Solved Missing User's Files Folder on Desktop

[Wozzie]

Let me start off by saying I am running Windows 7 Pro SP1 x64, and this computer was just reformatted this morning.

My User Files folder is missing on my desktop. I have double checked the Personalize -> Change Desktop Icons box for the desktop user folder and it still will not appear, I have tried restarting multiple times. The user folder is still on the C: drive and accessible, and I can access it from the start menu. Any idea what could have caused this and how I might get it back?

Thanks,
Woz

 

[Ztruker]

Check the attributes of the users folder under C:\Users, see if the Hidden attribute is set for some reason.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/56005-file-folder-hide-unhide.html

 

[Wozzie]

I checked if the folder was hidden and it was not. I did notice something strange however, there is an user listed as "Account Unknown" I took a screen shot, maybe this has something to do with it?

Picture of the "Account Unknown" in permissions portion of User Folder Properties

I am not sure if the User Folder on the desktop went missing before or after but I did apply this tweak to my system, How to Make Windows 7 Start Menu User Folder Buttons Open to Users Instead of Libraries Location.

 

[Wozzie]

I just applied the fix to revert the Start Menu User Folder Buttons tweak and restarted my computer, it did not make a difference with the missing desktop user folder. I am going to put the start menu folders back to the user folder instead of the libraries.

Is there a way to hide the desktop User Folder with Group Policy?

 

[Ztruker]

Bu hide do you mean not visible on the desktop or not visible via Windows Explorer?

 

[Wozzie]

Here are some pictures to give you a better idea of what is going on. The folder is not set to hidden inside the folder properties, and the folder is set to be shown on the desktop but it refused to appear on the desktop.

Is there a setting in the registry or a group policy that could be causing this folder to not appear on the desktop?

I am able to create a shortcut from C:\Users of the "Chris i7" folder and that will appear on the desktop but because that folder is a shortcut it will not stay at the top left of the screen with the "Computer", "Network" and "Recycle Bin" icons.

 

[Ztruker]

Okay, see what you mean. How about doing a System Restore to before you applied the tweak or clean install again, make sure all is well then start customizing. Make sure you create a system restore point before each change in case something goes wrong.

 

[Wozzie]

If I did a clean install, what are the differences between quick and full format? I am not if the types of hard drives or your system configuration makes a difference but I have 2 ssd drives and they are in a raid 0 array.

This is a little off topic but are there any changes I should make after windows 7 pro is installed to get the most out of my ssd drives?

 

[Ztruker]

The difference can be several hours. A quick format basically wipes out the pointer structure of the hard drive. All the data is still there but the pointers to where it is are wiped. A full format wipes the entire drive.

Quick is normally sufficient.

Can't help with SSD though as I have no experience with one yet (soon I hope). Maybe one of the other folks has some suggestions. Gregrocker is very good with this.

 

[Wozzie]

Doing a format and re-installing Windows corrected this issue. I have applied the same tweaks after I reformatted but issue from the OP never reoccurred, that makes me think it was something that I did in gpedit.msc or somewhere else. I would like to say thank you to everyone that posted here, if it wasn't for your kindness and advice I would not keep revisiting this site as much as I do, thank you again.