External backup can't see Desktop

simrick said:

hmmm....maybe forget that and try this:
How to Reset Microsoft Edge in Windows 10

Reset Edge through its settings. (I haven't personally used the PowerShell method yet...)

Did it. After doing that it suggests "Windows’ System File Checker tool (sfc.exe) might be able to fix the problem. You can run a full system scan with the System File Checker by right-clicking the Start menu, selecting “Command Prompt (Admin)”, and running the following command: sfc /scannowFor more information on running System File Checker commands, check out our guide on the subject. If the SFC command fails to fix the problem, then try the more advanced DISM command or System Update Readiness Tool described in our guide. Restart your PC and hopefully Microsoft Edge should work properly.


Here is the link to "our guide on the subject" if that doesn't work above <http://www.howtogeek.com/222532/how-to-repair-corrupted-windows-system-files-with-the-sfc-and-dism-commands/>

I'm running a Full Scan by Defender (43 min so far) now that I have Uninstalled AVG and Updated Defender. BTW, IYO, is Defender sufficient as an anti-virus program to no longer use AVG?

I'll proceed with the rest of the browsers while the Defender scan progresses and get back to you when finished if not before.

simrick said:

After Defender is finished, and the browsers are all reset, Step #5 is running the system file checker (sfc /scannow). Be sure to re-boot in-between each time you run it (assuming the result you get is *not* "no integrity violations found"). In the tutorial I linked on running sfc /scannow, you'll see, down towards the bottom, a code box with instructions how to get that log text file to me, if we need it. If you have any questions, please ask. I should be here for a few hours.

Windows Defender has come a long way from its infancy days as Security Essentials, and it's pretty good now, but I wouldn't depend on it alone (or any AV, for that matter). You need a layered approach, as different programs excel in different detections. If you were to stay with Defender (which I now use and like very much), I would recommend adding a few more programs to cover all the bases. We can go over that in detail later, if you like.

OK, simrick, here are the files for the scans I've run. I have not yet rebooted since yesterday morning, but I did get the "no integrity etc" notice on the second scan after quarantine. I just noticed that you said to reboot before running sfc a second time. Should I reboot and run it again?
OK it doesn't like any of the CBS.logs - too big so only the ADWC file. Shall I split the CBS logs into two parts?
And still no Cookies or Desktop folders in C:\ Users and file paths still have \Cookies in them.
What's next?

OldMike65 said:

Don't want to butt in ...simrick will take good care of you!!!
Just wanted to say Hello to a fellow Mainer!!! Not very many folks on here from Maine. Maybe 2 or 3 .....lol I am about 30 miles from Portland. Used to work in Portland. Just wanted to say HI :) Take care, Mike

Hi Mike,

Well, simrick might end up wanting everyone to butt in if he wants to have any hair left. LOL

Few Mainers? My experience is that most everyone I know who has a computer would not know how to get here. It's not that you can't get here from there, but not knowing that here exists. LOL I do much appreciate that you young people are on the ball here. (I'm assuming that 65 in your handle is your young age, of course.)

Lest you think that I'm joking about being older, in basic training in the Air Force some 50+ years ago, I was given a choice of two careers. One was classified and in electronics and the other was computers. I went to the barracks and my TI asked "What did you get?" I told him "One is something called computers" and he said "What's that?" Then he said. "What's the other?" and I said "Classified - something in electronics." Then he asked me where the training was and I said that Computers was in Amarillo, TX and he turned up his nose and said "The armpit of the AF." And then I said the Classified one was in Denver, and he grabbed me by the shirt front and shouted "THERE'S 7 WOMEN FOR EVERY GUY THERE!!!" So I went into electronics repairing equipment that monitors the world for atomic bombs. Later I met a guy from basic who did go into computers and IBM guaranteed him a job for $35K/yr when he got out two years later 1966. A princely wage then for a non-college grad. Me, none of my training was useful in civilian life. LOL

BTW, I'm in Leeds, west of Augusta, and north of L/A. Be well.