Duplicate folders safe to delete?

[RKC]

Tidying up some stuff before backing up and I noticed that there are some folders that are almost duplicated, I say almost because there are a few extra items in the Libraries folders.

Libraries = Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos

User name = My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, My Videos

It would appear to me that what is under the folders starting "MY" is duplicated in the Libraries folders.

So my questions are
1. Does that mean for example all my pictures are taking up double the amount of storage space?
2. If the above is true could I delete everything in the "MY" folders and save straight to the Libraries folders?

I have always saved to "MY" so the system appears to put a copy in the Libraries :shrug:

 

[Mikesphotaes]

I think the libraries just show the location of your folders and files ie. they are not duplicate folders.

 

[neil_g]

I think the libraries just show the location of your folders and files ie. they are not duplicate folders.

yeah this.

so my libraries->documents is actually C:\Users\neil_g\Documents for example.

 

[arad85]

The My... are really there for legacy apps and are what are technically known as junction points (symbolic links on a *nix system). See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NTFS_junction_point if you want a more technical explanation.

 

[RKC]

Thank you for the replies, now know what the libraries are for so shall leave alone and concentrate on "MY" folders