Phantom desktop icon

[Steve]

That's too extreme to get my endorsement. I don't think you've
finished trying the command prompt yet, according to what you've told
us.

Thank you. I'm glad I'm seeing your posts now. Two others of yours I
only saw because someone replied to them.
I'd rather not fool around with creating a new user account. That's kind
of like the last resort. Well, I suppose formatting the hard drive would
be the LAST resort. I could learn to love that little phantom before I
would go there.

 

[Steve]

Then you're looking in the wrong folder. Navigate to the proper
folder, make sure the DIR command finds and lists the file, then use
the DEL command on it.

OK, I get it. I didn't quite understand what to do. I'm going to bed
now, but I have tomorrow off so I will see what I can do then. Thanks!

 

[R. C. White]

?Hi, Steve.

Have you tried Dir with the /x switch?
Dir /x

This should produce a normal Directory listing - with an easily-overlooked
extra column before the normal filenames. The extra column shows the SFN
(Short File Name, also called the 8.3 filename) for any file whose LFN (Long
File Name) does not qualify as an SFN. Even a 1-character filename can be
an LFN if that one character is a Space or other "illegal" character. Use
that SFN in your Del command to Delete that file. If it is a folder, use
the RD (Remove Directory) command instead; we Delete files and Remove
folders. (To be sure that you've spelled the SFN correctly, you can use the
Command Prompt's Mark/Copy/Paste functions.)

As usual in a Command Prompt window, use Dir /? to see a list of all the
switches and parameters available with the Dir command. The /a switch shows
All files, including those with Hidden or other Attributes set. And the /s
switch lists files in all subdirectories of the target directory. So use
the command:
Dir C:\ /x /s /a

This should show the SFN for EVERY file anywhere on Drive C:. It starts at
the top (C:\) and lists ALL files and folders in ALL directories on the
disk, no matter their Attributes, and shows the SFN for EVERY file/folder
with a LFN that does not qualify as an SFN. Just be prepared: this list
can be VERY long! It's better to CD (Change Directory) to the parent of
that "phantom" file, or use the pathname in the Dir command. For example:
Dir "C:\User\Steve\Desktop" /x /s /a

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-9/30/10)
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3502.0922) in Win7 Ultimate x64
SP1 RC


"Steve" wrote in message

Then you're looking in the wrong folder. Navigate to the proper
folder, make sure the DIR command finds and lists the file, then use
the DEL command on it.

OK, I get it. I didn't quite understand what to do. I'm going to bed
now, but I have tomorrow off so I will see what I can do then. Thanks!

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

?Hi, Steve.

Have you tried Dir with the /x switch?
Dir /x

This should produce a normal Directory listing - with an easily-overlooked
extra column before the normal filenames. The extra column shows the SFN
(Short File Name, also called the 8.3 filename) for any file whose LFN (Long
File Name) does not qualify as an SFN. Even a 1-character filename can be
an LFN if that one character is a Space or other "illegal" character. Use
that SFN in your Del command to Delete that file. If it is a folder, use
the RD (Remove Directory) command instead; we Delete files and Remove
folders. (To be sure that you've spelled the SFN correctly, you can use the
Command Prompt's Mark/Copy/Paste functions.)

As usual in a Command Prompt window, use Dir /? to see a list of all the
switches and parameters available with the Dir command. The /a switch shows
All files, including those with Hidden or other Attributes set. And the /s
switch lists files in all subdirectories of the target directory. So use
the command:
Dir C:\ /x /s /a

This should show the SFN for EVERY file anywhere on Drive C:. It starts at
the top (C:\) and lists ALL files and folders in ALL directories on the
disk, no matter their Attributes, and shows the SFN for EVERY file/folder
with a LFN that does not qualify as an SFN. Just be prepared: this list
can be VERY long! It's better to CD (Change Directory) to the parent of
that "phantom" file, or use the pathname in the Dir command. For example:
Dir "C:\User\Steve\Desktop" /x /s /a

RC

Another thing your very useful post reminded me of is this: If the name
that Steve sees in the GUI contains invisible characters, such as the
space you mentioned, he would never see the correct name, and so never
type it correctly. Like if a space or another non-displayed character is
the last character of the name, it would not be noticeable...

 

[Bob]

I don't know where you're looking but if you're seeing dll files you're not
looking at your Desktop.

 

[johnbee]

< "Bob" wrote in message
If there is nothing in the desktop folder (don't forget to look also in
Public's desktop in case that appears in all) and it isn't a recycle bin
(recycle bins are put on the desktop without being in users\username\desktop
so there might be something in that) another possibility is partially
removed software or partially installed software which has left a reg entry.
I am delving into stuff I don't know much about here, or at least am a bit
vague about.

If you are moderately ready for a bit of danger,

Open Regedit and navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

Double click on NameSpace and check inside each of the GUID folders.

You might be able to recognise the phantom by its name. With a bit of luck.
You can exit regedit without damaging anything. Don't do it after coming
home from the pub. Anyway, of course you could go the whole hog if you find
it there, and delete something but that you do at your own risk.

Worth a look anyway.

 

[Char Jackson]

Another thing your very useful post reminded me of is this: If the name
that Steve sees in the GUI contains invisible characters, such as the
space you mentioned, he would never see the correct name, and so never
type it correctly. Like if a space or another non-displayed character is
the last character of the name, it would not be noticeable...

Weird spellings and illegal characters are the reasons why I suggested
using a wildcard to identify and delete the troublesome file. To be
safe, you should always use the dir command (with the wildcard mask,
if necessary) to see what's being caught in the net, then just change
dir to del and keep the wildcard so you know what's being deleted.

 

[Steve]

OK, I get it. I didn't quite understand what to do. I'm going to bed
now, but I have tomorrow off so I will see what I can do then. Thanks!

Maybe I don't get it. I tried to do the right thing. It came up with:
Directory of C:\Users\Steve\Desktop
Below that are 4 lines. Two dates and time. The words 282 desktop.ini
and a little more that leads me to nothing.

Hold on... before anyone tries to help with this, give me a minute to
continue with the Dir /x suggested by R. C. White. I seem to be getting
farther with that.

 

[Steve]

Gasp! It's gone!
I got to where I could see that column of short file names. I could see
the one in front of what the bad file was named on the desktop. I was
really tempted to ask exactly what to do next so I wouldn't mess up. I
was pretty sure I knew, so gave it a try. It's gone from the desktop. I
feel like I should restart the computer to make sure it is really true.
I'll be back to this thread at least one more time to let you all know.
Thank you, RC, for coming up with something that worked. Thank you for
taking the time to spell it out clearly enough that I could get it to work.

Steve

 

[R. C. White]

?Hi, Steve.

Congratulations! ;<)

You're welcome, of course, and Thanks for the feedback.

Oh, one thing that I left out about that sometimes very long listing
produced by Dir with the /s switch: To interrupt it, just press <Ctrl>+C.
That's just the equivalent of the <Break> key, but sometimes <Break> doesn't
work in the Command Prompt window.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-9/30/10)
Windows Live Mail Version 2011 (Build 15.4.3502.0922) in Win7 Ultimate x64
SP1 RC


"Steve" wrote in message
Gasp! It's gone!
I got to where I could see that column of short file names. I could see
the one in front of what the bad file was named on the desktop. I was
really tempted to ask exactly what to do next so I wouldn't mess up. I
was pretty sure I knew, so gave it a try. It's gone from the desktop. I
feel like I should restart the computer to make sure it is really true.
I'll be back to this thread at least one more time to let you all know.
Thank you, RC, for coming up with something that worked. Thank you for
taking the time to spell it out clearly enough that I could get it to work.

Steve

 

[Steve]

?Hi, Steve.

Congratulations! ;<)

You're welcome, of course, and Thanks for the feedback.

Oh, one thing that I left out about that sometimes very long listing
produced by Dir with the /s switch: To interrupt it, just press
<Ctrl>+C. That's just the equivalent of the <Break> key, but sometimes
<Break> doesn't work in the Command Prompt window.

RC

Thanks again!

 

[Steve]

Does anyone know how to get rid of a desktop icon that my computer
insists doesn't exist?
A friend sent me some information in a file. I could only open it by
dragging and dropping it on my Open Office shortcut icon. It opened
looking like a spreadsheet. Soon after, I noticed what appeared to a
second copy of the same. Dragging to recycle bin does nothing. Right
clicking and choosing delete only leads to a message that the file
doesn't exist. I can't move it anywhere else because "it doesn't exist".
Restarting the computer didn't change things. So it sits there on the
desktop taunting me and I can't make it go away.

It's true. The Phantom icon is gone and the problem is solved.
Thank you to everyone who replied and offered advice. I really
appreciate all of you taking the time to type out those ideas and
directions.

Steve