Folder and Files are missing from desktop.

[ImSean]

I have an HP Windows 11 64-bit I7-700 @2.90GHz 32GB memory . Windows had an update the other day and after I updated, I was doing another backup transfer to an external SSD. A handful of files and folders disappeared from my desktop, and any folders left over were emptied. Certain programs I would try to run would give me errors like "Can't run the app on this PC, Check the Store for more info about Notepad".

Notepad doesn't even open. My user account has changed. My username or local account has changed. I had a picture there but it is now gone. I can't even log into the Microsoft account I had as well. Any attempt to click the "Sign In" brings up nothing.

I have run virus scans but nothing. The filing system now is wacky. There are folders in different places as well as files even with different extensions. My external Hardrives backups are pre-dated to January 2024 but I update every month and had a ton of new files and folders since then. Not sure what is going on as everything was working smoothly. If I re-install windows, will I lose anything else? Worse than that, will I have to re-install all my programs again? Blaaaah!

[BeemerBiker]

You may have inadvertently removed files from OneDrive or just a folder not part of OneDrive.  If you use "move" instead of copy then the files and folders will be deleted.  A quick check is to look in the recycle bin.  Both the C drive and even the USB flash have recycle bins as well as any other local disk drive.

Alternately, you may have logged out of OneDrive.  Log into your Microsoft or live account and see if the files are there.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/restore-deleted-files-or-folders-in-onedrive-949ada80-002...

[ImSean]

I actually dont use One-drive. I just back up important files onto my SSD. But logging in or signing into Microsoft account when I click on the sign in button under user accounts does nothing...or no function when I click on the sign in button. I usually just copy my Documents and Desktop folders over to my SSD and update it when needed. Nothing shows in the recycle folder other than normal things I have deleted....so this is a mystery.

[BeemerBiker · Accepted solution]

Microsoft would sneak in OneDrive on every major update requiring me to uninstall it.  A few updates ago I was unable to find the uninstall yet it was on my system.  I have since given up trying to remove it.

If you log into your Microsoft account a list of devices should show up at a minimum

The onedrive account login should be the same as the microsoft account or whatever login you used to activate windows.

https://account.live.com/messagepage.aspx

[ImSean]

Oh Boy! Yes Microsoft has done that in the past and I often found the file on my desktop was attached to the "One drive"  path. But right now, I cant even log into my Microsoft account so Not sure what happened but it was after the update. I tried to roll back but it wont let me. It says there is no previous versions of Windows. 😮