Windows 11- clean install on laptop - delete restored orphaned icons - half of the Windows 10 PC is lost


tfwul

Active member
Local time
6:54 PM
Posts
5
OS
Windows 10 x64
Yesterday I did a clean Windows 11 install on a formatted C-drive of my laptop.
During the setup I signed on to my Outlook account.
This resulted in program desktop icons from my desktop Windows 10 pc being transferred to the laptop.
Obviously, they were all 'empty/blanc/white' images : the linked programs were not available on my laptop.
(And will not be)

Regretfully, at that point I made a mistake: I deleted them.
Today, after booting my Windows 10 desktop PC, 20 of the 42 desktop icons were gone... !

Great...
Restored todays Windows image: same situation
Restored yesterday's image: still the same
After an hour I gave up. Will try to recreate the shortcuts manually.

All this said, I agree/confess, I shouldn't have done this Windows 11 install.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-5820K 3.6GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus X99-Deluxe
    Memory
    32GB (DDR4-2133)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1150
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Dreamcolor HP Z27x
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 PRO 512GB, 1TB, WD HDD's
    PSU
    Corsair RM650
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Keyboard
    Das Keyboard 4 Pro
    Mouse
    Microsoft Comfort 6000
    Internet Speed
    800Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Default)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
Later
Just now 'discovered' that the links of the deleted desktop icons most probably were stored within \OneDrive\Desktop, whereas the ones that were not deleted were stored locally, i.e. within C:\Users\Public\Desktop, hence, when deleting desktop icons on my laptop, they were removed from OneDrive and from my desktop PC.

How to 'force' Windows to store them locally?

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-5820K 3.6GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus X99-Deluxe
    Memory
    32GB (DDR4-2133)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1150
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Dreamcolor HP Z27x
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 PRO 512GB, 1TB, WD HDD's
    PSU
    Corsair RM650
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Keyboard
    Das Keyboard 4 Pro
    Mouse
    Microsoft Comfort 6000
    Internet Speed
    800Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Default)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
Did you succeed in recreating the shortcuts manually? Then sync to OneDrive and verify that there is an offline/local copy.

Backups and images usually make a copy of offline/local OneDrive, they do not make a copy of what is in the Cloud.

What I think what happened, is that Cloud OneDrive made the icons available to your laptop > you deleted the icons > the icons are no longer available to your other computer > see top paragraph

IMHO, the mishap has nothing to do with the W11 installation on your laptop (although the blank icons may have confused you) you could have committed the unfortunate deletion with any other computer that accesses your cloud OneDrive.

Anyway, good luck (y)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
I did restore them and all looks fine,. However, the .lnk files reside on OneDrive. When creating a shortcut, they are automatically stored there. The shortcuts that were not removed from my desktop PC, they were actually stored on my C: drive, hence there was no way to remove them.
Probably at one point in time Windows started to store them on OneDrive without me knowing.

I have not been able to figure out how to change to storage location of the shortcuts.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-5820K 3.6GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus X99-Deluxe
    Memory
    32GB (DDR4-2133)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 (4GB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC1150
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP Dreamcolor HP Z27x
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 PRO 512GB, 1TB, WD HDD's
    PSU
    Corsair RM650
    Case
    Corsair Obsidian 750D
    Keyboard
    Das Keyboard 4 Pro
    Mouse
    Microsoft Comfort 6000
    Internet Speed
    800Mbps
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge (Default)
    Antivirus
    Windows Security
The way you force them to store locally is to stop allowing OneDrive to share your Desktop folder, on both machines.

Right click OneDrive --> Click the gear icon in top right --> Settings --> Backup tab --> Manage backup button --> uncheck Desktop (Click on it and ht check box should turn to a gray-ish icon).

Then, and only then, will you get only locally stored icons.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 Current build
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HomeBrew
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
    Motherboard
    MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE
    Memory
    4 * 32 GB - Corsair Vengeance 3600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti XC3 ULTRA GAMING (12G-P5-3955-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC1220 Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2x Eve Spectrum ES07D03 4K Gaming Monitor (Matte) | Eve Spectrum ES07DC9 4K Gaming Monitor (Glossy)
    Screen Resolution
    3x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3x Samsung 980 Pro NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 2 TB SSD (MZ-V8P2T0B/AM) } 3x Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 1 TB SSD (USB)
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling’s Silencer Series 1050 Watt, 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 XL Dark ATX Full Tower Case
    Cooling
    NZXT KRAKEN Z73 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (3x 120 mm push top) + Air 3x 140mm case fans (pull front) + 1x 120 mm (push back) and 1 x 120 mm (pull bottom)
    Keyboard
    SteelSeries Apex Pro Wired Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S | MX Master 3 for Business
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
    Browser
    Nightly (default) + Firefox (stable), Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender + MB 5 Beta
  • Operating System
    ChromeOS Flex Dev Channel (current)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E5470
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6300U CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2501 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 + RealTek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell laptop display 15"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 128GB M.2 22300 drive
    INTEL Cherryville 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SATA III SSD
    PSU
    Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S (shared w. Sys 1) | Dell TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
stop allowing OneDrive to share your Desktop folder,
I completely agree and never have any of my machines sync my desktop to onedrive. BUT...so many people store files and folders on their desktop rather than doing it the correct way and using their user folders. Then they can sync their user folders and everything works as it should.
I mean, IMO pictures should be in pictures and documents in documents. If done properly, one can stop syncing their desktop to onedrive and their shortcuts will always work. When one syncs multiple desktops to onedrive, it can cause a real mess. I learned that the hard way.

I've seen desktops where there was so many files and folders on a desktop, I don't see how anyone could find anything. Being a stickler for organization, it makes no sense to me, but most folks do it. In those cases, they have to sync their desktop to have all those files and folders on onedrive. Thus lies the problem.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
Perhaps the OP can live with the 30 day grace period before things get permanently deleted from OneDrive's recycle bin.

It is perhaps the exception that one's desktop is always 100% tidy.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
I completely agree and never have any of my machines sync my desktop to onedrive. BUT...so many people store files and folders on their desktop rather than doing it the correct way and using their user folders. Then they can sync their user folders and everything works as it should.
I mean, IMO pictures should be in pictures and documents in documents. If done properly, one can stop syncing their desktop to onedrive and their shortcuts will always work. When one syncs multiple desktops to onedrive, it can cause a real mess. I learned that the hard way.

I've seen desktops where there was so many files and folders on a desktop, I don't see how anyone could find anything. Being a stickler for organization, it makes no sense to me, but most folks do it. In those cases, they have to sync their desktop to have all those files and folders on onedrive. Thus lies the problem.

Lol. My mother is a prime example of this. And she stubbornly refuses to accept any other method of storage / categorization / classification of the files.

To her credit, though, she is we;ll over 70. I'm a lot more 'accepting' of her lack of use of even a basic filing system. Resignedly, for sure, but still, more accepting than I was in the past.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 Current build
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HomeBrew
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
    Motherboard
    MSI MEG X570 GODLIKE
    Memory
    4 * 32 GB - Corsair Vengeance 3600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti XC3 ULTRA GAMING (12G-P5-3955-KR)
    Sound Card
    Realtek® ALC1220 Codec
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2x Eve Spectrum ES07D03 4K Gaming Monitor (Matte) | Eve Spectrum ES07DC9 4K Gaming Monitor (Glossy)
    Screen Resolution
    3x 3840 x 2160
    Hard Drives
    3x Samsung 980 Pro NVMe PCIe 4 M.2 2 TB SSD (MZ-V8P2T0B/AM) } 3x Sabrent Rocket NVMe 4.0 1 TB SSD (USB)
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling’s Silencer Series 1050 Watt, 80 Plus Platinum
    Case
    Fractal Design Define 7 XL Dark ATX Full Tower Case
    Cooling
    NZXT KRAKEN Z73 73.11 CFM Liquid CPU Cooler (3x 120 mm push top) + Air 3x 140mm case fans (pull front) + 1x 120 mm (push back) and 1 x 120 mm (pull bottom)
    Keyboard
    SteelSeries Apex Pro Wired Gaming Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S | MX Master 3 for Business
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth
    Browser
    Nightly (default) + Firefox (stable), Chrome, Edge
    Antivirus
    Defender + MB 5 Beta
  • Operating System
    ChromeOS Flex Dev Channel (current)
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Latitude E5470
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6300U CPU @ 2.40GHz, 2501 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)
    Motherboard
    Dell
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520
    Sound Card
    Intel(R) HD Graphics 520 + RealTek Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell laptop display 15"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 * 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 128GB M.2 22300 drive
    INTEL Cherryville 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SATA III SSD
    PSU
    Dell
    Case
    Dell
    Cooling
    Dell
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3S (shared w. Sys 1) | Dell TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Dell
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex Ftth

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