I sorted out my downloads folders, deleting lots and combining folders 1 and 2 to become My Downloads 1, and combining 3 and 4 to become My Downloads 2. Previously the folder in use for downloads was My Downloads 4, ie I have deleted 3 and 4.

I hope you are still with me ............ However, whenever I am downloading now, despite having changed the destination folder for downloads from 4 to 2, downloads keep appearing in a recreated Downloads 4 folder. How do I get my computer to forget folder 4 and use 2 for downloads? Many thanks.

Since you are a Firefox user, try specifying the destination folder in the Downloads section of: Tools > Options. Perhaps choosing the destination for each each downloaded file would be the right option for you.

When I check on the destination folder in Firefox it is definitely now My Downloads 2, so why 4 keeps on being recreated is a mystery. Perhaps I shall have to get it ask each time as you suggest, in fact it looks like the only solution at the moment. Many thanks.

Computers are perverse items sometimes. When you want them to remember something they won't ...and when you want them to forget something they won't do that either!

I suppose if you really want to sort this problem out then deleting the Firefox Profiles folder might do it. A new Profiles folder would be created the next time you start Firefox. There's a file called 'downloads.rdf' in the Profiles folder. It might be a good bet that this is where download preferences are stored.

If you decide to create a new Profiles folder first back up;

* userChrome.css (in the 'chrome' sub-folder).
* bookmarks.html.
* user.js (if you have it).

Then just put them back into the newly created Profiles folder. Any installed extensions would also need reinstalling from the Firefox site.

It sounds a bit drastic and daunting but would only take about 15 minutes (perhaps 30 minutes when you're on a learning curve).