desktop.ini

Excuse my ignorance everyone but I hardly ever use Vista.
Anyway I have a file "desktop.ini" appear on my desktop even if I delete it.
I don't have it/ ever remember seeing it with XP, is this normal? If not how do I get rid of it?
Thanks.

 

It's normal.Probably the file settings are changed and not hidden any more.

 

Great! I checked the properties and "hidden" is checked, but even if it's normal how do I get rid of it?
Thanks

 

Really? 'Cause I've never seen it...

If he deletes it, then what does it matter?

 

You don't seem to understand. I have deleted it already (saved it 1st) only to reappear on the next boot up.

 

Oh I get it.

In Explorer, you have to go to Organize > Folder and Search Options > View tab and check the box "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)".

(When you delete the file, Windows is just re-creating it.)

 

if that is already checked
it could also be a virus....

the one virus i've ever gotten did that. look in your local disks (c) to see if there are folders called "system volume information" and "recycler." these are normally normal folders that are hidden. download Unlocker, and "unlock" the sys vol info folder.. there should only be two processes running.. if there are more then you have a virus (don't know the name and had to use a variety of programs to get rid of it)

 

Alright jcovelli I must tell you you got my attention with your virus possibility as this is one of the main reasons I hardly ever use windows. I got Unlocker and the only service that's running in System Volume Information is svchost.exe
I run the command "tasklist /SVC" and this instance of svchost.exe is associated with AudioEndpointBuilder, EMDMgmt, hidserv, Netman, PcaSvc, SysMain, TabletInputService, TrkWks, UxSms which I believe are all system services. So I don't think that a virus is at play here but thanks for your suggestion.

 

It is not a virus, it is a desktop.ini file. It will be there as long as you have other icons on your desktop. You can remove the desktop icons if you so choose.

 

"desktop.ini" is a settings file. If you delete it, it will just create another one, since it's supposed to be there. If you have "Hide operating system files" unchecked you'll see these things. It should appear semi-greyed out indicating it's a hidden file.

 

Thank you all.
It really is not a big deal I just don't like it there.

 

This is my current desktop. I have a system tray and a half dozen toolbars lined up at the bottom that auto-hide.

 

i've never seen it and i have icons, and i have my folder settings to show hidden files and folders

 

It usually shows up when the setting to show system files is activated.

 

ahh ok i see it now. i have an folder on my desktop where i put all my icons and when i went into it i saw the desktop.ini.

 

its not a virus...
the reason it is recreating is because it holds data for the desktop settings