Mysterious folder on desktop will not delete

Question

This is very strange and I am stumped with what to do. It causes no harm but I would just like it gone to keep my desktop clean :smileyhappy:. I closed my normal program windows and randomly there was this unnamed folder on my desktop. there is nothing in it, and it will not let me delete it. it tells me "Cannot delete file: Cannot read from the source file or disk." I cant rename it or move it into other files either.

I rebooted into safe mode and it does not appear... Is there a way to get around this error?

Message Edited by crookedletterd on 03-13-2006 09:59 PM

Denny Denham · Answer

crookedlettert,

Go to Start|Control Panel|Display|Desktop tab. Click the "Customize desktop" button and on the dialog that opens see if anything is listed and selected on the Web tab. If so, delete it. (In Safe Mode you are not online so Web content will not be available for display on the desktop.)

crookedletterd · Answer

ZoomFix: Thanks for the link, however the folder does not have a name so how would I delete it within cmd prompt?  I dont even know how to navigate to the desktop through cmd prompt either.   Denny Denham : Nothing is selected within the web tab     Any other ideas?

wee.alex · Answer

Does the folder show in Windows Explorer ? If so, try Shift - Delete

crookedletterd · Answer

It does show up in explorer however the shift delete did not work.   ZoomFix, I was able to navigate to desktop in cmd prompt and can see the folder and when it arrived there. It also says in between the time and where the name would be however there is no name for it.    Yes i can right click it to get properties but it doesnt acknowledge the changes (if i click hidden, and then click apply nothing happens...the hidden checkmark goes back to being unchecked when i go to see the properties again.)    I just got done reinstalling xp in a hope to get rid of it but its still there.

crookedletterd · Answer

I just did a repair install so i guess it just installed over the old one. Reformatting better not be the solution--all for a dang folder that wont delete! :smileymad:

Ending explorer.exe just makes the folder disappear so there is no way to select it.

oh and check disk turned up nothing

thanks for the ideas so far though. i really appreciate it

Message Edited by crookedletterd on 03-15-2006 12:53 AM

tgsmith · Answer

Crookedletterd,

You can use the System Configuration Utility to disable items that start automatically.

Click Start|Run. Type msconfig. Click OK.

Click Startup tab. Clear the check box beside any desktop entries in the Startup Item column that are listed as Common Startup in the Location column, and are located in any of the following locations (as indicated in the Command column).

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Startup

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

Click OK. Restart computer. See if problem recurs. If it does, let us know.

Tony

crookedletterd · Answer

Hey Tony,

It doesnt show up in the system configuration utility. There are no start up programs listed within these folders:C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Startup

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu

Is there a way to navigate to the desktop items within the registry files? maybe its in there somewhere?

tgsmith · Answer

Crookedletterd, Ok. Here's the way I usually find an elusive unwanted startup item.   Click Start|Run. Type msconfig. Press Enter.  Click on the Startup tab.  Uncheck the first 6 items.  Apply change.  Exit msconfig.  Restart computer.   Unwanted item still present on desktop?  Run msconfig again.  Check first 6 items.  Uncheck next 6.  Apply. Exit and restart.  And so on.  When the unwanted item is no longer present, then I know its one of the 6 unchecked items, so I then turn each of those on one at a time, apply and restart. When it reappears.  I know exactly which one it is.    If this procedure doesn't get rid of the unwanted desktop item, then it's being generated by some form of unwanted service or is attached to a needed service.  Troubleshooting just got a little more difficult.  Let me know what you find. Tony

crookedletterd · Answer

I tried messing with msconfig but I really dont think it is in there.  I usually keep an eye on the programs in there anyway to keep a faster startup... and everything that is checked is mostly for McAfee and other things i know.     Is there a way to find desktop items in the registry?

tgsmith · Answer

Crookedletterd, You asked, 'Is there a way to find desktop items in the registry?'  Not in the sense that all desktop items are located in one specific registry location.  However, I'm sure you noticed in the Startup folder of the System Configuration Utility that the majority of the startup items had registry locations.  That's why I suggested my method of finding the source program that generates the unwanted icon.  It's sort of a safe way of temporarily editing registry hooks. You mentionned that if you started up in Safe Mode the unwanted icon didn't appear.  Try this.  Restart in Safe Mode.  Do not logon as Administrator.  Logon as your Normal Mode user with administrative rights.  If the unwanted desktop item is not present, then we know that it's either a startup item or a service item that's generating the unwanted item.  Let me know what you find out. In the meantime, I'll be doing some more research on the issue.. Tony

crookedletterd · Answer

hey tgsmith,

I restarted in safe mode under the normal user and the folder does appear. It still says the same thing about it not being able to delete the folder. this is becoming very strange. worst case, i can just push it up in the left corner of my screen so it just goes out of sight...

thank you very much for your input so far

wee.alex · Answer

crookedletterd, Hope you like reading :smileyhappy: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/320081/en-us

crookedletterd · Answer

wow that is a lot of info, i will look into it.

Something interesting i found out though... If I create a shortcut of the unnamed folder, and open the shortcut, it takes me to the desktop & the shortcut folder changes to that "show desktop icon."

wee.alex · Answer

@crookedletterd wrote:

wow that is a lot of info, i will look into it.

Something interesting i found out though... If I create a shortcut of the unnamed folder, and open the shortcut, it takes me to the desktop & the shortcut folder changes to that "show desktop icon."

Strange one so it is, I came across something like this earlier but it only mentions it happening in Win 2000 & NT.4 and according to MS it should disappear on its own.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/226428/en-us

Do you still have the 'Show Desktop' icon on your quick launch bar ? or would it be worth trying to drag to there to see if you can delete it.

crookedletterd · Answer

I dont hve the 'show desktop' icon on my quick launch.  bringing the folder/shortcut to the folder to the quick launch still would not let me delete it.   I should say that Instead of just 'showing the desktop' It actually opens a window and shows desktop icons in there.

Windows General

Mysterious folder on desktop will not delete

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