Netsurf still won't start from it's own folder because it cannot findit's rsc file but as Jean-François says, it is not related.I remember I once tried hard to reproduce this, but it only happened occasionally.
I only happens when using another desktop than teradesk AND launching from the drive directly! Example: running from C:\netsurf\ doesn't work! running from U:\c\netsurf\ does work with all desktops.