I've lost the finder and desktop icons

Purchased new iMac 10 days ago but did not immediately transfer data from old computer.  When I did, I transferred from a Backup on Time Machine using Migration Assistant .  I did not merge the two users I had the New Jon (new computer)  and the Old Jon (old computer transferred to the new one).  I transferred applications and documents but did not transfer the computer and network settings. My reason for two users was that I knew there were programs on the old iMac (10.9.5, early 2008) that did not work on 10 and I was hoping to cherry pick.
However, the new iMac (10.10.2) wasn't seeing any of the desktop files in either user from the old Mac.  I decided to delete Old Jon keeping New Jon and starting over again.  When I did that, none of the Old Jon applications were deleted and are usable for both users AND the Finder is missing.  Clicking on Finder it says that the Finder can't be opened.  The finder had been working on both users on the new computer up to the point at which I deleted Old Jon. 
Interesting to note that at one time (I don't remember if I was upgrading from 9 to 10 or it was a 10 upgrade) but the Finder  on the old Mac also disappeared.  I was on forums and seemed to be a problem that many people had.  For me, the only thing that seemed to work was opening Activity Monitor and force quitting Window Server and after that the finder and desktop icon showed up.  So I'm thinking it must be a program or file I have on the old computer.  So, I thought I'd try downloading 10.10 figuring if I reinstalled I would get where back to an "out of the box" computer. 
Even though it said I was downloading 10.10 the new install said it was still 10.10.2.  All of the applications from the old Mac were still there and there was still no finder.  I created a couple of new identities  in the New Jon computer.  Both of them have access to the finder but the Main identity does not.  I have noticed that if you log under under one of the new identities and then go to the Main identity the Finder is there - but not if you log into the Main Identity first.
Can anyone give me hint as what I might do to where I might look or steer me to another forum?   Hope this isn't too confusing.  Thank you so much

Re-install the OS.
Do a backup. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair and Repair Permissions until you get no errors. Then re-install the OS.
OS X Recovery
OS X Recovery (2)
Clean install.
Do a backup. Boot to the Recovery Volume (command - R on a restart or hold down the option/alt key during a restart and select Recovery Volume). Run Disk Utility Verify/Repair and Repair Permissions until you get no errors.  Reformat the drive using Disk Utility/Erase Mac OS Extended (Journaled), then click the Option button and select GUID. Then re-install the OS.
OS X Recovery
OS X Recovery (2)
When you reboot, use Setup Assistant to restore your data.

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