Solved Windows Accessories folder has been deleted

Right up to and including Windows 10, I had a folder called Windows Accessories under which I created 2 sub folders: Basic Tools and System Tools. MS has decided to delete the Windows Accessories folder and replace it with Windows Tools. This contains some of the links I had previously but has deleted all links to my 3rd party tools such as printer, USB lock, password generator, conversion calculator, etc. I now have to search the program folders and create shortcuts which is fine except that I do not remember all the programs that were in those folders.

Is there any way to recover them, and is there a way to stop Windows updates from deleting stuff from my PC?

QuicktellPro said:

Is there any way to recover them, and is there a way to stop Windows updates from deleting stuff from my PC?

Click to expand...

If the Windows.old folder still exists on your machine, possibly you can find shortcuts to what you installed. Make sure you are viewing hidden files. Then browse to C:\windows.old\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories

If the windows.old folder does not exist, then there is no way to know what programs you had shortcuts to in Windows Accessories.

Windows update does not delete user data so long as that data is located in the user folder. Both the old Windows Accessories and the new Windows Tools folders are Windows folders that refer to a group of applications or tools that come pre-installed with the Windows operating system. Neither of these folders was/is meant to be used as a user controlled folder.

So I assume your did an in place upgrade from 10 to 11 .... ??

QuicktellPro said:

Is there any way to recover them, and is there a way to stop Windows updates from deleting stuff from my PC?

Click to expand...

There is nothing to recover, Windows 11 have replaced that old Windows 10 folder with Windows Tools. What has happened to your setup is normal for an upgrade 10 > 11

The problem lies in the fact that you were using a Windows systems folder for 3rd party programs. Always a danger as changes to Windows is always a possibility.

Rebuild Accessories Folder
Go to and create "Windows Accessories":

Create a folder called Windows Accessories, and add shortcuts in the Zip file provided. They should work.

Includes:

Calculator
Character Map
Command Prompt
Control Panel
Device Manager
Notepad
Paint
Remote Desktop Connection
Snipping Tool
Steps Recorder
Windows Media Player Legacy
WordPad

Anything else you'll need to create a shortcut for.

And the shortcuts to the Windows Tools folder that idgat mentioned -- If you want everything in the same place.
(Copy to new Accessories folder)

Includes:

Component Services
Computer Management
Defragment and Optimize Drives
Disk Cleanup
Event Viewer
iSCSI Initiator
Local Security Policy
ODBC Data Sources (32-bit)
ODBC Data Sources (64-bit)
Performance Monitor
Print Management
Recovery Drive
Registry Editor
Resource Monitor
Services
System Configuration
System Information
Task Scheduler
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Windows Memory Diagnostic

glasskuter said:

Then browse to C:\windows.old\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories

Click to expand...

Thank you. You solved this for me. It had not been deleted. Windows just renamed kit to Accessories and my subfolders are still in there.

QuicktellPro said:

I now have to search the program folders and create shortcuts which is fine except that I do not remember all the programs that were in those folders.

Click to expand...

Guys, the way I read it, the OP doesn't want to recover anything, He just wants a list of what shortcuts he had manually put into that folder before.