Missing main user in Explore file path

Question

PROBLEM- USER/GORDY (Main user) missing from Explorer path but exists when using cmd prompts.  And exists as location info for document and downloads

This is a long explanation, so please bear with me.

Prologue:

In November I set up a User having a my microsoft sign in

At that time File Explorer showed

 /User

  Administrator

  Gordy

  Gordy.GORDY-PC (the new one)

  Gordycannon

Now-

After upgrading to 1709 via Media Creation Tool (the only thing that would work)

I noticed the Quick Access AND This PC Document and Download folders were empty.

After research.  I changed location information to /users/gordy

   It seemed to work fine, I could seem my docs and downloads.

 However, during that step it asked me if I wanted to MOVE the contents.

 Unsure of what that meant, I said sure why not that seems to be what MS wants.

So life went on until I tried to do location for Pictures and Video - couldn't find user or something

I checked with File Explorer and /user/gordy was Still missing

 couldn't figure that out because the docs and downloads were clearly available

Tried several changes to File Explorer setting including shown hidden protected and everything else I could find on online discussion groups

 Still wouldn't work

Used Cmd prompt Dir to prove that /user/gordy existed at the "DOS" level - yep still there

NEXT

I reversed the microsoft sign on and returned to the old Gordy - no problem.

However, File explorer still does not show /user/gordy and yet it still exists and I still can't Locate(verb) pictures and videos.

Any help will be appreciated.  Sorry for the length

Answer 1

Hi Gordon, this is happening much too often at the moment, I think you are logged into a temporary account . . .

Please open Windows File Explorer

Navigate to C:\Users

Do you see your user profile appended with your computer name

Open that folder and check inside Pictures, Documents . . . etc. and see if your files are there

If your files are there:

Create a new user profile with Admin privileges

Log into the new user profile

Copy all your data from the old profile to the new profile (Documents Library, Pictures Library . . . etc.)

Can't really copy all my stuff from old profile to new profile because I cannot find my old profile.  That's what this is all about.

I used to be in this racket, probably before you were born,  and I know how difficult it is to snake out a problem.  But, please read my entire post.

Thanks

Answer 2

Hi Gordon, this is happening much too often at the moment, I think you are logged into a temporary account . . .

Please open Windows File Explorer

Navigate to C:\Users

Do you see your user profile appended with your computer name

Open that folder and check inside Pictures, Documents . . . etc. and see if your files are there

If your files are there:

Create a new user profile with Admin privileges

Log into the new user profile

Copy all your data from the old profile to the new profile (Documents Library, Pictures Library . . . etc.)

NO, the documents are not there.  There are 2 empty folders under Gordy.Gordy-PC.

Cmd dir c:/users show both Gordy and Gordy.Gordy-PC as directories.

Answer 3

Hi Gordon, this is happening much too often at the moment, I think you are logged into a temporary account . . .

Please open Windows File Explorer

Navigate to C:\Users

Do you see your user profile appended with your computer name

Open that folder and check inside Pictures, Documents . . . etc. and see if your files are there

If your files are there:

Create a new user profile with Admin privileges

Log into the new user profile

Copy all your data from the old profile to the new profile (Documents Library, Pictures Library . . . etc.)

Answer 4

Sounds like you have logged into a temporary profile. Try restarting your computer a few times. Press Control + Alt + Delete

Click Sign out

At the sign in screen, click the power button, then click Restart. Do this a few times then try signing again. If the desktop still does not show up, then you will need to create a new local user account.

Press Control + Shift + Esc

Click File > Run new task

Type: control userpasswords2

Click Add

Enter a user name

Password, confirm it, create a hint

Click Next

Click Finish

Click OK

Sign into the new account.

Open File Explorer on the Taskbar > This PC

Open the drive where Windows is installed

Open Users

Look if your old account old is there with your files

If they are, you can copy them over to the new account.