Disable creation of desktop.ini files in Windows 8

Anonymous
2013-07-23T03:54:32+00:00

Hi all,

I want to know if it is some way to disable creation of desktop.ini files, at least in the desktop system folder.

I knew that in XP there was a DWORD key that should be created to avoid creating all desktop.ini files in the computer.

I don't want the desktop.ini folder features (icon personalization, remembering the last view options in each folder, etc)

So I don't want to hide the desktop.ini files. I want to remove them and avoid Windows 8 creating again and again.

If Microsoft disabled this personalization that was present in older version of Windows and now is not available (to disable creation of desktop.ini files) just say it. If there is some other registry key to be created or modified, please advise.

Thank you

Pablo.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Email and communications

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Anonymous
2013-07-23T23:51:43+00:00

Hi Pablo,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-01-02T22:00:13+00:00

    Why anyone would mark this as an answer is beyond me: it utterly fails to answer the OP.

    "When a change is made in these folders, Desktop.ini is updated."

    --  Not true.  This file is modified only when certain particular customizations are made.  (No one really does this, do they?)

    "Removing the file will cause issues with the Operating System"

    --  Not true.  Removing one of these files will remove any customizations it was holding.  (And since no one ever does this removing the file will do nothing.  I have removed hundreds without issue.)

    "If you want to stop these messages"

    --  Messages?  [shakes head]

    "Hide protected operation system files"

    --  This is exactly what the OP said he didn't want to do.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-01-02T22:04:40+00:00

    "No desktop.ini, no icons on the desktop"

    This is not true.  I remove them whenever I find them and I have icons on my Desktop (and elsewhere).

    There is a registry change which will prevent them from being created and which works at least from XP to Win7:

    http://jamesisin.com/a_high-tech_blech/index.php/2010/09/nevermore-be-bothered-by-desktop-ini/

    I have seen reports that this will not work in Win8 but I cannot confirm or deny this (though the OP here also suggests this is not working).

    It would be nice to see a proper solution to this problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-01-03T06:23:30+00:00

    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...

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-01-03T19:41:39+00:00

    Yeah, if it doesn't exist you have to create it.  It talks about that in my article as well.  If you find anything about Win8 though, please comment on my article as I haven't found a definitive answer as yet.

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