Folder Redirection GPO - Desktop Icons disappear/reappear when desktop refreshed

Question

Folder Redirection GPO - Desktop Icons disappear/reappear when desktop refreshed

Philip Gardner 31

Server 2012r2 domain
-1 Domain Controller (JC-DC01)
-1 File Server (JC-File)
-150-175 users
-Mixed environment of Windows7 and Windows10, about 50/50
-Offline Files enabled
-DNS set to DC only
-Gigabit infrastructure

Here are the scenarios…

The user logs in.
All icons and programs seem to be fine on the “desktop”.
Network folder (U: Private) is connected.

Issue #1
If there is a file on the “desktop”, and the user opens it.
• It may open with no problem.

OR -
• A error message might appear. See pic #1.

Issue #2
If there is a file “created and saved” to the “desktop”.
• It may save to desktop.

OR -
• An error message might appear.

Issue #3
The “desktop” icons simply disappear.
Except for the “Recycle Bin”, “This PC”, and “user folder”.

• Usually can right click and select “Refresh” and the icons reappear.

OR -
• An error message appears. If I select “OK”, then the icons may reappear.
OR -
• I have to sign off or reboot to make icons reappear.

Issue #4
All Icons are on the desktop as they should be.
Right click and select “Refresh”.
All icons disappear.
Same as #3.

Issue #5
Open up “Documents” folder.
Select a file.
• It may open with no problem.

OR -
• A error message might appear.
• Select “OK” and it might open up.
Or -
• Same error message may appear again.

I can provide any questions asked, and I'm extremely motivated to remove this issue from the environment.

6 answers

Your answer

Answer 1

I'm having almost the exact same problem (similar setup, similar results) and would love to see a resolution. One thing I'm noticing is that in my events viewer on the AD server, I'm seeing the user logging off of the domain in rapid succession when this happens (like 5 times in a row, less than a second apart). Also, it seems to happen only when a program creates temp files in the same directory as the file being opened (Desktop, Documents), especially with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Publisher).

Answer 2

Philip Gardner 31

One revelation was discovered -

During the GPO creation, the dreaded 'Grant user exclusive rights to 'Desktop' and 'Documents' were checked. This has since been disabled, "gpupdate /force" ran, and I do realize that this will not retroactively affect any user folder.

Current GPO settings - it was purposefully kept as simple as possible, with the exception that the 'Grant' box was check unknowingly by installer tech.

Answer 3

Vicky Wang 2,741

Hi@Philip Gardner
Thank you for posting in our forum
If offline files are disabled icons are not available when a user is not on the LAN, this is by design. If they are redirected can you actually see a users desktop folder in the redirected location? Is it mirroring what the user is experiencing? Would be pretty east to test all of this with a VM od a desktop to see what is really going on.
What exactly are the icons for that they need access to? Local programs? File share locations? Other?
Hope this information can help you
Best wishes
Vicky

Philip Gardner 31 Reputation points

2020-10-02T13:17:48.37+00:00

Vicky,
These are not computers that 'leave the LAN'. These are desktops. I'm well aware of how it works, why it works the way it is, and so forth.
Don't look for problems, I'm giving you the problem.

The problem is simple: with a GPO for desktop/document folder redirection, using a standard SMB share, works flawlessly, with the one exception of disappearing icons.

Don't read more into it, its really that simple... Issue will persist until someone figures out the solution.

Sorry, your information doesn't help at all, but feel free to try again.
MattF-1783 11 Reputation points

2020-10-02T13:24:09.043+00:00

And to back up what Philip is saying, these are desktops for me as well. 3 different ones, 3 different domains on completely different networks. And naturally it happens to a key employee who "gets things done" at each location. Thankfully, they're very patient. But it's enough to drive you nuts.

Answer 4

Vicky Wang 2,741

Hi,

Just checking in to see if the information provided was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

Best Regards,
Vicky

Answer 5

Wayne Jones 16

I am still testing this but so far it looks like turning off Access Based Enumeration for that particular share seems to have fixed the issue.
We have 4 users out of about 40 that were having the same issues as you described. Desktop icons would disappear when creating new documents or just at random.
I disabled Access based Enumeration of the server that is hosting the share (no reboot needed)
I tested again and it was still occurring, however after a reboot of the client device the issue seems to have been resolved for each of the affected users.

I would like someone else to confirm this works for them. Good luck!

Wayne Jones 16 Reputation points

2020-10-09T13:51:46.52+00:00

Just updating this to say that it has been 3 days now and this issue hasn't reappeared since disabling Access Based Enumeration for that particular share. Hope this helps someone.
MattF-1783 11 Reputation points

2020-10-09T14:39:52.227+00:00

I've literally just disabled ABE on the one server and rebooted it, so hopefully I'll know if this worked by lunch time.
Wayne Jones 16 Reputation points

2020-10-09T16:19:05.77+00:00

Good luck, as stated the desktop PCs did need a reboot also.
MattF-1783 11 Reputation points

2020-10-14T20:25:08.94+00:00

2 days of no issues! Gonna monitor for about a week, and if all is good, I'll try this fix at the other two locations where it's happening. If this all works, my clients owe you a beer! :)
Wayne Jones 16 Reputation points

2020-10-15T11:56:27.377+00:00

Awesome news! I still haven't had any issues. I'm curious as to what caused this to happen though. ABE has been enabled on that server for years.
MattF-1783 11 Reputation points

2020-10-23T13:12:18.687+00:00

Everything's working well here. Also applied this at the other two locations and problem was resolved there, too. One interesting thing at one location. Once I applied this change and had the user reboot, a few icons appeared on their desktop that weren't there before. And the user could not delete them. Turns out they were the user's files, but somehow the files had become orphaned (user was no longer the owner, no longer had perms on the files). Was able to re-assign those perms as an admin, then they could delete the files. I wonder if that could be a clue. Note that for the other two users, it's entirely possible that a file or two has returned to one of the three folders being redirected, but they haven't noticed yet (both are notorious for having a gazillion files visible on their desktop). Anyway, I need to move the Users$ directory out of the main Data share so I can leave it off for that, but turn it back on for the rest.
Domonkos Bugár 11 Reputation points

2021-02-17T10:34:42.76+00:00

Okay guys, I have the same problem, I just follow your tips, and now I start to hopeing! :)
This post was the first, for a long time, what specify exactly my problem on 3 different domains (Win 2016 server) on completely different networks, and many-many Win 10 clients. I'm so happy, that I found this forum, post, you, and maybe the slove :)
Philip Gardner 31 Reputation points

2021-05-11T16:23:40.627+00:00

I'm glad to hear that it may be something that simple.

I am in the process of turning off ABE on that \userhome\ share to see if that makes a difference, I certainly hope it does.

Give it a week and I'll report back.

Thank you all for your help.
Jesse B 11 Reputation points

2022-03-04T22:20:21.323+00:00

Update Please!

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Folder Redirection GPO - Desktop Icons disappear/reappear when desktop refreshed

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