25-07-2025, 11:46 AM
Depends on just how/where you are clicking to open the downloads ie from the This PC window, Frequent folders window, a desktop link to the downloads, or somehow else...
believe it or not shortcut links to files/folders can go bad, and it is just a matter of deleting the old shortcut and creating a new one from the original folder (right click [more options] send to desktop)
Windows has a concept called 'Libraries' - Pictures, Music Documents are all 'Libraries' which can contain multiple seperate folder locations, but presented in a unified view. These can have similar issues - by default they are usually a library with a single folder ie your pics, docs, music folder. Not likely your problem as downloads isn't a default library.
You will need to do something fairly soon re windows 11 - eventually Win 10 will be too insecure to do things like online banking, shopping, email etc. No one in their right mind would be using windows 7 for these things nowadays. But you could start by looking up the system requirements for all those apps you use to see if Windows 11 is listed as supported, whether upgrades are required etc.
and if you have a full system backup with Macrium Reflect or similar, then it is relatively straightforward to go back to the old windows 10 image anytime. and I believe the windows 11 upgrade process allows a rollback to win 10 within 10 days if you're not liking it...
believe it or not shortcut links to files/folders can go bad, and it is just a matter of deleting the old shortcut and creating a new one from the original folder (right click [more options] send to desktop)
Windows has a concept called 'Libraries' - Pictures, Music Documents are all 'Libraries' which can contain multiple seperate folder locations, but presented in a unified view. These can have similar issues - by default they are usually a library with a single folder ie your pics, docs, music folder. Not likely your problem as downloads isn't a default library.
You will need to do something fairly soon re windows 11 - eventually Win 10 will be too insecure to do things like online banking, shopping, email etc. No one in their right mind would be using windows 7 for these things nowadays. But you could start by looking up the system requirements for all those apps you use to see if Windows 11 is listed as supported, whether upgrades are required etc.
and if you have a full system backup with Macrium Reflect or similar, then it is relatively straightforward to go back to the old windows 10 image anytime. and I believe the windows 11 upgrade process allows a rollback to win 10 within 10 days if you're not liking it...
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