Tying to find ghost Desktop folder

I have done a fair amount of tweaking to my set up. I have something that works well for me now and so I would prefer not to start over with a fresh install.

I have moved the various "windows" folders to my D: drive. (Desktop, Documents, Pictures, etc . . .)

Somehow in the process of moving folders around and making disc images and reinstalling the images I have created a quirky problem with my Desktop folder.

If I save a file (file1) to my Desktop it does not show up there on the desktop. However, if I navigate to the desktop with windows explorer, I see that file.

I have other files already on the desktop that also show up in windows explorer along with the new file.

If I create a file on the desktop (file2) it shows up there and also in the explorer window.

I have tried to nail this down by determining folder paths, but the paths of the files that don’t show up on the desktop and the paths of the files that do show up are the same.

[Method of finding path: press shift, right click on folder, click “copy as path”, paste path into notepad]

Example:
"D:\ Desktop\file1.txt"
"D:\ Desktop\file2.txt"

I have noticed in trying to solve this problem that there is an additional "Desktop" folder sitting on my C: drive in the default location, but it does not seem to be accessed by anything. It contains one file that wound up in there inadvertently some time back.

Any suggestions as to how I could troubleshoot this further?

I would move the Desktop back to the default location as moving it may be causing your problem.

I need it to be on a separate drive in order to facilitate automated back ups of my personal files. I've been locating the Desktop and other folders on a separate drive for more than a dozen years. This is the first time such a problem has arisen.

I could try moving it back over temporarily and back again to see if that helps the problem. That will take some time since I have to make sure I don't lose anything in the process.

If I don't get any other suggestions I will try this in a couple of days when I have more time.

Thanks for your input.

What do you store on your desktop?

I only have a few shortcut icons and that is why I have never even thought to redirect it. I do redirect Documents, Pictures, etc.

I store more than I should there. Mostly it is stuff that I have failed to properly organize. I often put stuff there temporarily so that seeing it will remind to do something with it. I always mean to clean it up, but I don't have a lot of time for tedious organizing.

I realized after posting that all I have to do is move everything to another folder out of the desktop. It won't take that long, but I'm working 12 hour shifts this weekend so it will still have to wait for Monday.

Looks like it is fixed now. All I did was restore the computer to an earlier time for a completely different reason. So I still really don't know what caused it. Thanks for helping.