Desktop MAJOR Folder/Path Issues

Question

Desktop MAJOR Folder/Path Issues

Melissa T 0

I have been through the ringer with MS - multiple departments, calls, chats, posts here. And NO ONE will give me the slightest hint of an answer.

Current Situation (after multiple fix attempts and lots of changing paths/locations):

There is no actual desktop folder (blue folder w little dots on left)
There is a regular folder I call Desktop. I can add/edit/delete files on it when I'm in the folder path
All those changes show on the actual desktop - but nothing on the actual desktop can be add/edit/delete. Any attempt at working on the actual desktop results in:
0x800401E5: No object for moniker

An unexpected error is keeping you from creating the file

The blue desktop official folder is gone. Not in recycle, not in system backup. No where.

all I want to do is make the regular folder "Desktop" be my actual Desktop Folder (working as the actual desktop, blue icon with three dots).

I do not understand why this has been like 20 hours of my life and no one at MS will do a thing to help me across multiple tickets at least a dozen people and being bounced around different departments.

4 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Hi Melissa T,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Q&A Forum.

I understand that you are facing an issue with your Folder/Path, please try these steps below to help resolve this:

You can kindly transfer files/folders from one account to another account by copying files and pasting in the destination account.

Use Windows Explorer to navigate to C:\Users to the account you want to COPY - Right Click on the Folders (and/or files) and COPY - go to the other account and PASTE where you want to put them.

I hope it helps, please feel free to let me know if you need any further assistance.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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Answer 2

Melissa T 0

I have to start a new account and spend 3 days copying/syncing files to get a desktop folder? What does that even mean to start a new account? Will it affect my syncing or account info in any way? @Ian-T

is there really not a way to just assign a folder to be the "desktop" folder that shows as the actual desktop and has the blue icon with three dots?

Ian-T 5,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-29T10:10:48.1933333+00:00
Hi Melissa T,

Sorry for the late response and thank you for the follow up.

Here are a few additional steps and questions that you can kindly follow:

Right click one of the items on your desktop, choose Properties > Location. Note which path is shows.

Check the folder that you're calling "regular folder" - right click it, go to Properties > Security tab and ensure that your user account has full control.

In your OneDrive settings, check whether Desktop backup is enabled.

If the built-in Desktop folder is missing entirely, you might need to recreate it and then point Windows to it.

Create a new folder C:\Users\YourName\Desktop

In registry or via the bult-in "Location" dialog for Desktop folder, (right click Desktop > Properties > Location tab) set the path to that folder.

If you prefer, you can share the exact path you now see in the "Location" tab for both your current folder and what Windows thinks the Desktop it
Melissa T 0 Reputation points

2025-10-31T21:57:31.0966667+00:00

The path on the actual Desktop is C:\Users\ username \OneDrive\Desktop The path to the regular folder I’m calling Desktop is C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Desktop

I cannot add/open/change/delete/edit anything on the actual desktop. Only in the folder called Desktop.

Yes to Security – all users on the system are listed.

Desktop is swiped to backup (already was) – and that little blue folder with the three dots on the left is right there. It also used to be the icon for the actual Desktop folder. Not the standard yellow icon.

Which leaves this, “In registry or via the bult-in "Location" dialog for Desktop folder, (right click Desktop > Properties > Location tab) set the path to that folder.” And I’ll need some help with that please. Thank you.
Ian-T 5,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-04T14:15:33.74+00:00
Hi Melissa T,

Thanks for the detailed update. What you’re seeing is typical when OneDrive Known Folder Move (KFM) redirected the Desktop to C:\Users\<username>\OneDrive\Desktop. Even after you pause or unlink OneDrive, Windows may still point the special “Desktop” shell folder to the OneDrive path, which prevents edits on the actual desktop surface.

Please feel free to try the following steps:

File Explorer > C:\Users<username>\Desktop > right‑click Desktop > Properties > Location > Restore Default > Apply > Yes > reboot.

If there’s no Location tab, repair the mapping in the registry: Open Regedit > go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders > set Desktop to C:\Users\<username>\Desktop > OK > restart. (Back up registry first.)

Disclaimer: Generally, modifying registry subkeys or work group is intended for advanced users, administrators, and IT Professionals. It can help fix some problems; however, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For further protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click How to back up and restore the registry in Windows - Microsoft Support to view the article.

Prevent re‑redirecting: In OneDrive > Settings > Sync & backup > Manage Backup, turn Desktop backup Off (or reset OneDrive with %localappdata%\Microsoft\OneDrive\onedrive.exe /reset and then reconfigure).

Please note that as we are forum moderators, we don't have access to your account/devices for configuration
Melissa T 0 Reputation points

2025-11-04T17:48:07.46+00:00

Thxs again for the help. When I go to the desktop folder - just the regular folder I created called desktop - and click "restore default" - it says, "

the folder c/users/user/desktop does not exist would you like to create it?

Just to be clear - right now, there is a folder I made up called "desktop". It does match the actual desktop in terms of files/adding/deleted. But the actual desktop doesn't work when I try to add/edit/delete folders/files. I can only do that from explorer.

So do I say yes to this?

I haven't gotten to Part II of your answer yet.
Ian-T 5,645 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-05T06:14:43.2733333+00:00
Hi Melissa T,
Yes, click “Yes” when Windows asks to create C:\Users\<user>\Desktop. That prompt means the real Desktop folder is missing or redirected. Creating it restores the default path so you can add/edit/delete items directly on the Desktop again.

After that:

Check Desktop > Properties > Location shows %USERPROFILE%\Desktop.

If OneDrive backup is enabled and you want a local Desktop, turn off Desktop backup in OneDrive settings.

Move files from your custom “Desktop” folder into the real Desktop folder.

Restart Explorer or sign out/in if changes don’t apply. Let me know if you still can’t edit files afterward.

Answer 3

MotoX80 36,901

And NO ONE will give me the slightest hint of an answer.

I'll try to help.

I'm sorry, I don't see a "blue icon with three dots" anywhere on my Win11 laptop or Win10 VM. Maybe you have something installed that I don't. That might be why you are having trouble getting help.

Check your OneDrive settings and see if you selected Desktop to be backed up or not.

User's image

As you can see, I turned off desktop backup. So, when I look at the properties of the icons on my desktop, I see that their location is C:\Users\My-User-Name\Desktop. Note that some desktop icons are available to all users and are stored in C:\Users\Public\Desktop.

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But if you enable OneDrive backup for Desktop, then it gets moved to C:\Users\Your-User-Name\OneDrive\Desktop.

At some point in time, I had desktop backup enabled on all of the pc's that I have, and in the OneDrive\Desktop folder I see shortcuts to software that is installed in my old Win10 desktop and not my new Win11 laptop. Replicating desktop across all pc's made no sense to me.

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You should right click on a few items and in the General tab check the Location. Figure out which "desktop" you are using.

At the same time, select the Security tab and verify that your account has full control.

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Melissa T 0 Reputation points

2025-10-31T21:58:29.5933333+00:00

The path on the actual Desktop is C:\Users\ username \OneDrive\Desktop The path to the regular folder I’m calling Desktop is C:\Users\username\OneDrive\Desktop

I cannot add/open/change/delete/edit anything on the actual desktop. Only in the folder called Desktop.

Yes to Security – all users on the system are listed.

Desktop is swiped to backup (already was) – and that little blue folder with the three dots on the left is right there. It also used to be the icon for the actual Desktop folder. Not the standard yellow icon.

Which leaves this, “In registry or via the bult-in "Location" dialog for Desktop folder, (right click Desktop > Properties > Location tab) set the path to that folder.” And I’ll need some help with that please. Thank you.
MotoX80 36,901 Reputation points

2025-10-31T23:57:47.26+00:00
The path on the actual Desktop is ... The path to the regular folder I’m calling Desktop is ....

So they're the same folder? I don't quite understand the need to distinguish them...

I cannot add/open/change/delete/edit anything on the actual desktop. Only in the folder called Desktop.

But they're the same folder, correct? Open a command prompt and run this command to create a file named xxxxxxxx.txt.

echo xxxx > c:\users\%username%\onedrive\desktop\xxxxxxxx.txt

Did the xxxxxxxx.txt file get created? If you minimize all windows, does the file visibly show up on your desktop? If you try to edit the xxxxxxxx.txt file, does it open? Does it give you the "0x800401E5: No object for moniker" error when you try to update it?

all users on the system are listed.

That's not correct. That indicates that someone on your PC was changing permissions which could be the root of all your problems. Did you do that or was someone else making file permission changes on your PC?

Copy and paste these commands into that command prompt window.

icacls c:\users\ icacls c:\users\%username% icacls c:\users\%username%\onedrive icacls c:\users\%username%\onedrive\desktop

Please copy and share the results. I would like to compare what's on your pc with what my laptop and a test VM has.

Is your PC Win 10 or 11?

Format the text using this site's Code Block formatting icon. Here is a sample formatted with the Code Block.

C:\>icacls c:\users\ c:\users\ NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(F) BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)(F) BUILTIN\Users:(RX) BUILTIN\Users:(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE) Everyone:(RX) Everyone:(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE) S-1-15-3-65536-4045685566-1323397456-4055816110-285687253-194181-4019357623-1925838800-191844675:(S,RD,X) Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files C:\>icacls c:\users\%username% c:\users\madne NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM:(OI)(CI)(F) BUILTIN\Administrators:(OI)(CI)(F) PLUTO\madne:(OI)(CI)(F) S-1-15-3-65536-599108337-2355189375-1353122160-3480128286-3345335107-485756383-4087318168-230526575:(S,X) Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files C:\>
Melissa T 0 Reputation points

2025-11-01T01:06:15.7066667+00:00

Windows 11.

the cmd prompt autofills with:
C:\Users\username>

When I try C:\Users\username>\onedrive\desktop\test.txt

The system cannot find the path specified.

And any other cmd will all start with that code already filled in, so not sure how to do the rest of your testing.

I tried admin cmd access and again, a prompt is already there:
C:\Windows\System32>

So not sure how to test your cmd prompt. I can do basics here, but programming is generally outside my area of expertise.
MotoX80 36,901 Reputation points

2025-11-01T01:30:16.7333333+00:00

When I try C:\Users\username>\onedrive\desktop\test.txt

No. You didn't copy and paste the entire command.

Open a command prompt window and with your mouse or keyboard right click to do a paste operation.

Then left click and hold to select the text. It will get highlighted like this.

Right click will then copy the text. Back here right click to paste the text.

https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=297&q=windows+how+to+copy+and+paste+text+from+a+command+prompt
Melissa T 0 Reputation points

2025-11-01T02:57:56.02+00:00

the cmd prompt autofills with: C:\Users\username>

When I try C:\Users\username>\onedrive\desktop\test.txt

The system cannot find the path specified.

And any other cmd will all start with that code already filled in,
MotoX80 36,901 Reputation points

2025-11-01T18:23:25.2566667+00:00

Sigh...

It doesn't autofill anything. That is your current directory. You can then use the change directory command, CD, to change to any other directory like I did here with Windows.

It appears that the issue here is that, if you don't have the experience to understand command prompt basics, and be able to follow my instructions to do a copy/paste of commands, then this problem needs to take a different path.

Research on the internet points to user profile corruption as the source of the 0x800401E5 errors. I had hoped that I could figure out what was wrong and get it fixed so that you didn't have to "start a new account and spend 3 days copying/syncing files".

Since you commented that "Yes to Security – all users on the system are listed", I wanted to start with that. All user accounts would not by default be granted access to your user folder. That says that someone was modifying permissions. The problem with that is that we forum users have no way to know what all has been changed on your PC. Either by you or by someone else. This forum does not lend itself to troubleshooting errors where there may be multiple problems, not all of which may be readily apparent.

I have this neighbor, and every time he has a problem with his PC, he calls me on the phone and tries to explain what he did and what his problem is. In almost all cases I tell him to just stop. Then I walk down to his house and sit down in front of his pc and look around and see what he has done. He just doesn't have the experience that I have to be able to "see" things and recognize that something is not right. It's just a whole lot easier that way.

I think that you would benefit from having someone who has a decent amount of Windows support experience to sit down in front of your pc and have you explain to them the history of your pc. Who was working on it, what they installed, why the permissions on the Users folder got changed, what other permissions were changed, when this problem started, etc.

Do you know anyone or maybe a friend of a friend who could look at your PC?

Sorry.

Answer 4

Melissa T 0

No there is no one with any further Windows experience anywhere near me. I have set up this laptop on my own.

The flaw came when I added a seconded MS account - an enterprise account - w 5TB storage. I switched over to that profile and it worked great for 3 months. Everything synced, desktop was fine, mobile apps worked.

Then MS cut off that account for no reason and no explanation after 30 hours of begging them. It kept saying i was using like less than 2% of the 5TB storage available, but wouldn't sync anything b/c storage was full. Both accounts are on my laptop and in my authenticator - but I transitioned everything back to the personal account. The only thing still broken is the desktop.

I keep following what other people are telling me (MS forums, MS support, live chat, calls, etc) - where I keep getting told to change the location/properties of the desktop. To the point it is now fully broken.

And no, I don't know command prompts. And I'd never dedicate 6 hours to being on the phone with MS live chat b/c they'll never understand the issue and no one there will be able to troubleshoot it and I'll be in tears spending 100% of my effort just trying to understand their accents.

The only thing I can tell you for certain is that NO ONE has every made any command level prompt changes to this pc. Anything done was from the user/admin site through steps like "change properties" of the folder. Never anything more than that.

MotoX80 36,901

Well, I hate to leave you hanging.

I looked at my laptop and tried to find all references to the desktop. I also checked the internet again for comments that users had made about the 0x800401E5 error.

I put together this Powershell script based on that. It doesn't update anything just reports on mainly registry values. If you're willing, give it a try. Maybe I'll see something that doesn't look right. No guarantee that I'll find anything but it's worth a shot if you're frustrated enough.

Start by searching for "ise". It should find Powershell_ISE. Click Open.

User's image

It will look like this. Click this icon to open a script windows.

User's image

You can click and hold on the divider between the panes to adjust their sizes.

Here is the script. Click on the Copy button. Then right click in the Untitled1.ps1 section to paste in the script.

cls 
"Environment variables........"
"Username is                       {0}   (OS says {1})" -f $env:USERNAME,(whoami.exe)
"Homedrive is                      {0}" -f $env:HOMEDRIVE
"Homepath is                       {0}" -f $env:HOMEPATH
"UserProfile is                    {0}" -f $env:USERPROFILE
"OneDrive is                       {0}" -f $env:OneDrive
"OneDriveConsumer is               {0}" -f $env:OneDriveConsumer
""
"HKCU Shell Folders........."
$sf = get-item "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"
$desktop = $sf.GetValue("Desktop")
"Your desktop folder is            $desktop"
$desktop = $sf.GetValue("Personal")
"Your documents folder is          $desktop"
""
"HKCU User Shell Folders........."
$usf = get-item "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders"
$desktop = $usf.GetValue("Desktop")
"Your desktop folder is            $desktop"
$desktop = $usf.GetValue("Personal")
"Your documents folder is          $desktop"
""
# Define the SHGetKnownFolderPath function using P/Invoke
Add-Type @"
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class KnownFolders {
    [DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Unicode, ExactSpelling = true)]
    public static extern int SHGetKnownFolderPath(
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStruct)] Guid rfid,
        uint dwFlags,
        IntPtr hToken,
        out IntPtr ppszPath);
    public static string GetKnownFolderPath(Guid folderGuid) {
        IntPtr ppszPath;
        int result = SHGetKnownFolderPath(folderGuid, 0, IntPtr.Zero, out ppszPath);
        if (result != 0) {
            throw new System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception(result);
        }
        string path = Marshal.PtrToStringUni(ppszPath);
        Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(ppszPath);
        return path;
    }
}
"@
# Example: Retrieve the path to the Desktop folder
"SHGetKnownFolderPath ............"
$DesktopGUID = [Guid]::Parse("B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641") # GUID for Desktop
$DesktopPath = [KnownFolders]::GetKnownFolderPath($DesktopGUID)
"Desktop Folder:                   $DesktopPath"
$DocsGUID = [Guid]::Parse('FDD39AD0-238F-46AF-ADB4-6C85480369C7')
$DocsPath = [KnownFolders]::GetKnownFolderPath($DocsGUID)
"Documents Folder:                 $DocsPath"
""
"Checking path folders...."
$env:Path.split(";") | Where-Object {$_ -ne ""} | foreach {
    if (!(Test-Path $_)) {
        "Not found:               {0}" -f $_ 
    }
}
""
"Explorer Backup........."
$eb = get-item "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Backup\{B4BFCC3A-DB2C-424C-B029-7FE99A87C641}"
$ts = $eb.GetValue("VisitedTimestamps")
"Timestamp is                      $ts"
""
"Control Panel........."
$cp = get-item "HKCU:\Control Panel\Desktop"
$pc = $cp.Property.Count
"Desktop property count is         $pc"
""
"There are {0} files in {1}" -f (Get-ChildItem $DesktopPath -file).count,$DesktopPath
"Permissions for DesktopPath......."
icacls.exe $DesktopPath
""

Press F5 to run it.

User's image

Please adjust the divider so that you can see all of the output in the blue pane.

Then launch the snipping tool. Press and hold the Windows key and the shift key, and then press the letter "S". With the mouse select the blue pane section. When you release the mouse, the snipping tool will show in the lower right of your screen. Click on it. Press Ctrl+A to select all, Ctrl+C to copy the image. Tab back to this site and paste (Ctrl+V) the image in a reply.

More help on the snipping tool here.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=how+to+use+the+windows+snipping+tool

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Desktop MAJOR Folder/Path Issues

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