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\ Gomer \Cookies\Desktop
Top right is the same file Path is This PC> Desktop

Bottom left shot is This PC> C:> Users > Gomer 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

simrick said:

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?

simrick said:

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

simrick said:

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

Yes that is my question too. Unfortunately, that is the path shown in properties when I open Desktop Properties

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

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 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.