Disable creation of desktop.ini files in Windows 8

I can't help but note the following two points.

1.  For the most part, desktop.ini files CAN be removed with no ill effects; I regularly clean them out of the folders in my start menu hierarchy with no ill effects.  Cleaning it out of Downloads causes the custom icon to be removed, and no other problems.  So, contrary to the party rhetoric coming out of Microsoft, these are not essential, and can safely be deleted.

2.  They represent a monumental step backwards on the part of Microsoft.  I've been in the business long enough to remember the transition from Windows 3.1 to Windows 95.  One of the big selling points of Windows 95 was that it had this wondrous thing called the registry that provided an alternative to per-application ini files clogging up your system.  Yet here we are over 20 years later, and Windows Explorer is STILL dropping ini files all over our systems.  You'd think that by now, Microsoft would have upgraded Windows Explorer to be a little less Windows 3.1'ish, and a bit more Windows 10'ish, meaning it would put this information in the registry.

Amen to that, why isnt the registry used?

I too have been around since 95 and win3.1

The whole thing with having crazy bugs like this floating around is totally annoying and should be fixed like right away. I know several coders who say they could fix this in half a day.

Some software vendors jump right on stuff like this and squash it right away. MS is so bloated its just one of thousands of bugs/complaints and I wonder how big that list really is.

I am still using outlook client cause I have worked in several enterprise and carrier environments that used Outlook. But the Outlook client with IMAP and POP3 integration is also full of easy fixes..

Folks who been around a while are scratching their heads at where this is all going. They will probably delete my post !

I would like you to inform that Desktop.ini is a system file which deals with common folders such as Downloads, Documents, Pictures, and Music etc. When a change is made in these folders, Desktop.ini is updated. Duh

Removing the file will cause issues with the Operating System and so it is not recommended to remove the files. The desktop.ini file by default has the System, Hidden and Read-only attributes assigned. Duh

If you want to stop these messages, go to Folder Options through Search click settings and you will see Folder Options, click it and the View tab and scroll until you see " Hide protected operation system files (recommended) and put a check in the box. Duh

Hope this answers your query. You can write back to us for further queries/issues related to windows and we will be glad to assist you further. LOL

Dear Mahesh,

I hope you found meanwhile a better job than answering clearly stated questions with utterly useless and misleading answers. Cannot imagine Microsoft would continue to pay for junk like that. I recommend a job at a Darjeeling tea plantation. Good stuff and not intellectually challenging.

Take care.

Folks - Just put the following in a byebye.reg file, run it and then delete old ini files as you like:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer] 

"UseDesktopIniCache"=dword:00000000

Hi,

It turns out you are correct about the Desktop.ini files... I deleted mine (2), and there seems to be no adverse effects...

As far as the Regedit goes... I didn't find that particular key at all, in that location anyway...