Desktop.ini

[Jeff]

Hi guys
I am setting up my wife's new notebook running windows 7 64. Among the
many things I've done is setting the system to show file extensions and
system files. I have the same thing on my own PC, but there is a weird
thing on this new PC:
On the new notebook desktop it shows 2 files named desktop.ini. These
are not present on my PC. Can I just delete them or is there some other
way to hide them?
Thanks.
Jeff

 

[Nil]

On the new notebook desktop it shows 2 files named desktop.ini.
These are not present on my PC. Can I just delete them or is there
some other way to hide them?

Those files will show up if you have Windows Explorer set up to show
hidden and system files. You can hide them by turning off that option.

You almost certainly have the files on your PC - they contain settings
for the desktop. Open one with Notepad or other text editor/viewer and
you will see. If you delete them you will lose some settings and
Windows will just create new ones, so just ignore them.

 

[Kalkidas]

Hi guys
I am setting up my wife's new notebook running windows 7 64. Among the
many things I've done is setting the system to show file extensions and
system files. I have the same thing on my own PC, but there is a weird
thing on this new PC:
On the new notebook desktop it shows 2 files named desktop.ini. These
are not present on my PC. Can I just delete them or is there some other
way to hide them?
Thanks.
Jeff

Look in your "startup" menus, i.e., "C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\" and delete them if they're there.
Then they won't keep showing up.

 

[Char Jackson]

Look in your "startup" menus, i.e., "C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\" and delete them if they're there.
Then they won't keep showing up.

Are you sure about that? First of all, Documents and Settings is an XP
thing, not a Win 7 thing, and second, I've never seen a desktop.ini
anywhere within the Start menu, so this would be a first for me.

 

[Jeff]

Are you sure about that? First of all, Documents and Settings is an XP
thing, not a Win 7 thing, and second, I've never seen a desktop.ini
anywhere within the Start menu, so this would be a first for me.

Is there a way to have system files visible on some folders but not in
the desktop folder?

 

[Stan Brown]

Look in your "startup" menus, i.e., "C:\Documents and Settings\All
Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\" and delete them if they're there.
Then they won't keep showing up.

Um, have you tried that? It's always good to try your own advice
before posting it, unless you're 100% sure of your facts.

 

[Joe Morris]

Are you sure about that? First of all, Documents and Settings is an XP
thing, not a Win 7 thing, and second, I've never seen a desktop.ini
anywhere within the Start menu, so this would be a first for me.

"C:\Documents and Settings" exists in Windows 7, although as a junction
(aliasing C:\Users) and not as a "real" folder. Junctions can do strange
things if you try to use them in Explorer, so it's easier on the nerves if
you use "C:\Users" instead although most of the time either will work.

There are two copies of "desktop.ini" on the desktop because the Desktop is
the merger of two folders: your personal desktop, and the one that is given
to all users of the system. Each has its own "desktop.ini" file.

You can delete them, but eventually they will be recreated. As a practical
matter there are few situations where it's useful to have the system files
visible in Explorer (and many of those can be handled by using a command
window to list the contents of a folder), so unless you've got a specific
need to see system files, turn off that option and the ghostly "desktop.ini"
files will no longer be displayed.

Joe

 

[Kalkidas]

Um, have you tried that? It's always good to try your own advice
before posting it, unless you're 100% sure of your facts.

Yep. Did it myself. It works. Or if you're paranoid about deleting
supposed "system" files, you can change the file attributes to "hidden".
However, the desktop.ini files that are in the startup menu folder do
not seem to have any real functionality. I think it's just a minor bug
in Windows.

Some articles recommend checking "Hide protected operating system
files", but that's seems like throwing out the baby with the bath water.

 

[Kalkidas]

"C:\Documents and Settings" exists in Windows 7, although as a junction
(aliasing C:\Users) and not as a "real" folder. Junctions can do strange
things if you try to use them in Explorer, so it's easier on the nerves if
you use "C:\Users" instead although most of the time either will work.

There are two copies of "desktop.ini" on the desktop because the Desktop is
the merger of two folders: your personal desktop, and the one that is given
to all users of the system. Each has its own "desktop.ini" file.

You can delete them, but eventually they will be recreated. As a practical
matter there are few situations where it's useful to have the system files
visible in Explorer (and many of those can be handled by using a command
window to list the contents of a folder), so unless you've got a specific
need to see system files, turn off that option and the ghostly "desktop.ini"
files will no longer be displayed.

I deleted them a long time ago. They haven't ever come back. I knew
about the "hide protected operating system files" option, but that
seemed like overkill just to avoid seeing two icons on the desktop.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Yep. Did it myself. It works. Or if you're paranoid about deleting
supposed "system" files, you can change the file attributes to "hidden".
However, the desktop.ini files that are in the startup menu folder do
not seem to have any real functionality. I think it's just a minor bug
in Windows.

Some articles recommend checking "Hide protected operating system
files", but that's seems like throwing out the baby with the bath water.

OTOH, I have deleted desktop.ini files from folders and had them return
unbidden.

Since I tend to ignore them, I have forgotten whether the Desktop was a
place where the ini files returned (not currently present, however), so
my evidence is no more than semi-anecdotal