My Home Screen shows Desktop items but I can't see the Desktop folder anywhere using Explorer

This resulted following the removal of OneDrive (see OneDrive: Still the elephant in the room.)
As a result of things done then, I have ended up with a Home Screen that displays a number of items - from files to folders, the latter all being the folders from my System drive. All items are "click active". However I can't remove files (file not found) and as for the folders, the one folder on the system drive that I wouldn't be upset if I deleted it along with icon on Home Screen was deleted along with icon!

In short I appear to have lost my Desktop folder and somehow displayed all System folders as icons on the Home Screen. Files on the Home Screen can't be found to dlete and folder icons can be deleted but also delete the actual folders as well as the icon.

With a default installation of Windows the Desktop and other default folders such as Documents, Downloads, Pictures, etc., reside in C:\Users\USERNAMEHERE\, any other reference to those folders such as in Home or Quick Access on the left column in File Explorer are shortcuts to them, can be shown on right-click and Properties of each one. If those folders get moved it could cause issues with programs storing files. The default with browsers saving downloads is usually the Downloads folder but that can be changed in the browsers, e.g. I save a Web page to a folder called....Web Articles. Sometimes a System Restore can make things right.

I think with Onedrive it adds it's own Onedrive folder under C:\Users\Username\ as well. You'll find a Desktop, Documents and Pictures folder here as well. However I'm not sure the normal Desktop folder is affected but in your case it might have been removed?

You can check the location of your Desktop folder in the Registry at
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
The Desktop entry is about halfway down.

As for the deletion problem, do right-click & select Refresh to make sure the problem is not an illusion.

Denis

This is the list of folders in a default install and the logged in User:

OneDrive redirects the folder to itself the same way you can ‘change location’ of pictures/music/etc, you will not see it in the default location afterwards.

it should be %userprofile%\OneDrive\Desktop now

Hi Denis - once more to my rescue! And all others as well of course.
According to Regedit the Desktop content is as below. That is what I see on Explorer for %system%\ and below that on my Home Screen, so I am seeing the Desktop on that. However Home doesn't fully match %system%\. (I tried Refresh but didn't change anything). That semi explains the fact I can't delete files.

Sigurd said:

According to Regedit the Desktop content is as below.

Click to expand...

Ian,

I'm confused by your post.
Exactly what does that Registry Key say is the path to your Desktop folder?

Alternatively, you can enter this command in a Terminal / Powershell prompt
(Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders" -Name "Desktop").Desktop
and it will tell you the path to your Desktop.


Denis

The path you gave led to just %system%\
That in Explorer gave the screen I posted.

You're confused? What do you think I am.

Sorry - %SystemDrive%\

Your Registry reports that your Desktop folder is %SystemDrive%\ ?????
No wonder you have problems.

I suggest you
1 Make a new system image first,
2 Backup all the files you can on the existing Desktop [to a USB or whatever]
3 Browse to C:\Users\%UserName% [by pasting that expression into the File explorer address bar] and create a subfolder called Desktop
4 Then double-click that Registry Key and manually type in / paste in
C:\Users\%UserName%\Desktop
I always regard pasting as safer because it helps avoid typing pistakes.

I'm concerned that some of your other user folder paths might also have been corrupted during OneDrive removal.
I suggest you right-click on that User Shell Folders Registry Key, select Export and export it in .reg format. You can then add .txt to the end to ease handling the file.
Post it here for the entries to be compared to others.
Or compare it to this unadulterated set

This was a brand new user account. Yours is likely to have additional entries at the top {using long GUID names like the one shown 2nd down}.
By the way, %UserProfile% = C:\Users\%UserName%


Denis

Many thanks for that. I suspect that my earlier attempts to remove OneDrive has caused these various problems. Frankly I was considering a clean reinstall, taking the earlier advice regarding avoiding OneDrive being installed in the first place. And then maybe stop playing with Windows and leave well alone!
I'm getting too old for this game!
Anyway I shall look a your suggestion tomorrow and try that first. In the meantime I have to go to the Priory and show someone how to hook a laptop onto a video projector for their lecture!

If
that a clean reinstall is not a bother then it will certainly be a clean & thorough response.
I clean installed my own Windows 11 offline [and created a local account] then uninstalled OneDrive.
Clean Install Windows 11 - includes local account method - ElevenForumTutorials
Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive - ElevenForumTutorials

I made sure that I used a GB-EN ISO to make my installation USB.
I mention that because I noticed your time was UK, Ireland time but I thought you were in the USA.


Best of luck,
Denis

Sigurd said:

Many thanks for that. I suspect that my earlier attempts to remove OneDrive has caused these various problems. Frankly I was considering a clean reinstall, taking the earlier advice regarding avoiding OneDrive being installed in the first place. And then maybe stop playing with Windows and leave well alone!
I'm getting too old for this game!
Anyway I shall look a your suggestion tomorrow and try that first. In the meantime I have to go to the Priory and show someone how to hook a laptop onto a video projector for their lecture!

Click to expand...

The first time I tried to get rid of OneDrive I did it the wrong way and almost lost a bunch of files. The only reason I didn't was because being paranoid I had already copied the affected files somewhere else so could restore them. Things went smoothly when I got rid of OneDrive the right way. Even though I removed OneDrive its folder is still there and has resisted my attempts to delete it. Now I just ignore it.

BTW, I have used a projector for meetings for over ten years. Normally it is a simple matter hook up. Now the biggest problem is audio that has its own problems. Note the place I have these meetings now encourages people to use its 65" TVs for meetings. These use wireless dongles for the TV and laptop. More convenient but not quiet as good as a projector.

Thanks Denis.
A clean re-install gives me a chance to perhaps get rid of some apps or at least consider if I really need them nowadays. Windows, Office 365, and a couple or three graphic apps covers most of my needs now. I don't have many personal settings - in fact can't think of any off hand. All my data are on separate drives so I don't have to worry about that.
NOt sure how I ensure I use a GB-EN ISO to make my installation USB. I suspect I do it without knowing I do!
I think a re-install is the job for next rainy UK Lake District day.

Thanks for your comments MisterEd. Will help with my desire to avoid OneDrive!
We have a good HDMI video projector with built in sound so if the speaker brings a laptop with HDMI connection is simple. If it is VGA I plug in a VGA plug and match box sizes black box that converts the signal. It also has a side cable that plugs in to the laptop headphone socket. The HDMI plugs in to the black box. Very quick and easy to setup with good results.

Sigurd said:

Thanks for your comments MisterEd. Will help with my desire to avoid OneDrive!
We have a good HDMI video projector with built in sound so if the speaker brings a laptop with HDMI connection is simple. If it is VGA I plug in a VGA plug and match box sizes black box that converts the signal. It also has a side cable that plugs in to the laptop headphone socket. The HDMI plugs in to the black box. Very quick and easy to setup with good results.

Click to expand...

Even though our projector normally uses HDMI it also supports VGA. In any case the projector only has a low power audio so that isn't used even for HDMI. I normally connect powered speakers to the laptop which works out quite well. For HDMI I have to make sure whoever has the laptop connected to the projector switches the audio from HDMI to the laptop speakers. Not everyone knows how to do that.

BTW, when I originally bought the projector some people still had VGA. I bought a projector that supported both VGA and HDMI so I wouldn't to worry about what the speaker's laptop had. Our old projector only had VGA. Back then most speakers who had a laptop with HDMI also brought a HDMI to VGA adapter. The problem was that sometimes these adapters weren't very good so they gave problems. For example, one disconnected randomly so the speaker had to try to get it working again.

Sigurd said:

NOt sure how I ensure I use a GB-EN ISO

Click to expand...

Download Windows 11 ISO file - ElevenForumTutorials
In Option 1, for example, Steps 5, 6 explain the procedure for getting a British English ISO.
Create Windows 11 Bootable USB Installation Media - ElevenForumTutorials
Clean Install Windows 11 - includes local account method - ElevenForumTutorials
Uninstall and Reinstall OneDrive - ElevenForumTutorials


Denis

Hi Dennis
I have decided on a clean reinstall - too many oddities to chase down individually.
I'll follow the steps you outline above but one more question (maybe) before I start. What happens about the registration number. I don't have one and don't recall getting one when I first upgraded to Windows 11.

Sigurd said:

What happens about the registration number

Click to expand...

Ian,

Check your activation - Settings, System, Activation.

If it is 'activated with a digital licence' then you will never need any form of Windows product key. Your activation is saved in the MS activation servers.
When you next go online after reinstallation, Windows will quietly check those activation servers, check that the hardware[ motherboard-CPU] is the same and re-activate your Windows without any action on your part at all.
Clean install tutorial - Step 7 ought, to my mind, to mention this. I've just posted that suggestion in the tutorial thread.


Best of luck,
Denis

Just to be on the safe side I would run ShowKeyPlus and save the key to a external drive or write it down before doing the clean install. ShowKeyPlus is in the Microsoft Store. You shouldn't have to enter a key as mentioned but things don't always go as planed.