Why can't I open a folder shortcut on my desktop?


J

johnr283

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Windows 11
I have a WD My Book USB drive with a folder on it titled Downloads. I have shortcut to the folder on my desktop. It's been there for a few years. All of a sudden, I can't open the shortcut. Double clicking or right clicking and hitting open does nothing. I've tried deleting and remaking the shortcut, it didn't help. I can access the drive and folder fine from ThisPC. Everything on the drive works fine and error checking found nothing.
 

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Windows 1112th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8...GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G ...
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Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
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Custom
CPU
12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz
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GIGABYTE B660 AORUS MASTER DDR4 B660 Intel LGA 1700 ATX
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The name “Documents” is protected. They renaming it to something else and remaking the shortcut on your desktop.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700, 2.90GHz32GB, 2x16GB, DDR4, 2933MhzNVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) RTX 2060 SUPER(TM) 8GB G...
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell 8940 XPS
    CPU
    10th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700, 2.90GHz
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    Dell 0KV3RP (U3E1)
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    32GB, 2x16GB, DDR4, 2933Mhz
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    Windows 11 ProIntel 13900K Core I9 24 Core LGA 170032GB (2x16) Kingston Fury Beast 6000MHZ DDR5nVidia 4090 Founders Edition
    Operating System
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    Falcon Northwest Talon
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    Intel 13900K Core I9 24 Core LGA 1700
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    Asus ROG Z970 Maximus Hero
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    32GB (2x16) Kingston Fury Beast 6000MHZ DDR5
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    SSD M.2 Kingston Renegade Fury 4 TB x 2; Western Digital Red Pro 8 TB SATA III
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    1000W ECGA Platinum Modular ATX
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    Falcon NW Custom
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    AIO Falcon NW 280mm Liquid Cooler
    Keyboard
    Logitech Pro Gamer
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    Logitech G502
    Internet Speed
    111 Mbps Download, 132 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Edge, Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes
    Other Info
    Noise Blocker Fans
How was the shortcut created - from the source folder or manually directly on the Desktop? Whichever one, try the other.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)Intel i5-124008GBNVIDIA GeForce GT730
    OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
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    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
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    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
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    KIS

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever ...i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHzIntel Iris Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
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    NBN FTTN 50
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When you created it, did you right-click on the folder, select Send To, then Desktop (create shortcut)?
 

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Windows 11 Pro 26H2
OS
Windows 11 Pro 26H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Toshiba
Antivirus
Defender
Banjoman301 said:
When you created it, did you right-click on the folder, select Send To, then Desktop (create shortcut)?
Click to expand...
Originally, I clicked copy on the folder and then paste shortcut on the desktop. Send to didn't work either.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1112th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8...GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G ...
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B660 AORUS MASTER DDR4 B660 Intel LGA 1700 ATX
Memory
32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3600 (PC4 28800)
Graphics Card(s)
GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G PCI Express 4.0 ATX LHR GV-N306TAORUS E-8GD (rev. 2.0)
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
Hard Drives
WD Black SN850X 1Tb SSD
PSU
CORSAIR - RM Series RM750 Fully Modular Ultra-Low Noise ATX
Case
Fractal Design Pop Air RGB Black TG ATX High-Airflow Clear Tempered Glass Window Mid Tower
Cooling
Corsair RGB Fans
Keyboard
Razer Cynosa V2
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Mouse 900, Black
Internet Speed
300mbs
Browser
MS Edge
Antivirus
AVG Free
idgat said:
How was the shortcut created - from the source folder or manually directly on the Desktop? Whichever one, try the other.
Click to expand...
Originally, I clicked copy on the folder and then paste shortcut on the desktop. This time I clicked on the desktop, new > shortcut to create it. It works now. Thanks! Any idea why didn't work the first way?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1112th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8...GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G ...
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B660 AORUS MASTER DDR4 B660 Intel LGA 1700 ATX
Memory
32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3600 (PC4 28800)
Graphics Card(s)
GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G PCI Express 4.0 ATX LHR GV-N306TAORUS E-8GD (rev. 2.0)
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
Hard Drives
WD Black SN850X 1Tb SSD
PSU
CORSAIR - RM Series RM750 Fully Modular Ultra-Low Noise ATX
Case
Fractal Design Pop Air RGB Black TG ATX High-Airflow Clear Tempered Glass Window Mid Tower
Cooling
Corsair RGB Fans
Keyboard
Razer Cynosa V2
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Mouse 900, Black
Internet Speed
300mbs
Browser
MS Edge
Antivirus
AVG Free
When you first connect a USB disk or USB flash drive it takes a specific drive letter, such as D: which is then released when disconnected. If you connect a different USB disk or USB flash drive and it takes the same drive letter and then you try to connect the first disk again (without disconnecting the other disk), the original drive letter is not available (already taken), so it takes the next available drive letter, say E: However Windows remembers the last drive letter for each device and even if no other external disk is connected, the first USB disk will take the last known drive letter which is E: and that makes your original shortcut to the folder D:\downloads invalid. That's a possible explanation why you couldn't open the downloads folder using the original shortcut. Once you delete it and create it again it points to E:\downloads which is again valid and functional.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (7584), 26H2 (9550)Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz4GBMobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (7584), 26H2 (9550)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Extensa 5630EZ
    CPU
    Mobile DualCore Intel Core 2 Duo T7250, 2000 MHz
    Motherboard
    Acer Extensa 5630
    Memory
    4GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Mobile Intel(R) GMA 4500M (Mobile 4 series)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC268 @ Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1
    Screen Resolution
    1280x800
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB SATA Device (250 GB, SATA-III)
    Internet Speed
    802.11g wireless 54 Mbps
    Browser
    MICROSOFT EDGE
    Antivirus
    WINDOWS DEFENDER
    Other Info
    Legacy MBR installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, no WDDM 2.0 graphics drivers, no SSE4.2, cannot get more unsupported ;) This is only my test laptop. I had installed Windows 11 here before upgrading my main PC. For my main PC I use everyday see my 2nd system specs.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 26H2 (build 26300.9550)Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generat...2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB...
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 26H2 (build 26300.9550)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom-built PC
    CPU
    Intel Core-i7 3770 3.40GHz s1155 (3rd generation)
    Motherboard
    Asus P8H61 s1155 ATX
    Memory
    2x Kingston Hyper-X Blu 8GB DDR3-1600
    Graphics card(s)
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6GB (GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD audio (ALC887)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Sony Bravia KDL-19L4000 19" LCD TV via VGA
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900 32-bit 60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WD Blue SA510 2.5 1000GB SSD as system disk, Western Digital Caviar Purple 4TB SATA III (WD40PURZ) as second
    PSU
    Thermaltake Litepower RGB 550W Full Wired
    Case
    SUPERCASE MIDI-TOWER
    Cooling
    Deepcool Gamma Archer CPU cooler, 1x 8cm fan at the back
    Keyboard
    Mitsumi 101-key PS/2
    Mouse
    Microsoft Compact Optical Mouse
    Internet Speed
    802.11ac 5GHz wireless 260Mpbs
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Legacy BIOS (MBR) installation, no TPM, no Secure Boot, WDDM 3.0 graphics drivers, WEI score 7.4
johnr283 said:
Any idea why didn't work the first way?
Click to expand...
First option was a bit unorthodox, maybe Windows "broke" that type of connection with an update somewhere along the line. But who can tell.

I used to try and replicate these scenarios, but I got to the stage where if I could fix it, then .... Meh!!
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)Intel i5-124008GBNVIDIA GeForce GT730
    OS
    Windows 11 2xH2 (latest update ... forever anal)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Slim S01
    CPU
    Intel i5-12400
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GT730
    Sound Card
    OOBE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 32"
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    512GB KIOXIA NVMe
    1TB SATA SSD
    PSU
    OOBE
    Case
    OOBE
    Cooling
    OOBE
    Keyboard
    BT
    Mouse
    BT
    Browser
    Brave FFox Chrome Opera
    Antivirus
    KIS

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever ...i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHzIntel Iris Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 2xH2 (latest update ... 4ever anal)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion 15
    CPU
    i7-1165G7 @ 2.80GHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics
    Hard Drives
    Samsung NVMe 512GB
    + numerous/multiple SSD Type C USB enclosures
    Internet Speed
    NBN FTTN 50
    Browser
    Brave
    Antivirus
    KIS
idgat said:
First option was a bit unorthodox, maybe Windows "broke" that type of connection with an update somewhere along the line. But who can tell.

I used to try and replicate these scenarios, but I got to the stage where if I could fix it, then .... Meh!!
Click to expand...
I hear you.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1112th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8...GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G ...
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom
CPU
12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700F 2.10 GHz
Motherboard
GIGABYTE B660 AORUS MASTER DDR4 B660 Intel LGA 1700 ATX
Memory
32GB CORSAIR Vengeance RGB Pro SL 32GB (4 x 8GB) 288-Pin PC RAM DDR4 3600 (PC4 28800)
Graphics Card(s)
GIGABYTE AORUS GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti ELITE 8G PCI Express 4.0 ATX LHR GV-N306TAORUS E-8GD (rev. 2.0)
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
Hard Drives
WD Black SN850X 1Tb SSD
PSU
CORSAIR - RM Series RM750 Fully Modular Ultra-Low Noise ATX
Case
Fractal Design Pop Air RGB Black TG ATX High-Airflow Clear Tempered Glass Window Mid Tower
Cooling
Corsair RGB Fans
Keyboard
Razer Cynosa V2
Mouse
Microsoft Wireless Mouse 900, Black
Internet Speed
300mbs
Browser
MS Edge
Antivirus
AVG Free
johnr283 said:
Send to didn't work either.
Click to expand...
Interesting.

I created 3 different shortcuts using Send to > Desktop (create shortcut), and all three worked flawlessly.

It's standard Windows functionality.
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 11 Pro 26H2
OS
Windows 11 Pro 26H2
Computer type
Laptop
Manufacturer/Model
Toshiba
Antivirus
Defender
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