Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable

Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable: If you are receiving the following error message when you start your PC “C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop refers to a location that is unavailable” then this indicates incorrect desktop location. When you log in to your account, you will discover that all of your desktop icons and apps are not present, instead, you will have a completely blank desktop and the following error pops up:

“C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop refers to a location that is unavailable. It could be on a hard drive on this computer, or on a network. Check to make sure that the disk is properly inserted, or that you are connected to the Internet or your network, and then try again. If it still cannot be located, the information might have been moved to a different location.“

Now there is no particular cause for this error message but you can face this issue when your system crashes abruptly damaging system files, corrupting user profile, or a corrupting Windows update etc. So without wasting any time let’s see how to actually Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable with the help of the below-listed troubleshooting guide.

Contents

• Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable
• Method 1: Reset Desktop to Default Location
• Method 2: Registry Fix
• Method 3: Copy Desktop Folder Back to Its Location
• Method 4: Perform System Restore
• Method 5: Create a New User Account

Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable

Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Reset Desktop to Default Location

1.Press Windows Key + R then type the following and hit Enter:

C:\users\%username%

2.Right-click on the Desktop folder and select Properties.

3.In Desktop Properties switch to Location tab and click on Restore Default button.

4.Click Apply followed by OK.

5.Reboot your PC to save changes and see if you’re able to Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable Error.

Method 2: Registry Fix

If the above method doesn’t work out then try this one instead:

1.Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.

2.Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

3.Make sure to select User Shell Folders then in the right window pane double-click on the Desktop.

4.Now in the value data field make sure the value is set to:

%USERPROFILE%\Desktop 

OR

C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Desktop

5.Click OK and close Registry Editor.

6.Reboot your PC to save changes.

Method 3: Copy Desktop Folder Back to Its Location

1.Press Windows Key + R then type the following and hit Enter:

C:\users\%username%

2.See if you can find two Desktop folders, one empty and other with your desktop contents.

3.If you do, then delete the desktop folder which is empty.

4.Now copy the desktop folder which contains your data and navigate to the following location:

C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\

5.When you navigate to the systemprofile folder it will for your permission, simply click Continue to access the folder.

6.Paste the Desktop folder into the systemprofile folder.

7.Restart your PC to save changes and see if you’re able to Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable Error.

Method 4: Perform System Restore

1.Press Windows Key + R and type”sysdm.cpl” then hit enter.

2.Select System Protection tab and choose System Restore.

3.Click Next and choose the desired System Restore point.

4.Follow the on-screen instruction to complete system restore.

5.After reboot, you may be able to Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable Error.

Method 5: Create a New User Account

1.Press Windows Key + I to open Settings and then click Accounts.

 

2.Click on Family & other people tab in the left-hand menu and click Add someone else to this PC under Other people.

3.Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information in the bottom.

4.Select Add a user without a Microsoft account in the bottom.

5.Now type the username and password for the new account and click Next.

Log in to the new user account then:

1.Open the File Explorer then click on View > Options.

2.Switch to the View tab and checkmark Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

3.Uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).

4.Click Apply followed by OK.

5.Navigate to the following location:

C:\Users\Old_Username

Note: Here C is the drive on which Windows is installed and Old_Username is the name of your old account username.

6.Select all the files from above folder except the following:

Ntuser.dat
Ntuser.dat.log
Ntuser.ini

7.Now press Windows Key + R then type the following and hit Enter:

C:\users\%username%

Note: This will be your new user account folder.

8.Paste the copied content here and reboot your PC.

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That’s it you have successfully Fix Desktop Refers to A Location That Is Unavailable Error but if you still have any questions regarding this guide then feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.