Changing Desktop location in Windows results in wrong folder being linked

Question

I'm dead confused, I followed the instructions here and set my desktop folder to D:\Pocket\desktop2.

We can verify this in the registry:

But desktop2 folder is not showing in D:\pocket. Instead, the Desktop is shown!

I can't understand what's happening. I've had "show hidden files and folders" enabled, so why is D:\pocket\desktop2 not showing?

Solution 1

Windows has an ability to set a "localized" name for special folders. For example, on all Windows versions "Documents" folder remains "Documents", but shows its name in current user's GUI language. So this is why you see this folder named "Desktop".

How to rename

1. Enable "Show Hidden files" if Explorer Folder Options (In view tab)

2. Open hidden file desktop.ini in Notepad

3. Change LocalizedResourceName to whatever you like:

   [.ShellClassInfo]
   LocalizedResourceName=My Magical Name
   IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-112
   IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
   IconIndex=-235
   

You can delete this desktop.ini file outright, but it is re-created automatically, sometimes.

Solution 2

"Desktop" is a special virtual folder (hence the different icon). You changed the real folder it (effectively) points to, but you did not change the name of the special virtual folder that Windows Explorer shows you.

Solution 3

It seems like more of a feature than a bug.

You have set the folder D:\Pocket\Test as your desktop folder. Now Windows Vista is masking the real folder and is showing you the logical folder that is the Desktop.

You can make sure that the desktop folder is indeed your D:\Pocket\Test by right clicking the Desktop folder and verifying the path in Properties.

Also try opening D:\Pocket\Test from Run Prompt. It should open Desktop folder.

If you REALLY want to see that D:\Pocket\Test exists, just boot up using a Live CD and browse your Windows drive to D:\Pocket\Test. You will find the folder there.

Comments

[uSlackr]

The registry seems to point to d:\pockets\desktop2. Now I'm confused

[Pacerier]

@uSlackr edited appropriately

[Pacerier]

How do we disable the "masking"?

[surfasb]

@Pacerier: You can't.

[Ryan Clarke]

This is SO cool! I renamed my desktop to "Dash." Hello world of fantastically named system folders! I can't picture this blowing up all over my face... :)

[Pacerier]

@haimg I've no idea why a search for desktop.ini through my drive gives me alot of results. Are you saying that all these files are safe to delete?

[Ryan Clarke]

I think you only want to change the one in the D:\pocket\test folder.

[Pacerier]

@surfasb heys help me with this issue: superuser.com/q/334630/78897 thanks =P

[Pacerier]

@haimg cooool, could you explain the last 3 lines in the desktop.init file?

[haimg]

@Pacifier: These 3 lines specify the folder's icon in Explorer. See hwiegman.home.xs4all.nl/desktopini.html and msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/… for more info, actually if you google desktop.ini lots of useful info turns up :-)