Strange files called desktop.ini on desktop

Jcwisgod

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Hi after I restarted my computer I noticed desktop.in files, is this normal, and can I delete them?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Ultrabook
    CPU
    2.6 GHz Core i5-3317U
    Memory
    8 gb DDR3 Ram
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320gb HDD, 120gb SSD
    Keyboard
    Backlight Island Style Keyboard
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    18 MB/S DL Speed
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Avast/Malwarebytes
It's normal, and yes you can delete them, and in earlier versions of Windows they used to stay gone.

But in my case at least, they won't in 8.1. They keep reappearing on restarting.

So what I did was this: Right-click on the desktop and select 'Large Icons'. Then drag the unwanted icons until
they are out of sight off the left of the screen. Reset icon size to 'Small Icons' and you'll never see them again.


Wenda.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 'Ultimate' RTM 64 bit (Pro/WMC).
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AS8951G 'Desktop Replacement'.
    CPU
    i7-2670QM@2.2/3.1Ghz.
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB@1366Mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT555M 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD w/Dolby 5.1 surround.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in. Non-touch.
    Screen Resolution
    18/4" 1920x1080 full-HD.
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 750GBx2 internal. 1x2TB, 2x640GB, 1x500GB external.
    PSU
    Stock.
    Case
    Laptop.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    Full 101-key
    Mouse
    USB cordless.
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox, Tor.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Pro.
    Other Info
    BD-ROM drive.
You also see them if you have "show hidden operating system files" set in folder options.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro Prieview x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    MacBook Pro Core2Duo
    CPU
    T7600
    Memory
    3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon X1600
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Internal
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 800
    Hard Drives
    40GB
    Keyboard
    Apple
    Mouse
    Apple
    Internet Speed
    Varies
    Browser
    Various
    Antivirus
    Defender
It's normal, and yes you can delete them, and in earlier versions of Windows they used to stay gone.

But in my case at least, they won't in 8.1. They keep reappearing on restarting.

Figured it was normal, just found it strange that it just started happening, I'll give that a try. Thank you :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Ultrabook
    CPU
    2.6 GHz Core i5-3317U
    Memory
    8 gb DDR3 Ram
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320gb HDD, 120gb SSD
    Keyboard
    Backlight Island Style Keyboard
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    18 MB/S DL Speed
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Avast/Malwarebytes
You also see them if you have "show hidden operating system files" set in folder options.

That's strange, "show hidden operating system files" set by its self somehow
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Ultrabook
    CPU
    2.6 GHz Core i5-3317U
    Memory
    8 gb DDR3 Ram
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320gb HDD, 120gb SSD
    Keyboard
    Backlight Island Style Keyboard
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    18 MB/S DL Speed
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Avast/Malwarebytes
Desktop.ini files are normal and have been a part of Windows for a long time. By default they are hidden but if you configured Windows Explorer to "Show hidden files, folders, or drives" they will become visible. They contain information about desktop icons.

See this for more information:
What Are These desktop.ini Files I Keep Seeing?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I think a program called MGtools.exe may have enabled "Show hidden files, folders, or drives".
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Ultrabook
    CPU
    2.6 GHz Core i5-3317U
    Memory
    8 gb DDR3 Ram
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    320gb HDD, 120gb SSD
    Keyboard
    Backlight Island Style Keyboard
    Mouse
    Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    18 MB/S DL Speed
    Browser
    Opera
    Antivirus
    Avast/Malwarebytes
Choose to hide protected operating system files:

screenshot_55.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Choose to hide protected operating system files:

View attachment 41334



Yes, but I like to see my hidden/protected files, because a lot of the time I tend to run the OS from within File Explorer, rather than from menus, icons and the All Apps screen. In order to do this, you need to be able to see the files.

Hence, by playing around a bit, I discovered the workaround I posted above.

But yes, that will get rid of them.


Wenda.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 'Ultimate' RTM 64 bit (Pro/WMC).
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AS8951G 'Desktop Replacement'.
    CPU
    i7-2670QM@2.2/3.1Ghz.
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB@1366Mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT555M 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD w/Dolby 5.1 surround.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in. Non-touch.
    Screen Resolution
    18/4" 1920x1080 full-HD.
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 750GBx2 internal. 1x2TB, 2x640GB, 1x500GB external.
    PSU
    Stock.
    Case
    Laptop.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    Full 101-key
    Mouse
    USB cordless.
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox, Tor.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Pro.
    Other Info
    BD-ROM drive.
Choose to hide protected operating system files:

View attachment 41334



Yes, but I like to see my hidden/protected files, because a lot of the time I tend to run the OS from within File Explorer, rather than from menus, icons and the All Apps screen. In order to do this, you need to be able to see the files.

Hence I found the workaround I posted above.

But yes, that will get rid of them.


Wenda.

I just posted a way to get rid of them, if one wished to. :)

+10---check your reps. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
Thanks, David, and jcwisgod.

Much appreciated. Glad you like the sig. :D


Wenda.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 'Ultimate' RTM 64 bit (Pro/WMC).
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer AS8951G 'Desktop Replacement'.
    CPU
    i7-2670QM@2.2/3.1Ghz.
    Motherboard
    Acer
    Memory
    8GB@1366Mhz.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce GT555M 2GB DDR3
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD w/Dolby 5.1 surround.
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in. Non-touch.
    Screen Resolution
    18/4" 1920x1080 full-HD.
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 750GBx2 internal. 1x2TB, 2x640GB, 1x500GB external.
    PSU
    Stock.
    Case
    Laptop.
    Cooling
    Stock.
    Keyboard
    Full 101-key
    Mouse
    USB cordless.
    Browser
    IE11, Firefox, Tor.
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, MalwareBytes Pro.
    Other Info
    BD-ROM drive.
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