Cannot change mod directory from previous location

[CoroNaut]

Describe the bug
I installed NMM before it became a community version probably ~4 years ago and had used a different mod directory path than the default:
"C:\Users\CoroNaut\Desktop\Unused\stu"
The original and default folder being the standard mod folder:
"C:\Games\Nexus Mod Manager\Skyrim\Mods"

I want to change the mod directory back to this default path but no matter how hard I try, I cannot change it.

1. I've tried clicking the gear icon, selecting the skyrim tab, then replacing the "...\stu" path with the NMM default "...\Mods" path. I then click OK to finalize this. I can restart NMM and go straight back into the settings/skyrim tab and see it has not updated at all.
2. I've tried a complete re-install of NMM. After the initial setup finds all games on my system and I select skyrim, it pops up a window asking for the path for mod directory and others, this is defaulted to the "...\Mods" path, so I continue. Before it even gets done loading the main mod list screen, it pops up a message saying that X mod is installed but could not be found in the mod directory. I click "Yes" to re-configure the path to the mod directory, and it just changed back to the "...\stu" path when it pops up the same initial setup window for all the mod directory paths.
3. I always run NMM as administrator and have tried looking at the security of all the folders that NMM deals with to make sure that there are no read/write permission problems. I saw a couple

Other than these two ways to solve the problem, I wanted to find exactly what files store the mod directory path for my skyrim so I can change it in the files instead of inside the application. I however don't know what files store these. I would like to try this method if it's feasible.

Environment

• OS: Windows 7
• NMM version: 0.71.3
• Mod(s) used: (I will provide if needed but don't think its relevant to the bug)

Trace logs
From oldest first to newest last:

1. https://pastebin.com/egxtCPGb
2. https://pastebin.com/LDrAsJXr
3. https://pastebin.com/9hPuCYK2
4. https://pastebin.com/Yfef9mES

These are all my traces, I've been playing skyrim with the "...\stu" folder for like 2 weeks ago. Since I've re-installed NMM a couple times, I think any other traces have been deleted when uninstalling and reinstalling.

To Reproduce
I don't know if this is reproducible

Additional information
I have Skyrim LE for steam and Skyrim LE on the physical disk, I'd like to play on the disk copy if possible.

I've located some other online info similar to my problem that hasn't helped me really:

1. Similar issue in this git Mods Directory Not Changing #556
2. https://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/1350398-cant-change-mod-directoryinstall-info-on-nmm/

I've found a couple other similar things, but mostly re-iterated stuff I've already tried.