Unwanted "Desktop.ini" icons appear on desktop. Windows 7 64bit

Anonymous
2009-12-13T07:16:51+00:00

These icons are not short cuts, but notepad files.  Why are they there?   How can they be eliminated?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Ramesh 181.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2009-12-13T09:17:29+00:00

Hi AntipodeamRJ,

Enabling the Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) setting in Folder Options hides the two Desktop.ini files, as well. To access the Folder Options, open Windows Explorer, click Organize, click Folder and Search Options and select the View tab.

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Desktop Experience]

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-12-13T23:39:59+00:00

    Thanks for the help,  much appreciated

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-01-28T21:11:32+00:00

    Dear Ramesh - Thank you for your clarification. In my case I deleted the "Ghost" icons (no warning was posted by Windows!) and then discovered that I was deleting system files. Am now re-installing Windows 7 64 bit on my new machine to replace the mising files.

    Here's the problem though. In order to easily back up my Outlook PST files onto a memory stick or transfer them from PC to PC I need to visualize the Appdata folder so that I can locate the .pst files and drag them onto the storage media. In Windows 7 64 bit, the only way to visualize the Appdata folder is precisely to set the view option to SHOW PROTECTED OPERATING SYSTEM FILES!

    You may want to correct the situation, either by preventing system files from appearing on the desktop (as is the case with Windows XP even when system files are visualized), or by flashing a big warning notice when one is about to delete a system file from the desktop, or by allowing the Appdata folder to be visualized in Windows Explorer when the system  files are hidden.

    Thank you for the opportunity to vent my frustrations!!

    AAFlier

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  3. Ramesh 181.7K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2010-01-29T03:41:19+00:00

    Hi AAFlier,

    The AppData folder is "hidden" but does not have a "system" attribute set. Which means that you'll see the folder if you enable "Show hidden files" option (this doesn't effect files/folders with "system" attribute.)

    Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Desktop Experience]

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-09-21T21:32:35+00:00

    "Dear Ramesh - Thank you for your clarification. In my case I deleted the "Ghost" icons (no warning was posted by Windows!) and then discovered that I was deleting system files. Am now re-installing Windows 7 64 bit on my new machine to replace the mising files."

    AAFlier-  

    AAFiler, there was no need to reinstall windows after deleting those particular ini files. These are not critical to the system and can easily be replaced. For those of you who are new to this level of operation, i strongly recommend you leave these files hidden. It takes alot of time and effort to learn how to detect and remove threats on your own; best to leave it to some free AV programs while you read up. You would be surprised how many calls i get about a "virus" when actually, they had deleted the kernal or some random dll. Just be careful; if you're wondering about an unfimiliar file, you can always google it first.

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