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warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
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Author:  yereverluvinuncleber [ January 18th, 2014, 10:43 am ]
Post subject:  warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
I have just had a profile corruption on Windows and managed to resolve the corruption just by creating a new profile then removing files/folders from the corrupt profile, logging back into the corrupt profile, then restoring the old files from the backup that Windows makes when it finds a corrupt profile.

One thing I did notice was that the xwidget folder in the corrupted profile and within the backup was present in all its folder structure but there were no files anywhere in the widgets nor packages folder - all gone.

Of course, I have backups of the code elsewhere in other folders but it made me realise how fragile the Windows folder structure under "my documents" actually is. Some poking around on t'net shows me that many others have experienced the same thing. Folder structures intact but no files underneath seems to be a recurring theme.

So, this just is a reminder or a thing to note: On Windows do NOT store the original versions of your widgets in the Xwidgets folder beneath "My Documents" as they are liable to go missing if your Windows profile is corrupted.

In fact, it is wise not to store any files beneath your profile regardless of what Microdolts might suggest. "My Documents is a dangerous place to store big files as they can corrupt your profile, nor it is it a place to store large numbers of files which can cause the same problem. I admit I do use the desktop but ensure that only shortcuts are placed there, no documents nor programs.

Hope this is helpful.
Author:  hamid [ January 19th, 2014, 6:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
which version of windows are you using?
do you know that original folder for my document is:
Documents and Settings\[yourprofilename]\Documents\

i don't have the installation version to tell you exactly, but in other posts they also mentioned about [Application Data] folder,
so try these folders too:
[Documents and Settings\[yourprofilename]\Application Data\]
[Documents and Settings\[yourprofilename]\Local Settings\Application Data\]
[ProgramData\]


and about system restore:
try to not use it until it is your last chance to do that
i had lost some files before with it, maybe your problem is with this
but i think there is a option to undo last recovery,
if you recovered your profile with it, try to undo it, maybe this can get them back.
Author:  digigamer [ January 25th, 2014, 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
Microshaft says that your documents and files are not affected by system restore. But it is simply untrue. To keep your backups, simply use the the included backup tool and back up your data to a removable drive or a cloud share if possible.
Author:  yereverluvinuncleber [ April 6th, 2014, 5:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
The thing is to remind anyone that any storage under the desktop and in "my documents" can be affected by the loss or corruption of a windows profile regardless of the windows version. Do not trust it. Store your documents source, images &c elsewhere - and as digigamer says - back everything up!

I lost nothing as I back everything up but the loss of a Windows profile and the resulting data loss was a wake-up call to me and as a result I will no longer trust these pathetic Windows internal storage structures that be damaged so easily. I simply store ALL data outside of the windows profile.

For further information type "corrupt profile causes data loss" or similar into oogle with a G and see what it returns for your Windows o/s.
Author:  digigamer [ April 8th, 2014, 7:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
Windows cant be trusted... Loving my droid and Arch Linux!!
Author:  yereverluvinuncleber [ April 8th, 2014, 2:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
I'd agree.
Author:  kabott1 [ May 22nd, 2014, 8:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
You are so right, i might be one of those whom have learned it the hard way.. since then i've become obsessed with backups, and backups of backups..i have 3 backups of everything! lol

Ive change my desktop path to a folder in my "D" drive, so in case windows dies on me i have all the stuff from "my desktop" safe in my "D" drive.. of which i regularly run a backup ..:)
i try not to use standard installation software, i rather use Portable versions located someware else than the C drive, trying to let the "C" virtually "intact"


anyways, rainmeter allows you to change your default skins destination folder simply by editing its path from an ".ini" file, how does this gets done with Xwidget?
i checked the "Options" menu but nothing there, there is a backup/restore option but i rather change where the skins get stored and then back that entire drive up.

is it possible?

thanks
Author:  Jimking [ May 22nd, 2014, 9:39 am ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
All the widgets are saved ONLY in My Documents->xwidget->Widgets folder.
The "ini" file that use Rainmeter to change the default destination is useless. XWidget make the things simple and functional.
1) Has the Backup function and 2) You can use the "package" function of the Designer to backup any widget (or just make a backup of the "Widgets" folder).
Author:  kabott1 [ May 22nd, 2014, 11:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
jimking wrote:
All the widgets are saved ONLY in My Documents->xwidget->Widgets folder.
The "ini" file that use Rainmeter to change the default destination is useless. XWidget make the things simple and functional.
1) Has the Backup function and 2) You can use the "package" function of the Designer to backup any widget (or just make a backup of the "Widgets" folder).



Or you could just change the default widgets destination folder directly to your "backup" drive, no need to get emotional my friend, if we r talking about windows fragile architecture, i don't see why having a "change default destination folder" is a step backwards...

I mean, if you have to run a windows restore point you will loose any change since, then, if you where lucky enough, and just did a backup that same day and copied that same backup to an other drive, you may then load it and have it back, but that has low probability of occurrence..

In my experience, Windows timing couldn't be worse when comes to "Fatal Errors"..sometimes only takes a simple power cut and bye bye Windows..

So having your -up to the second- data stored elsewhere than your C drive gives you peace of mind, at least, i find it does to me..my C drive can fry up, i don't care, i have all my data, all my programs and my user interface elsewhere..

If for some reason i have to format and re-install Windows, the process of having everything configured back takes less than an hour.

I think this choice needs to be truly considered, that's all, don't get mad dude! :D
Author:  hamid [ May 22nd, 2014, 11:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
kabott1 wrote:
i try not to use standard installation software, i rather use Portable versions located someware else than the C drive, trying to let the "C" virtually "intact"

anyways, rainmeter allows you to change your default skins destination folder simply by editing its path from an ".ini" file, how does this gets done with Xwidget?

if you use portable version of xwidget, it will save all the data in the xwidget folder (in the place where you unzip the file)



kabott1 wrote:
i checked the "Options" menu but nothing there, there is a backup/restore option but i rather change where the skins get stored and then back that entire drive up.

since xwidget make backups on exit of xwidget program, i recommend you to make a backup frequently or on any change to your xwidget's theme
most of the time i don't turn off my computer for some days or maybe weeks, so my backups will get so old and i will lose most of the changes if something happens between that period
i hope there will be added an option to backup also on changes, so we don't lose anything between shutdowns


also another thing that i experienced is:
when no free space available in the drive, if you edit a widget in designer it doesn't notify of this but instead it will save an empty file, so you will lose whole the widget
so be careful about it
Author:  meme [ May 22nd, 2014, 1:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
Quote:
so my backups will get so old and i will lose most of the changes

What about making a backup widget :?:
Stores source paths and designation paths and on a set time period automatically copies.

My backup approach
I use the portable version but data is stored in My Documents folder, everything on my computer that needs backing up is in My Documents folder.
My Documents folder is automatically backed up on the same drive as well as to a different physical drive, and occasional to an external drive.
Author:  kabott1 [ May 22nd, 2014, 4:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
hamid wrote:
if you use portable version of xwidget, it will save all the data in the xwidget folder (in the place where you unzip the file)


That's what im talking about, didnt knew there was a portable version available, great!

hamid wrote:
also another thing that i experienced is:
when no free space available in the drive, if you edit a widget in designer it doesn't notify of this but instead it will save an empty file, so you will lose whole the widget
so be careful about it


Good to know.

meme wrote:
I use the portable version but data is stored in My Documents folder


So the portable version also saves data to "My Documents"?

dayum...that's weird isn't it?, gonna download it see what happen
Author:  kabott1 [ May 22nd, 2014, 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
meme wrote:
Quote:
so my backups will get so old and i will lose most of the changes

What about making a backup widget :?:
Stores source paths and designation paths and on a set time period automatically copies.

My backup approach
I use the portable version but data is stored in My Documents folder, everything on my computer that needs backing up is in My Documents folder.
My Documents folder is automatically backed up on the same drive as well as to a different physical drive, and occasional to an external drive.




Meme, i just downloaded the portable version, decompressed and moved the folder to my D drive, all widgets are in there "xwidget\AppData\Widgets" nothing gets created in "My Documents" i tested it just in case, i created a widget and immediately the new folder appeared in "xwidget\AppData\Widgets" folder, then i created a package and it also appeared there (xwidget\AppData\Packaged)

pffiuu u got me worried for a bit :)

anyways, i think this essentially solves the issue :D
Author:  meme [ May 22nd, 2014, 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
I should of added I had previously used the installed version and now use the portable version

Can anyone tell me where the path to the widgets and backup folders are configured ?
Is it a user option to change ? If not should it be ?
Author:  hamid [ May 22nd, 2014, 5:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
meme wrote:
I should of added I had previously used the installed version and now use the portable version

Can anyone tell me where the path to the widgets and backup folders are configured ?
Is it a user option to change ? If not should it be ?

i have never installed installer version, so i don't know anything about it

but for portable version:
all user data of xwidget will be placed in xwidget's main folder, inside it, there is a folder named AppData (Xwidget\AppData)


i think you just need to copy Xwidget's content from [My Documents] to this folder: [AppData]
Author:  meme [ May 22nd, 2014, 6:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
Quote:
but for portable version:
all user data of xwidget will be placed in xwidget's main folder, inside it, there is a folder named AppData (Xwidget\AppData)
not with mine
Quote:
i think you just need to copy Xwidget's content from [My Documents] to this folder: [AppData]

Thank you hamid, but I don't have a problem with it as it is, it works in either location mydocs or the install folder.
I am trying to find out why by the question
Quote:
Can anyone tell me where the path to the widgets and backup folders are configured ?
Is it a user option to change ? If not should it be ?
Author:  kabott1 [ May 22nd, 2014, 8:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
meme, this is a dumb question but, have you uninstalled the older full version xwidgets? if not i recommend using Revo Uninstaller, it will clean everything - Xwidget - related to the registry (portable version available as well), then try running your portable Xwidget. maybe there is a conflict? dunno..
Author:  meme [ May 22nd, 2014, 8:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: warning about the xwidgets folder in "my documents"
Quote:
it will clean everything - Xwidget - related to the registry
Yes it was uninstalled and there is no reference to the path in the registry.
Try moving your "widgets" folder from the installed location to your my docs folder and see if they still work....... as I said mine work in either location

So my question was, can anyone tell me where the path to the widgets and backup folders are configured ?
Most other programs would have this path as a user option...

Also, I prefer it the way it is in the my doc folder, so when my docs folder is backed up all my docs and widgets are done at once.
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