Win 10 "Desktop Folder" name changed to........ "Downloads" - Weird!

Discussion in 'other software & services' started by kennyboy, Oct 27, 2021.

  1. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    Win 10 21H1 x64
    As per thread title, for some reason, my Desktop folder still retains its properties as:- C:\Users\ken\desktop, but it is now named "Downloads" everywhere. See attached pic. Probably something simple, but its beyond me, and its annoying. Any help appreciated.

    Wilders 1.png
     
  2. pegas

    pegas Registered Member

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    I have a similar long lasting issue with folder Documents which has taken the name of the contained folder.
     
  3. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    Maybe ur desktop folder disappeared from being shown and instead ur download folder is being shown? I will need more pictures
     
  4. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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  5. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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  6. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    You don't have to be a genius to work out how to do it with another folder.
     
  7. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    Yeah i was just messing with you :p

    Though your suggestion isn't too smart as it will reset the settings which is a bummer, since then u have to do it all over again. Which is why i was looking for a better solution but i needed more information

    But hey it's better than nothing ;o
     
  8. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    No. The folder that is being shown is the actual desktop folder with the desktop contents.
     
  9. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    Attached Files:

  10. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    Can you see it in C\Users\Default ?
     
  11. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    Yes. There is a completely empty folder named Desktop there. Is this a help, or does it suggest a remedy. Good thinking by the way.
     
  12. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    Did u try resetting the folders and the defaults?
     
  13. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I'll ask the stupid question. Why not just rename it back? Am I missing something here?
     
  14. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    Ye try that before resetting
     
  15. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    Yes. I followed Stapps link and reset folders and defaults. No good.
     
  16. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    There is no option to rename the faulty named folder. It is greyed out where it shows, so nothing to rename.
     
  17. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    You tried to rename the downloads folder that is actually your desktop folder, to Desktop?
     
  18. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    I think I have solved it. Due to many ideas from here, I looked at the "Downloads" folder which was actually the "Desktop" folder, and thanks to Stapps idea of looking for a Desktop folder in the "Default" Users profile, (which there was), I just copied that folder ie Users\Default\Desktop (which was empty,) and pasted it into my own profile. This did something really strange to the faulty Downloads folder, and still didnt show a Desktop folder, but this then allowed me to rename it to Desktop and it worked! Absolutely no idea why it worked, but very grateful to all who contributed. (Probably a very garbled explanation but I know what I mean anyway.)
     
  19. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    Yes. See above explanation.
     
  20. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    I had also considered suggesting a new user profile but that is more work than most people including myself would want to do.
     
  21. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    Congrats stapp you solved OP's problem, you should feel proud of yourself, what a smart person!

    Also congrats OP really nice you solved your problem
     
  22. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

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    @kennyboy
    hey,ken. did you by any chance try to modify or delete a desktop.ini file recently?
     
  23. kennyboy

    kennyboy Registered Member

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    Hi IMDb - No I didnt do that. Interesting thought for next time though.
     
  24. imdb

    imdb Registered Member

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    a corrupt desktop.ini file might be the culprit. a 3rd party system cleaner might have caused it too. just saying. glad you got it sorted out.
     
  25. Floyd 57

    Floyd 57 Registered Member

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    All those cleaners are snake oil anyway
     
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