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Missing icons on desktop

emphyrio

Hello,

I tried Dropbox Backup. Bad idea.

When I disabled it, two system desktop icons disappeared and there seems to be no way to get them back.

I'm speaking about the "This PC" and "User files" icons.

Even if I check them in the settings, they don't appear any more on the desktop.

How can I fix that?

Thank you.

Patrick

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emphyrio

Hello,

I eventually fixed the issue yesterday.

Dropbox was not guilty. It was another software's fault (Fences from Stardock) that I installed almost at the same time than Dropbox.

But I must admit that I forgot about it.

I just unistalled and reinstalled it and my icons came back!

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you all for your help.

Patrick

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Hannah

Hey @emphyrio, thanks for reaching out to our Community.

Enabling the Dropbox backup feature does move your desktop folders in Dropbox.

Have you taken a look at your Dropbox folder to see if you can find a "PC" folder there?

You can also take a look at your backups page online.

Let me know what you find.

emphyrio

Hello,

I checked, it's not there.

Anyway, it is not a "normal" folder. It is the desktop icon you can show on the desktop by checking the corresponding setting in '*"themes-Additional desktop icons", in Windows settings.

I'm not sure about the settings names as my computer is in french, not in English.

I added a screen shot if it can help.

The missing icons are those shown on step 5.

Even if you check step 4 check boxes, the incons don't show any more on the desktop.

Hannah

Thanks for your response, @emphyrio.

Actually, even when enabling backup, the "This PC" folder should remain intact.

It's the folders inside (Downloads, Desktop, Documents) that would have been moved to Dropbox.

Are you able to locate these folders in Dropbox or your computer?

And is backup disabled now?

emphyrio

"This PC" icon disappeared at the moment I enabled Dropbox backup.

I disabled it since then and it never reappeared.

And it is now impossible to get it back with Windows corresponding setting.

Jay

HI @emphyrio, when you disabled the computer backup feature, did you have it revert the folders to their original locations?

emphyrio

Hi @Jay

No he did it by itself.

Now, my Desktop folder is: C:\Users\patri\Desktop

There is no "Desktop" in my Dropbox folder.

When I use the Windows "Icons on desktop" settings, I can add or remove the Trashcan or the Network icons, for example, but either I check or uncheck "This PC" icon, it doesn't come back.

emphyrio

The fact is that the "This PC" icon disappeared at the exact moment I enabled Dropbox backup on my desktop.

I then disabled it (thinking it would get "This PC" icon back, but it didn't).

And it is now impossible to get it back via Windows settings.

I can't find it anywhere on my PC or on Dropbox.

How can I fix it?

Walter

Hey @emphyrio, sorry to jump in here, but could you reboot your computer and try hiding and re-enabling the icons on your computer to see if that makes any difference?

If the issue persists, you might need to contact Microsoft Windows Support for further assistance.

emphyrio

Hello,

I eventually fixed the issue yesterday.

Dropbox was not guilty. It was another software's fault (Fences from Stardock) that I installed almost at the same time than Dropbox.

But I must admit that I forgot about it.

I just unistalled and reinstalled it and my icons came back!

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Thank you all for your help.

Patrick

Walter

I'm glad to hear it's sorted now and thanks for keeping us in the loop too, Patrick.

See you around the Community and have a lovely weekend ahead!