Accidentally Deleted Downloads folder

I would advise caution in moving and/or deleting Windows folders, junctions, etc. Sometimes, unintended consequences can crop up immediately or later on. Between moving projects, I advise making full images of your OS partitions (and data partition) onto external media. Sometimes such consequences can lead to anything from "hours spent on fixing problems - to Repair Install - to full ReInstall of Windows. Figuratively, learn to walk on rice paper like Legend of Kung Fu's Kwai Chang Caine.

If all else fails, restore a system image backup from prior to this issue. That would be the most foolproof fix.

Madrona said:

So I take it all the folders within the folder tree of 'my name' are kind of base root folders and are not removable.
Whereas all the folders within the folder tree under 'This PC' are duplicates of the 'my name' folders, and are removable.
Would this be correct?
And once removed, they do not also remove the contents of my name folders, is this correct?

The different File explorer Navigation pane 'roots' are two displays of the same things. There is no single answer that applies to everything under both your username 'root' and ThisPC 'root'.

If you open File explorer from a general shortcut, such as a simple shortcut to explorer.exe, then only the ThisPC 'root' appears & what's witthin ThisPC can be reduced to show only real folder locations [rather than shortcuts dressed up to look like folders] using the tutorial I mentioned before.
Personally, I find this simpler & much less confusing.

Denis

mngerhold said:

I was a bit puzzled by the appearance of the 'Jonathan' folder under desktop: I guess this is the 'folder' revealed by selecting 'user's files' under desktop icon settings?

Martin,

The view Jonathan posted is one I also sometimes see [but always hope to avoid].
- Having a 'Desktop' entry as the name of the 'root' folder as his was is a normal thing, or what passes for normal in Windows interface design.
- It is not an indication of any user folders having been relocated. It is just a view. A Desktop user folder cannot [without difficult explicit action***] be set as the pinnacle / root of a File explorer, Navigation pane folder display.
- I don't know how I sometimes get that method of display. Unlike one rooted on the username, I cannot deliberately call it up.


*** You are currently engaged with another user trying to achieve precisely that for another folder [using a KeithM solution].


All the best,
Denis