Desktop profile missing

Question

Following a Windows update today, system not booting correctly systemprofile\desktop is missing. No file manager available to search, the only thing we can get to is task manager

Answer 1

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.

Or

Press Control + Alt + Delete

Click Task Manager

Click File > Run new task

Type: explorer.exe

Click OK

Another option is to to kill the File Explorer process completely.

Press Control + Alt + Delete

Click Task Manager

Click File > Run new task

Type: CMD

Hold down the the shift key

Click OK

Type:

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

Hit Enter

Exit Command Prompt

Click File > Run new task

Type: explorer.exe

Click OK

If that does not work...

There seems to be some early adopter issues at this time with Windows 10 1803, if you can, I recommend you downgrade to your previous version until the Spring Creators Update matures with future cumulative updates.

Press Control + Alt + Delete

Click Sign out

At the Sign In screen, hold down the shift key on your keyboard while clicking the Power button on the screen

Continue to hold down the shift key while clicking Restart

Continue to hold down the shift key until the Advanced Recovery Options menu appears

Click Troubleshoot

Click Advanced options

Click Go back to the previous version of Windows

Windows Update might attempt to upgrade to Windows 10 1803 again. See instructions how to block it:

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/block-windows-...

Note: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 2

Hi again Marion -

That error most likely mean it's started into a Temporary Profile because yours was too corrupted to start. In this case your files most likely are either in your old profile at C:\Users, or sometimes archived in C:\windows.old. You can browse in to see using this method: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Otherwise what we know is that the Version Upgrade won't likely roll back until the User account is repaired, and the User account will rarely repair. But if you can enable the hidden Administrator account used for emergencies, you might be able to create a new Local Admin Account to replace it, then sign in, test if it works, copy your files in and when ready delete the old account and hide the hidden Admin again:

http://www.top-password.com/blog/4-ways-to-enab...

http://www.howtogeek.com/226540/how-to-create-a...

If this doesn't work then it confirms it's the overall install that's corrupted. You can attempt to repair it from Safe Mode by working throughout this checklist:

https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf...

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

If Safe Mode won't work then as a last resort you can attempt to run the checklist's SFC and DISM repairs from the Command Prompt in Repair Mode or from booted media:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc...

Between these and the previous steps you have every possible option that will either repair or lead to the best possible reinstall which should not suffer these kinds of problems again.

Answer 3

This seems to be a bug in Windows 10 1803, you are among a long list users who are encountering. The best recommendation right now is to initiate the rollback from the sign in screen.

Answer 4

Hi Andre, we got to the point of login, it appeared to be opening the correct profile. Error box came up 'Unknown Hard Error' 2 or 3 times. Screen went blck with just an arrow

Answer 5

Hi Marion. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

Here are steps to recover from failed Updates or Version Update install which causes Windows to fail to start:

1. Try whichever method works here to get into Advanced Startup Options to run System Restore if this is a Windows Update, or Go Back to Old Version if this is a version update. https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2294-advanc.... Easiest is to restart or force shutdown the PC 3 times.

If you are able to access System Restore or Go Back and it fails, skip to step 3.

2. If necessary create bootable installation media to access the repair options if not accessible by any other method: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

Boot media by powering up the PC while pressing the BIOS Boot Menu Key: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/hardware-tutor...

You may need to enter BIOS/UEFI Setup to turn off Fast Boot if it won't allow the Boot Menu key to interrupt starting Windows: https://www.mydigitallife.net/comprehensive-lis...

Choose UEFI version of media if offered, browse to second screen to Repair Your Computer link, then Advanced Troubleshoot options to run System Restore to a point before the problem began, or choose More Options to Go Back to Old Version if this was a version Update.

If it rolls back then you can hide the Windows Updates and Version Upgrade responsible until they mature by installing and running immediately the Hide Updates tool: https://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent...

3. If this fails try a Startup Repair, or go back to Troubleshoot Options on the previous screen to Reset your PC which will save your files while reinstalling Windows.
4. If that fails you can use the booted media to Clean Install the latest version which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki... The link compiles the best possible install of Windows 10 that will stay that way as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

There is a step to rescue files from the same bootable media: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Once you're back in Windows 10, you can block the problem Windows or Version Update using one of these methods: https://www.howtogeek.com/224471/how-to-prevent...

Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I'll keep working with you until it's resolved.

________________________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.