Profiles

Profile folders in Windows 7

Local profile folders are stored in '%SystemDrive%\Users'. The default visible folders in a new local user profile are:

Contacts: Used by Windows Live Mail
Desktop: Stores items that display on the user's desktop
Downloads: Default storage location for items downloaded from the internet
Favorites: Used to store Internet Explorer favorites
Links: Stores favorites for windows explorers navigation pane
My Documents: Default save location for user. Real name is 'Documents', but display name is configured by entry in hidden file 'Desktop.ini'. To change display name, right-click folder and choose 'Rename'.
My Music: Default save location for ripped/downloaded/transferred music files
My Pictures: Default save location for transfered image files
My Videos: Default save location for ripped/downloaded/transfered video files
Saved Games: Default save location for game data
Searches: Stores search specifications

This hidden folder contains configuration and customisation data for various applications and is organised into three subfolders:

Local: For data that should not be part of a roaming profile, such as Internet explorer history, temporary internet files and temporary data created by applications
LocalLow: Only used for Internet Explorer protected mode data
Roaming: Contains data that is made available for a roaming profile, such as cookies, library definitions, network shortcuts, recent items list, sendto links, start menu items and templates