Newly added Files/Folders Not Showing On DT but in /Desktop

W7 Ultimate 64, been using for several years with no problem.

Last few weeks when I download something to DT or extract a zip to DT, the file or folder does not appear, even though it's on C:/..../Desktop.

• Refreshing DT does not make the file/folder appear.
• Icons are set to show.
• Nothing in question is Hidden

Only thing that works is navigating to the file or folder in Explorer and cut/pasting from DT folder to another folder, then back to DT. This is a workaround, not a solution and is a PITA.

Anyone know how to fix this behavior? All the info I read was for workarounds, not solutions that would prevent it going forward. TIA.

Really? No one?

Do you have a lot of icons on the desktop? I have had similar problems, but refreshing (f5) usually brings them back, unless they are out of view. It is apparent that they are actually on the DT. What happens if you cut the file from Explorer and paste to DT? How about shutting down the computer. How full is your HDD?

WinDozeUser said:

Do you have a lot of icons on the desktop? I have had similar problems, but refreshing (f5) usually brings them back, unless they are out of view. It is apparent that they are actually on the DT. What happens if you cut the file from Explorer and paste to DT? How about shutting down the computer. How full is your HDD?

Thanks for responding. Yes, I have about 50 icons on DT, mostly shortcuts to folders I use often, and to tools I use often. But the DT has always been this way, and never had this problem until recently. (No, no new drivers, hdw or sftw that would account for it.) And btw the behavior doesn't happen every time... just occasionally but enough to be a PITA.

Copying from Explorer to DT is a no-go. Only copying to another folder, then back to DT works. Rebooting takes longer than the copy/paste workaround, so that's not an option. (But FTW I turn this computer off every night, so it starts with a fresh reboot every morning.)

No other anomalous behaviors, clean system, very limited startups with boot, and no the icons aren't running off-screen. But I sure saw a lot of people complaining about the same thing when I Googled before posting here. Again, plenty of workarounds, but no solutions, from what I saw. Thanks again...

EDIT: Forgot to add, C drive is good... less than half full.

What you see on the desktop is a combination of the files you have in two folders
- \Users\Name\Desktop
- \Users\Public\Desktop

To witch folder you are downloading to?

Megahertz07 said:

What you see on the desktop is a combination of the files you have in two folders
- \Users\Name\Desktop
- \Users\Public\Desktop

To witch folder you are downloading to?

-\Users\[name]\Desktop

... also where I extract zips.... and sometimes they show up, and sometimes I have to go hunt them down in Explorer... they are ALWAYS there [in Explorer], just not showing up on the DT.

As I have said, I have had very similar problems. When a file that I placed on the DT doesn't show up I usually can find it in Windows Explorer. A copy from windows explorer usually warns me that a file with that name already exists.

Try copying all your shortcuts into a separate folder on the DT called Shortcuts. In other words, clean the clutter up from the DT and see how things work.

I'e never really realized a definitive solution to the issue so I find it hard to offer too much more...

@ Ranger: I never use the downloads folder. It's not as convenient as the DT. And the files show up where they belong (looking in Explorer), they aren't being sent somewhere else.

@ WinDoze: Thanks but not willing to hide the shortcuts in a folder... defeats the purpose of having them there handy, so even if that stopped the behavior (which I likely wouldn't know immediately b/c this only happens occasionally), it wouldn't solve the problem. I use this machine to work and it has to be efficient. Can't do constant extra clicks to get into, then navigate through an extra folder to get to the item I need. Thanks, though.