System Folders won't delete from desktop!

Question

Earlier, I checked a box somewhere to ‘show system folders' on my desktop (Administrative Tools, Fonts, Printers and Faxes, Scanners and Cameras, Network Connections and Scheduled Tasks folders) I have 5 desktops established on my pc PC the system folders show on all of them. I want to remove them from all desktops, but they aren't shortcuts and won't delete. I already unchecked the box to ‘show system folders’ and have the folder view set to 'hide hidden folders', but they are still there.

RoHe · Answer

Try running System Restore to latest date available before you made that change. Personal files won't be affected, but any software of Microsoft updates originally installed after the date used for the restore will have to be reinstalled.

click start>help&support
click "undo changes..."
Follow the prompts and select last date before you put the folders on the desktop.

Ron

criss1118 · Answer

Thanks, but I've been trying to remove these since January and I don't want to undo what's been added to 5 desktops since then. Not if there's any way to just remove the folders.

RoHe · Answer

Try this:
Open a folder, any folder.
Click Tools>Folder Options on the toolbar
Click View tab
Change setting for Hidden Files and Folders to "Do not show hidden files and folders"
Check "Hide Protected operating system files"

Does that help?

Ron

RoHe · Answer

You could try running windows system file checker
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok
Insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done. Then make sure "Do not show Hidden files and folders", and "Hide protected operating system files" are still selected on the Folder options View tab.

I suppose you could just drag all those folders off the desktop to some other folder on the C: drive ? ?

Ron

criss1118 · Answer

No, both items are checked. I've even reset the folders to the defult view and they are still there.

JRosenfeld · Answer

In folder options, show/hide hidden files and folders, etc. only affects what you see/don't see in Windows Explorer or My computer. I doubt they would have any effect on the icons on the desktop.   I don't know where you checked a box 'show system folders on desktop' (maybe in some tweak app?).   As far as My Documents and My Network Places are concerned, right click desktop, click properties, desktop tab, click customize desktop, you can uncheck them there.   As for the others, I came across this site that instructs on how to put administrative tools, printers and faxes, scanners and cameras, on the desktop. Perhaps reversing the steps (registry edits) given there will make them disappear.   http://www.petri.co.il/add_admin_tools_icon_to_the_desktop_in_xp_2003.htm   The fonts folder should be in C:\Windows. If it is there, then you could also try deleting the icon for it on the desktop using unlocker (free)   http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/#download

Windows General

System Folders won't delete from desktop!

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