Solved Desktop Problem

[Dick H]

I did a search for my TEST folder. When I looked at the resulting Properties it showed it as on the Desktop (see link to image), but it is not on the desktop.
Apparently, there is a desktop FOLDER and there are folders in that desktop folder that are not on my desktop. This is very confusing.

In Windows XP when I clicked on My Computer I am sure I could see the desktop items.

How are things getting into that folder?
Why are things getting into that folder?
In Windows 7 how can I see the list of folders, etc. that are on my desktop?

 

[Layback Bear]

Open Windows Explorer and upper left should be Desktop. Tick on it and see what you get.

Instead of us going off this Forum to see a jpg please do this.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html

 

[nilank]

Hello Dick!

Right click on your desktop > Click "View" > Now click "Auto arrange icons"

Now do those folders appear on your desktop?

 

[Layback Bear]

Did you do this yet? What did you see?
You should see all the folders that are on your Desktop.

If you don't see your Test folder find your Test folder and right click on it and Send to Desktop (create a shortcut)
Then right click on a blank spot on the Desktop and select Refresh.

 

[Dick H]

Hello Dick!

Right click on your desktop > Click "View" > Now click "Auto arrange icons"

Now do those folders appear on your desktop?

My desktop items are arranged exactly the way I want them. I don't want to "Auto arrange" them.
But I would like an answer to my questions.

 

[barton]

Hello Dick!

Right click on your desktop > Click "View" > Now click "Auto arrange icons"

Now do those folders appear on your desktop?

My desktop items are arranged exactly the way I want them. I don't want to "Auto arrange" them.
But I would like an answer to my questions.

Sometimes toggling auto arrange can help with your type of problem.

 

[barton]

Also it was suggested to right click on desktop and choose refresh. Did you try that?

 

[Britton30]

Hello Dick!

Right click on your desktop > Click "View" > Now click "Auto arrange icons"

Now do those folders appear on your desktop?

My desktop items are arranged exactly the way I want them. I don't want to "Auto arrange" them.
But I would like an answer to my questions.

You have been given several suggestions, ignored or not responded too, they are trying to help you fix the issue. Many time one needs to do something that's not wanted to get to the end, it's like messing up a solved side of a Rubik's cube to solve it.

 

[Dick H]

Hello Dick!

Right click on your desktop > Click "View" > Now click "Auto arrange icons"

Now do those folders appear on your desktop?

My desktop items are arranged exactly the way I want them. I don't want to "Auto arrange" them.
But I would like an answer to my questions.

You have been given several suggestions, ignored or not responded too, they are trying to help you fix the issue. Many time one needs to do something that's not wanted to get to the end, it's like messing up a solved side of a Rubik's cube to solve it.

I could not respond because I had to go to a fire - I am a fire dept. photographer.
Yes, I did the Refresh and it did not do anything.
I did not mention it before because people would jump all over me because I have 100 icons on my desk top. That's the way I work and it suits me. If I use the Auto Arrange, I'm sure it would mess them all up and it would take considerable time to get them back the way I like them.

Also, it's not just one folder -there are 6 or 7 that are in that desktop folder and not on the desktop.
And no one has bothered to answer my questions:
How did those folders get in there?
Why were they put there?

When folders or files are in that other folder I don't know they are there. That becomes another problem.
I am tempted to just get rid of that folder. Will that cause problems?

 

[Britton30]

Did you look at the desktop in explorer?
Lots of people keep many icons on their desktop, so it's understandable not wanting auto-arrange.

 

[Dick H]

Did you look at the desktop in explorer?
Lots of people keep many icons on their desktop, so it's understandable not wanting auto-arrange.

I use Firefox. I don't have Explorer.

 

[gregrocker]

Explorer is where your files live.

Go rb:>Computer>C>User>your User name>Desktop to see if the file is there. If so it should be somewhere on your desktop. If not back up to Users>Public Folder or Default to see if its there.

It may be that you have placed it in another User name account's Desktop. Check that also.

 

[Britton30]

Not Internet Explorer, Windows Explorer, common mistake.

 

[nilank]

... because I have 100 icons on my desk top...

Man you just ignored the suggestions. When you have lots of icons on the desktop, some of them are pushed out of view of desktop (i.e out towards the right, yes, out of display). If that's the case, those out-of-view items won't come back until you do this:



Also make sure your desktop has some "free space" for items and is not just totally full.

 

[gregrocker]

Test is not a System folder or any other folder that I know about, except that one would make to test if a folder is showing up - which is what I though you had done.

So if you're asking how Test folder got there, we cannot say.

Can you post back the contents of the folder as we may pick up on what it is from.

 

[Dick H]

Test is not a System folder or any other folder that I know about, except that one would make to test if a folder is showing up - which is what I though you had done.

So if you're asking how Test folder got there, we cannot say.

Can you post back the contents of the folder as we may pick up on what it is from.

It's a folder I named TEST because it has some test photos in it.
The question is how does a folder - ANY folder - get into that folder named desktop and it is not on the real desktop? Is it just another example of this Windows 7 putting things where it decides they should go instead of letting me put them where I want them?

QUESTION: If I delete that folder named desktop will it cause problems???

 

[gregrocker]

Desktop under your User name is a System file which should not be deleted. It contains all the files, shortcuts and other icons that appear on your desktop.

The only way Test would show up in your User Name's Desktop folder and not be on your desktop somewhere is because as suggested it is pushed off into an area you can't see if there are that many icons, depending upon your screen resolution, or it's in another User's Desktop folder. Check under C:Users to see if there's another another Dick besides you, or you are signed in to another named Account or the Administrator account.

 

[Dude]

Any time you install a program there are prompts that say add shortcut to desktop. w7 does not just randomly add them.

 

[Britton30]

did you read this? http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/284656-desktop-problem.html#post2347737
If you delete the Desktop folder you'll be up for a fresh install. as nilank said you likely have overloaded the desktop with icon so anything new will not show there, but will in Explorer.

 

[AddRAM]

A folder or folders will always ask you where you want to save it, then after if you just click save it will go to your default location. I would just go through everything on your desktop and delete anything you don`t want. Windows does not just create folders on it`s own.

Change your default location to "Downloads" for awhile and you will see.