Unable To delete thumbs.db

Me too, Windows 8.1 suddenly started showing thumbs.db in all folders and on desktop.  I need to have thumbnail view as I have so many pictures.  I keep dumping it in Recycle Bin but it just comes back. How do you stop it creating and recreating itself?

Elizabeth -

I had the same problem since I had Windows 8.1 regular edition which does not have work groups which has an easy fix for thumbs.db .  My thread here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8_1-files/thumbsdb-file-in-use-by-another-program-inhibits/31757847-8be8-439b-8a33-d24599ef3b26 has the solution. 

In summary, it requires an addition to your windows registry which is accomplished by using notepad to make a text file whose file name ends in .reg .  It's pretty straight forward.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer]

"NoThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer]

"DisableThumbsDBOnNetworkFolders"=dword:00000001

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

"NoThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]

"DisableThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

"NoThumbnailCache"=dword:00000001

Copy everything above between the ---------------------- 's and put it into notepad.   Save it as a text file named something like ihatethumbnailcaching.reg on your desktop or documents folder.  The file end of the file name must be ".reg" for this, but the file name and location isn't important.  It is just for your own reference and so you can find it.   It could be win8.1.thumbnail.correction*.reg***, afixYAY*.reg***, or whatever and can be saved anywhere so long as you can find it.  Once it is saved, navigate to where you saved it, double click the file, and it will update your windows registry automatically.

Once you've double clicked it, you're done.  You can delete the .reg text file you created.  Using it more than once doesn't change anything or create multiple registry entries.  You should be able to see thumbnails in your directories and no thumbs.db file will be created anywhere.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Greg Dixon

I have solved this problem for myself. I went to Explorer and opened This PC clicked on the View tab went to Options and "Change Folder and Search Options", clicked on View tab, went to "Hidden Files and Folders" and clicked on "Don't show hidden files folders or drives" and then scrolled down to "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and clicked on that.  Clicked on Apply, clicked on OK. Result!!! So far the wretched Thumbs.db has not re-appeared all over the place.

You haven't stopped them being created, you've only stopped being able to see them.

Yes, but that's better than screwing up my laptop by trying to amend the Registry !