Windows 10: External backup can't see Desktop

I've tried searching for this but everything that comes up doesn't get to the problem. Also not sure where to post this.

My WD Passport Ext. HD can't see the Desktop or the files on it and I don't know where in the depths of Win 10 to find it.
The Passport software only sees what is in "C:" not what is in "This PC"

Attached is a screenshot. Top left is the Properties of a file on the Desktop Path is C:\Users\ \Cookies\Desktop
Top right is the same file Path is This PC> Desktop

Bottom left shot is This PC> C:> Users > and the folders below go from Contacts to Documents without Cookies or Desktop.

Bottom right Passport sees the same thing and thus does NOT backup anything on the Desktop?

So my question to all of you wizards is where does Win 10 hide the Desktop folder so I can access it to back it up?

Thanks Muchly for your help



:)

 

How to cancel out of display edit mode

Go to files >backup. If you can't backup then probably you haven't inserted memory card. Check with external PD attached and see if it works.

 

Why can't I backup following upgrade to Windows 10

I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 a few months ago. Unfortunately I have just realised that my backup is not working. I usually backup to an external hard drive but although I can see that drive in the File Explorer, when I go through Settings, Update
& Security, Backup; I can't then see the external drive.

I wondered whether it would be possible to backup to Onedrive but can't find a straightforward solution.

Any help for this not so computer savvy individual would be most welcome.

 

Hi.
The position of the Desktop is normally C:\Users\[username]\Desktop
However, if you have moved your user files, then you have to look for the actual desktop files on the drive you pointed it to.

For instance, all my user files have been pointed to another internal hard drive called H:. In order for me to backup my desktop files, I have to find the Desktop folder which actually points to my H drive.

If this is not the case for you, maybe this tutorial might help:
Libraries in Navigation Pane - Hide or Show in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

.

 

Thanks for the reply Simrick, but I think you misunderstand what my problem is. The issue is that the desktop and its files and folders do not show up in C:\ If you look at my screenshot you can see that the file path is
C:\Users\[username]\Cookies\Desktop (Sorry, I should have used "[username]' as you did) but all I find and the external drive sees is Calamity(C: >Users>\[username] but no Desktop or cookies as in the path of the file.

Since it is not showing there in Windows Explorer, the backup drive doesn't see it. I'll redo that file and upload
So where is C:\UsersCookies\Desktop? How can a file have a path that can't be seen in Explorer?

 

Right, sorry. C:\Users\[username]\Cookies\Desktop is not a proper location for Desktop - where did the "Cookies" come from?





Mine here is H, because I have my libraries pointed to another drive - yours should be C.

Did you "show libraries" as in the tutorial? Once they are shown, you can right-click and default them. That may help.

 

Files that are hidden will not show up in File Explorer. Go into Control Panel>File Explorer Options>View tab, and select to show hidden files, folders and drives. See if it shows up then.

 

Yes it is already set that way

 

Yes, in every instance, show libraries is already checked.

 

Y'know, the more I think about it, the issue is not all this extraneous stuff of Libraries, Quick Access, etc. They are red herrings. "Libraries" are another layer added by MS on top of the basic C: drive contents. But they are just mirrors of what is actually in C: drive. My understanding is that their purpose is simply to keep people away from f'ing with C:

The issue is simply that the backup drive does not care about Libraries or Quick Access and just deals with C: So, why does the C: drive tree not show the Cookies or Desktop folders that are shown in the file's path, or rather where in C: is the folder Cookies\Desktop located because if something is on this computer, it has to be located somewhere in C:

All the other drives are empty until something is inserted into the USBs or a disk is put in the disk drive. Only my Passport E: has anything in it, all the backed up files. BTW, I do appreciate your help with this.

 

I understand your thinking, and I agree somewhat.
I am suspecting some sort of reparse point, which is what I am trying to rule out.

In File Explorer, "This PC", In the View tab, when you click the little arrow down for the Navigation Pane, there is a selection for Show Libraries (#3 in this pic). Please make sure that is checked.





Once you can see the Libraries icon in the navigation pane, please right-click it and select Restore default libraries.

 

I followed every detail as you instructed, but still nothing has changed.
Simrick, I'll be out of town tomorrow, so won't be able to answer any emails until Sat late. Thanks again for your help.

 

Okay, no problem. *Smile
When you return, please expand the arrow for This PC and post a pic.

Curious - do you have any other user accounts on the system? If not, can you create one and see if Desktop is positioned correctly?

 

Also, when you return, if creating a new user account resolves nothing, please download and run RKILL, and post the log it creates, here in a code box (click the # button and then paste in the info in-between the CODE tags). If there are indeed any Junctions/Reparse Points, RKILL will identify them.

Then, without rebooting, download and run ADWCleaner. Post that log also. I believe it will be in your root (C:\AdwCleaner\)

p.s. glad to help - just wish we could get somewhere! *Wink

 

Attachment 76549I don't know what is going on. When I tried to change this image to full size, the properties box ( or whatever it's called) flashes open for a second and then is gone. Can you expand this image?