Solved Deleted desktop folder & files

mint cheesecake

New Member
Hello! I'm not anything near a computer expert, so sorry for the non-technical explanation:

I was having some problems with my desktop -- multiple duplicate folders were somehow created (green folders and yellow folders) and, for example, if I'd click to download a file to the desktop, it would not end up on the desktop itself but in one of these other folders. Anyhow, I deleted one of the green duplicate folders, but that ended up deleting everything -all the files on the desktop and in the desktop folders. So I clicked "Undo Delete" but the files did not reappear. I also checked the recycle bin but the Desktop folder and files therein that I had deleted were not there.

I tried typing in "shell:desktop" and restarting, but that didn't help.

However, if I click "Search," the files that were lost show up! But if I click on a file to open it, it will not open. So, for example, if I click on an MSWord file, I get the message:

The document or path name is not valid.
Try one or more of the following:
* Check the path to make sure it was correctly typed.
* On the File menu, click Open. Search for the file using this dialog box.​

The files say they are located in the folder Desktop (C:\Users\Amy\Desktop\Desktop) or some other name of a folder I had on the desktop.

However, if I plug this path (C:\Users\Amy\Desktop\Desktop) into the little box at the bottom of the Start Menu, what comes up is my current desktop, not the desktop files I'd lost.

I hope this makes some sense! Any help (explained in terms for a noob!) in reclaiming the files would be great.

This is why I am an English major....
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
thanks for replying!
I did a system restore back before I deleted the files this morning ... a few random files appeared on my desktop but what I lost didn't come back. then I tried doing the second thing you recommended but this didn't seem to help, either. (After I deleted the duplicate desktop folder this morning, my computer system seemed to be functioning the way it was supposed to, with just one desktop folder, so I don't think the problem was needing to create a new one.)
So, I'm still missing those files. It's not a huge deal, though, as thankfully I didn't have anything critical on my desktop!
however, if you know of anything else to try, I might give it a shot...
thanks!
 

My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
You are very welcome. Im happy that I could help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
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