Relocated Downloads folder by mistake

You would use Method 1.

start to finish for Music folder- condensed from tutorial to make it easy to follow

Navigate to your storage drive. Create a folder named Music

Navigate to C:\users\yourusername - RIGHT click on its 'Music' folder, select properties.
Click location tab
Click Move button
Click the Select Folder button.
In the explorer window that pops up, browse to the secondary drive and select the Music folder you created there.
Click Select Folder, Click Move. Click Ok

You'll see a prompt asking whether you want to move files from the old location to new location. Select YES

Now when you go to C:\users\yourusername - the properties of the Music folder will show D:\Music

Repeat this process for any other user folder you want to move to your secondary drive.

Interesting, thank you.

So, I first need to create a Music folder on drive D BEFORE I move anything, correct? Will this actually move the entire Music folder to drive D, or will it just direct the files for the Music folder to drive D?

Other users of this computer will need to do the same thing for the same result, correct?

In my previous post, what is the purpose of Method 2?

The two methods look similar but behave very differently under the hood. Let’s break it down clearly:

Moving User Folders (Documents, Downloads, Music, etc.)​

• Method: Right‑click the folder (e.g., Downloads), go to Properties → Location tab → Move.
• Effect:
  • Changes the actual system path for that special folder (known as a Known Folder in Windows).
  • Example: C:\Users\L\Downloads becomes D:\Downloads.
  • Any program that queries the system for “Downloads” will now be redirected to the new drive.
  • Existing files can be migrated automatically during the move.
• Scope:
  • Applies per user account. Each user must move their own folders if desired.
• Best for:
  • Keeping large personal data off the system drive while maintaining seamless integration (apps still “see” the folder as normal).
  • Long‑term reliability, since Windows recognizes the new location as canonical.

Changing Default Save Locations (Storage Sense / Settings → System → Storage → Advanced storage settings → Where new content is saved)​

• Method: In Settings, choose where new documents, music, pictures, or apps should be saved by default.
• Effect:
  • Does not move existing folders or files.
  • Simply changes the default target drive for new saves.
  • Example: New documents will default to D:\Users\Public\Documents (or a similar path), but the original C:\Users\L\Documents still exists.
• Scope:
  • System‑wide default for new content, but individual apps may override it.
• Best for:
  • Directing new files to a secondary drive without restructuring existing user folders.
  • Quick setup for new PCs with multiple drives.

Key Differences​

In short:

• Move user folders if you want Windows and all apps to treat the new drive as the true location.
• Change default save locations if you just want new files to land on another drive, but don’t care about existing folders staying on C:.

Thank you again. When I use the word ‘folders’ below, I’m referring to Downloads/Documents/Pictures/Music/Video.

I made these discoveries over the weekend:

1. The store which repaired our WIN11 computer said drive C was wiped clean with the new install of WIN11. Apparently not. After having created new accounts for both my son and I, we were surprised to find that his account still contained old download and video files on drive C.

2. I was also surprised to find that folders already existed on my account on drive D, as shown in the screen shots below.

The same folders also show up above them in what I believe is the Quick Access portion of File Explorer with pin icons after them, even though that section isn’t labeled Quick Access, and they’re all assigned to drive C. I never used Quick Access on my Win10 computer.

Background note: Prior to logging onto Eleven Forum, while attempting to load an older version of Photoshop Elements from disk onto this WIN11 computer using compatibility mode, the computer locked up in a self-repair mode loop, so I returned it to the store where it was purchased. Their tech department diagnosed it and said that C drive would need to be wiped clean with a fresh install of WIN11. They saved the existing data to a portable drive which we haven’t opened yet.

I'm totally confused. Without knowing the location of each of the pinned folders in file explorer and the location of the default user folders in C:\users\yourusername, I have absolutely no way of knowing if the repair shop pinned the folders from D: or pinned them from your user account.
See the PM I sent you.

glasskuter,

Your instructions shown again below, when followed to the letter, solved the issue for me. Everything is easy once you know how

Thanks again for your time and patience. Neither my WIN11 computer nor I will forget. Betty Boop rules!



You would use Method 1.

start to finish for Music folder- condensed from tutorial to make it easy to follow

Navigate to your storage drive. Create a folder named Music

Navigate to C:\users\yourusername - RIGHT click on its 'Music' folder, select properties.
Click location tab
Click Move button
Click the Select Folder button.
In the explorer window that pops up, browse to the secondary drive and select the Music folder you created there.
Click Select Folder, Click Move. Click Ok

You'll see a prompt asking whether you want to move files from the old location to new location. Select YES

Now when you go to C:\users\yourusername - the properties of the Music folder will show D:\Music

Repeat this process for any other user folder you want to move to your secondary drive.

Greetings again,

I probably won’t be asking many questions for a while as our WIN11 PC bit the dust. It was seemingly running just fine until I attempted to load Photoshop Elements 2022 into it which resulted in a BSOD, although it seemingly returned to functionality. I then deleted the program and thought that might be the end of it. I had loaded Macrium software but didn’t have time to learn how to use it before our son came home and attempted to download Steam which immediately resulted in multiple BSOD’s and self-repair mode.

I ran all three DCIM’s: /Checkhealth, /Scanhealth, and /Restorehealth which all completed successfully. Next, I ran the System File Checker which found corrupt files and successfully repaired them (or so it said). I restarted the computer, and everything seemed to run well with me as a user, however as soon as we switched to our son as a user we received BCOD’s & self-repair messages again. Finally, after many attempts to solve this the computer just went blank, not even a BCOD, just a small loading circle perpetually running all by itself on a gray screen without loading the OS.

BTW, our son had used Steam and played many games successfully on this computer for over a year before I encountered the first BCOD while attempting to load an older program in compatibility mode, so Steam isn’t the culprit.

Now we’re dead in the water over the weekend and depending on operating hours next week may or may not get it into a shop.

I’m guessing the cause may well have been Photoshop Elements 2022 which is supposed to run on WIN11 but requires the inclusion of their intrusive Creative Cloud. Loading this program brought my first BCOD since the fresh WIN11 install and may have corrupted a file somewhere which remained even though I deleted the program. I’m done with PSE as they’ve gone to a subscription mode for 2025 and going either GIMP and/or the new Affinity which is now a freebee.

I think it’s also possible that the shop which wiped this PC and installed a new WIN11 may not have done a great job and left a corrupted file or two behind.

Catch up with you again soon.

Happy New Year everyone!

Glasscutter,

Starting the New Year off right with our WIN11 machine back in business 100%. The system was wiped again by a small local shop & it's now Version 25H2 vs. 23H2 and seems to have made all the difference. I'm only speculating since this hasn't been proven, but through my own detective work I found that the 2T WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD I installed for additional storage may have caused the BSOD's on version 23H2. Of course, it could have been any number of other things, but the system seems totally stable now with all software loaded successfully on my side (even Photoshop Elements 2022), our son still needs to reload STEAM and his games, but I'm hopeful that will prove to be BSOD free. Last, the place which did a wipe and reinstall last time gave me a partial refund because their work did nothing to remedy the problem.

Thanks to you all data is being saved to the correct drives and all I need to do now is work on a good backup plan.

Happy New Year!

Glasskuter,

I spoke too soon. Two BSODs occurred last week:

Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.

Restarts and runs normally for a week. I thought it self-repaired.

After one week while editing some photos using GIMP & it locked up.

C:\WINDOWS\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h…\CrossDeviceesume.exe

The stub received bad data.

I press OK and the screen goes blank except for the loading arrow. I wait and nothing happens.

I shut down and restart to a BSOD:

Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart.

Everything loads back in again. I sign in normally and try a search on DuckDuckGo & it auto-restarts again into a BSOD:

Your device ran into a problem & couldn’t be repaired. Click or press enter to see other options.

I press ENTER and it gives me three options. I select Troubleshoot.

It won’t troubleshoot and instead offers me only two options this time; Keep my files, removes all apps and settings, but keeps personal files, or Remove everything, reset the system and lose all my programs.

I press the back arrow to go back one screen and instead select: Turn off PC

Back to the shop it goes on Monday.

Happy New Year!

Sorry, the line was:

C:\WINDOWS\SystemApps\MicrosoftWindows.Client.CBS_cw5n1h…\CrossDeviceResume.exe

I believe CrossDeviceResume.exe is related to Phone app. That said, I suggest you use these instructions to gather all your log files. Put them all into one folder, zip the folder, and upload the zipped folder to any cloud provider. Post a shared link to the folder here. When @zbook comes on line he will take a look at your log files.

Well, I'm over my head here.

First, I have no idea what any Phone app is, or why our WIN11 computer would even have one. Next, I don't have a clue how to gather log files.

Before it died completely, the computer gave me two choices, both of which were to reset itself, so instead of me doing it I chose to shut it down until I bring it into the shop so the tech can hopefully learn something from it before it goes totally dark on me like last time. On Monday I'll ask the tech if he can save any log files & will let you know if successful.

For lack of any other reason why this should be happening, I've become more suspicious about learning about BSOD's associated with the WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD 2T, which I installed in this computer as Drive D.

What Users Reported as Fixes


These are not guaranteed fixes, but they are the most commonly successful ones:


1. Disable XMP / EXPO


Multiple users reported BSODs disappearing after disabling memory overclocking.


2. Update firmware using WD Dashboard


Some BSODs were linked to early firmware versions.


3. Update motherboard BIOS


Especially important for PCIe Gen4 NVMe compatibility.


4. Move the SSD to a different M.2 slot


Some slots share lanes with GPU or chipset.


5. Check for NVMe controller errors in Event Viewer


Look for:




The driver detected a controller error on \Device\RaidPort1





This is strongly associated with SN850X BSOD cases.

Thank you MachineLanguage. I am printing your instructions as I type this. Will see what happens Monday or thereafter and report back.

When available please post a V2 share link (post #34) into the newest post.

@Batuche Please realize I am not familiar with this particular issue and only posted what was available from an online search.

MachineLanguage,

Of course, no problem. I totally understand. I'm basically on a fishing trip with this & in my mind things point more and more to the WD Black SN850X NVMe SSD 2T I installed for extra storage. This computer ran absolutely 100% fine up until, A) I installed the WD NVMe, and/or, B) I tried to install Photoshop Elements 7 from a disk using compatibility mode. The second time it crashed after I installed/downloaded Photoshop Elements 2022.

On my last trip to a shop the tech successfully installed Photoshop Elements 2022 before I brought it home, however immediately upon starting it up at home I received two BSOD's, but after restarting twice and removing all traces of Adobe's Creative Cloud the computer worked flawlessly for a week. Then last Friday while I was editing some photos using GIMP it went entirely goofy again spiraling downward into a crash.

My thoughts are that because I'm using the WD Black NVMe for photo storage both photo programs utilize the WD Black where data/photos are stored, and this may cause the problem. Or maybe the WD Black could be the problem just sitting there, whether being used or not.

I'm pretty lost on this, so will trust it to my local tech.