Cannot change desktop filenames / generic icons

[kkinto]

Hi,
I recently put all desktop files into a folder to clear the space for sharing my screen in some work calls. After dragging the files back out again many of them are now displaying generic icons (screenshots, jpegs, psd etc that used to display and image - most of them are image files). Also I am unable to change the name of them. Get Info - the name is dimmed. I copied to another drive. Still cant. Changed permissions on user, desktop, used the 'apply to contents' - nothing works. They remain generic and filename cannot be altered.

Disk First Aid run, no improvement. Reboot, Killall Finder, relaunch Finder. Nothing helps. Just did an update to 12.5.1 as well, still same situation.

Any idea whats happening here? Would have thought a permissions issue but setting that from User down that doesn't seem to change anything.

 

[JustAnExpat]

Did the "owner" of the files change by chance? Are you still the current "owner", or did it change to something like "root"?

 

[Fishrrman]

Here's something to try.
It's "quick and dirty", but will hurt nothing.
I make no promises.

a. Put the problem files BACK INTO a folder.
b. Copy the folder to a USB flash drive or external drive
c. Now, with the drive mounted in the finder (but not opened), click ONE TIME on the drive icon to select it
d. Bring up "get info" for the drive (command-i)
e. At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your administrative password
f. Put a check into "ignore ownership on this volume"
g. Close get info

NOW try copying the folder back to your internal drive.
Open it up, see if the files can be accessed.
Any different?

 

[kkinto]

Thanks.

The 'owner' of the files still seems right (mre = my username)?

I tried putting into a folder, copying to external drive, set the tick box on ext drive GetInfo and then copied back. They are still the same, generic icon and unable to change name)

I also repeated that, but added the step of using the dropdown menu to "apply to enclosed items" as well but no difference unfortunately.

The 'owner' of the startup disk's GetInfo is listed as "system" whereas everywhere else it is "mre(Me)" - could this be an issue?