit a grey area. I suppose you could say these are now user files couldn’t you?

Game developers have reached this conclusion as well over the past few years and as such game configs and saves are starting to be kept in our precious My Documents folder. Well that’s a good thing right? Maybe if this was taken into account back in say…the early 2000 era then sure. However, Windows wasn’t designed for that and thus developers have been storing our saved games there for a while in an unpredictable fashion. There’s no standard for how programs should store files in My Documents.

Clutter is becoming a heavy burden emerging from programs throwing files into My Documents at will. Software company XYZ produces game ABC and suddenly you have My Documents/XYZ/ABC. This doesn’t seem like a big deal until you realize tons of programs are doing it. Then you realize you can’t remove these folders without breaking your games. It wasn’t until Windows Vista that an official Saved Games folder was created within My Documents, unfortunately this has come too late and thus very few developers utilize it.

So what? You’re not really into games anyways right? Too bad Software Company #2 also creates some of your favorite programs such as Google Picasa or even Apple iTunes. Those are some pretty big names I’d say and even they are responsible for increasing My Documents clutter. Vista’s new Saved Games folder doesn’t exactly help for non-games intruding on our personal space either.

Before long you begin looking for your files and you aren’t able to find them as easily past XYZ and ABC folders littered throughout the place on your computer that should be yours. Programs forcing clutter make me ask the question: where are MY documents?

So what’s the solution then? I’ve taken a drastic approach and I’ve officially dumped My Documents all together. I’ve created a space I can call my own to feel confident no programs know that my space even exists. I maintain my own pictures, videos, music, and more without any program or game hindrance and I must say; backups and reformats are so much easier. Personally I keep my documents on a separate hard drive which I never need to reformat and remains totally detached from Windows. It’s a drastic solution, yet I feel it’s the best one.

I cry to developers, software programmers, and video game designers to think about what you’re doing. I truly believe that My Documents clutter is a large reason for why people need to reformat so often. You stumble around My Documents for a while trying to find what should be right where you left it slowing you down and this makes your whole experience seem slower.

Users having to delve into Program Files to find their saved games and configuration files is a small price to pay for enhancing everyone’s experience as a whole. Don’t store useless junk in our documents, keep it where it belongs. Saving our settings in our personal space may seem like you’re helping to bridge the gap between system files and user files but you’re only making things worse. Keep our folders clean, I want back MY documents.
Citation:
Wikipedia, Windows 95 release date