Windows 7 / Getting Started

Working with Libraries

Users can include additional folders or remove existing ones from each of the default libraries. These new library locations can either be local folders on the computer or shared folders on other computers on the network.

For a folder to be included in a library, it must already be indexed or be available for indexing by the Windows Search service. If a folder on the local system is not yet indexed, including the folder in the library automatically causes the folder to be indexed.

Locations can be indexed in two ways:

  • By indexing the location using the Windows Search service on the local system Automatically including a local folder in a library causes the folder to be added to the local indexer scope. If a folder is stored remotely and is not indexed on the remote system, making the folder available for offline use adds the location to the local indexer scope. For more information, see the section titled "Adding Nonindexed Remote Locations to a Library" later in this tutorial.
  • By federating from the local indexer to files indexed on a remote system The remote system must have the Windows Search service installed and running on it and must be one of the following platforms:
    • Windows 7, with additional features installed
    • Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) or later, with no additional features installed
    • Windows Server 2008 R2, with the File Services role and the File Server and Windows Search Service role services added
    • Windows Server 2008, with the File Services role and the File Server and Windows Search Service role services added
    • Windows XP SP2 or later, with Windows Search 4.0 installed
    • Windows Server 2003 SP2 or later, with Windows Search 4.0 installed

Table below summarizes the types of locations that are supported and not supported for inclusion in libraries in which full library functionality is enabled.

Supported and Unsupported Library Locations

Supported LocationsUnsupported Locations
Fixed local volumes (NTFS or FAT)Removable drives and media such as DVDs
Remote shared folders that are indexed or that are available for offline use either manually or through Folder RedirectionRemote network shares that are not indexed and that are not available for offline use
Other data sources such as Windows SharePoint sites, Microsoft Exchange Server, Windows Live SkyDrive, and so on
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In this tutorial:

  1. Managing Users and User Data
  2. Understanding User Profiles in Windows 7
  3. Types of User Profiles
  4. User Profile Namespace
  5. User Profile Namespace in Windows XP
  6. User Profile Namespace in Windows Vista and Windows 7
  7. Application Compatibility Issue
  8. Disabling Known Folders
  9. Windows 7 Understanding Libraries
  10. Working with Libraries
  11. Including Indexed Folders in a Library
  12. Adding Nonindexed Remote Locations to a Library
  13. Creating Additional Libraries
  14. Managing Libraries
  15. Implementing Corporate Roaming
  16. Understanding Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection
  17. Understanding Roaming User Profiles in Earlier Versions of Windows
  18. Understanding Folder Redirection in Earlier Versions of Windows
  19. Enhancements to Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection Previously Introduced in Windows Vista
  20. Additional Enhancements to Roaming User Profiles and Folder Redirection Introduced in Windows 7
  21. Improved First Logon Performance With Folder Redirection
  22. Implementing Folder Redirection
  23. Configuring the Redirection Method
  24. Configuring Target Folder Location
  25. Configuring Redirection Options
  26. Configuring Policy Removal Options
  27. Folder Redirection and Sync Center
  28. Considerations for Mixed Environments
  29. Additional Group Policy Settings for Folder Redirection
  30. Troubleshooting Folder Redirection
  31. Implementing Roaming User Profiles
  32. Creating a Default Network Profile
  33. Configuring a User Account to Use a Roaming Profile
  34. Implementing Mandatory Profiles
  35. Implementing Super-Mandatory Profiles
  36. Managing User Profiles Using Group Policy
  37. Working with Offline Files
  38. Enhancements to Offline Files Introduced Previously in Windows Vista
  39. Additional Enhancements to Offline Files Introduced in Windows 7
  40. Understanding Offline File Sync
  41. Modes of Operation in Offline Files
  42. Managing Offline Files
  43. Managing Offline Files Using Windows Explorer
  44. Managing Offline Files Using the Offline Files Control Panel
  45. Managing Offline Files Using Sync Center
  46. Configuring Offline Files on the Server
  47. Managing Offline Files Using Group Policy
  48. Offline Files Policy Settings Introduced in Windows Vista
  49. Additional Offline Files Policy Settings for Windows 7