title: How to set default working directory in Emacs - troubleshooting
body: <p>I know this has been posted many times, but the solutions are not working for me. I've tried the following solutions from this post (<a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/60464/changing-the-default-folder-in-emacs">Changing the default folder in Emacs</a>):</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Solution 1: Add <code>(cd "C:/Users/Name/Desktop")</code> to the <code>.emacs</code> file</li>
  <li>Solution 2: Add <code>(setq default-directory "C:/Documents and Settings/USER NAME/Desktop/" )</code> to the <code>.emacs</code> file</li>
  <li>Solution 3: Right click the emacs short cut, hit properties and change the start in field to the desired directory.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>and only solution 3 is working. Unfortunately, I need to use either solution 1 or 2.</p>
  
  <p>I believe that my <code>.emacs</code> file is correct, because my theme is being correctly loaded/unloaded when I add/remove <code>(load-theme 'light-blue t)</code> from the <code>.emacs</code> file.</p>
  
  <p>Here is my MOST RECENT <code>.emacs</code> file:</p>
  
  <pre class="lang-lisp prettyprint-override"><code>(message "Default Dir: %S" default-directory)
  (setq-default default-directory "C:/Users/Lucas/")
  (message "Default Dir: %S" default-directory)
  (setq-default indent-tabs-mode nil)
  (add-hook 'ruby-mode-hook
        (lambda ()
          (define-key ruby-mode-map "\C-c#" 'comment-or-uncomment-region)
          )
   )  
  (defadvice comment-or-uncomment-region (before slick-comment activate compile)
    "When called interactively with no active region, comment a single line instead."
    (interactive
     (if mark-active (list (region-beginning) (region-end))
       (list (line-beginning-position)
         (line-beginning-position 2)))))
  (load-theme 'light-blue t)
  ;setq default-directory "~/")
  (setq-default default-directory "C:/Users/Lucas/")
  
  (defun xp-read-file-name (prompt &amp;optional dir default-filename mustmatch initial predicate)
  (setq last-nonmenu-event nil)
    (funcall (or read-file-name-function #'read-file-name-default)
             prompt dir default-filename mustmatch initial predicate))
  
  (defun xp-save-as (filename &amp;optional confirm)
    (interactive
     (list (if buffer-file-name
         (xp-read-file-name "Write file: " nil nil nil nil)
       (xp-read-file-name "Write file: " "C:/Users/Lucas/"
           (expand-file-name
            (file-name-nondirectory (buffer-name))
            "C:/Users/Lucas/")
           nil nil))
     (not current-prefix-arg)))
    (or (null filename) (string-equal filename "")
        (progn
    (if (file-directory-p filename)
        (setq filename (concat (file-name-as-directory filename)
             (file-name-nondirectory
              (or buffer-file-name (buffer-name))))))
    (and confirm
         (file-exists-p filename)
         (not (and (eq (framep-on-display) 'ns)
             (listp last-nonmenu-event)
             use-dialog-box))
         (or (y-or-n-p (format "File `%s' exists; overwrite? " filename))
       (error "Canceled")))
    (set-visited-file-name filename (not confirm))))
    (set-buffer-modified-p t)
    (and buffer-file-name
         (file-writable-p buffer-file-name)
         (setq buffer-read-only nil))
    (save-buffer)
    (vc-find-file-hook))
  (defun comment-or-uncomment-region-or-line ()
      "Comments or uncomments the region or the current line if there's no active region."
      (interactive)
      (let (beg end)
          (if (region-active-p)
              (setq beg (region-beginning) end (region-end))
              (setq beg (line-beginning-position) end (line-end-position)))
          (comment-or-uncomment-region beg end)
          (next-line)))
  (global-set-key (kbd "C-x C-;") 'comment-region)
  (setq lazy-highlight-cleanup nil)
  (message "Default Dir: %S" default-directory)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>My <code>emacs.exe</code> is saved under <code>C:\emacs\emacs-24.3\bin</code> (which is also my default directory, but I want to change it to <code>C:/Users/Lucas/</code>), and my <code>.emacs</code> is under my home - <code>C:\Users\Lucas</code>. </p>
  
  <p><strong>UPDATE</strong></p>
  
  <p>I RECENTLY found out that my command <code>(setq-default default-directory "C:/Users/Lucas/")</code>, which should set my <code>default-directory</code>, is not performing. Immediately after startup, this is my <code>*Messages*</code> buffer:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Default Dir: "C:\\emacs\\emacs-24.3\\bin/" [3 times]
  For information about GNU Emacs and the GNU system, type C-h C-a.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>It behaves as if I am overriding the <code>.emacs</code> file. I double/triple checked, and I cannot find another <code>.emacs</code> in my path. Also, I am not running Emacs from a shortcut. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks for all of the support.</p>