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Solved Invisible Folder -C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop

Discussion in 'Malware and Virus Removal Archive' started by ApricotSmuggler, 2008/10/03.

  1. 2008/10/03
    ApricotSmuggler

    ApricotSmuggler Inactive Thread Starter

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    [Resolved] Invisible Folder -C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop

    Hi Everyone. I've been 'saving' photos and wallpapers etc from internet sites, but they seem to be going into an 'invisible' folder with the reference:
    C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop
    I save the images by right clicking and selecting Save As. I then click on the desktop icon and naturally think that the image is being saved onto my Desktop. Incidentally, at this stage in the window I can see all the other images I've previously saved. However, when I go looking for the downloaded image, say through Windows Explorer or even just looking at my desktop, the image is nowhere to be seen/found. I've managed to identify that the images are actually being saved to the aforementioned C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop, but this folder/location cannot be found through Windows Explorer. I'm really worried about this as I'm wondering if it's due to a bug of some kind. Can anyone help please? By the way, my knowledge is basic so please keep it simple and bear with me if i have trouble following any advice you might be able to offer. Many thanks.:)
     
  2. 2008/10/03
    Rockster2U

    Rockster2U Geek Member

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    Right Click on your start button and select explore. Now click on Tools in the header and then select Folder Options. Now go to the View tab and select to dhow hidden files and folders and select not to hide file extensions. Now, go to C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop

    And .............. ?

    ;)
     

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  4. 2008/10/03
    ApricotSmuggler

    ApricotSmuggler Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi Rockster2U. Many thnaks for that suggestion. I managed to follow it until the last bit. When you say go to ... I assume you mean using the Windows Explorer facility which I opened with the Windows E key combination? If so, I still can't find the 'invisible' folder. Any other ideas or suggestions greatly received.
     
  5. 2008/10/03
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Sounds like just an incorrect setting for what's called the Places bar, but lets check a few others while we're looking. Highlight and copy the contents of the code box below.

    Code:
    @echo off
    reg query  "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders ">log.txt
    reg query  "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders ">>log.txt
    reg query  "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\comdlg32\PlacesBar ">>log.txt
    reg query  "HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders ">>log.txt
    reg query  "HKU\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders ">>log.txt
    reg query  "HKU\S-1-5-19\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders ">>log.txt
    start notepad log.txt
    exit
    cls
    
    
    Click Start then Run, type cmd and hit Enter to open a command window.
    Right click in the command window and select Paste.
    The commands will process rather quickly, the command window will close, and a log will open.
    Please post the contents of that log in a reply to this topic.

    BTW, the LocalService folder is a hidden system folder. From the View tab in Rockster's instructions, you would need to select Show hidden files and folders and deselect Hide protected operating system files to make the folder visible.
     
  6. 2008/10/04
    ApricotSmuggler

    ApricotSmuggler Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Noahdfear. I took your additional advice about Rockster's answer and it worked. I can now find the folder through Explorer. What I still don't undertstand is why the images are being saved there? Also, does it mean that there's a bug in the system? I also took your advice about the cmd command and here's what it threw up:


    ! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    AppData REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application Data
    Cookies REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Cookies
    Desktop REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Desktop
    Favorites REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Favorites
    NetHood REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\NetHood
    Personal REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\My Documents
    PrintHood REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\PrintHood
    Recent REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Recent
    SendTo REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\SendTo
    Start Menu REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Start Menu
    Templates REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Templates
    Programs REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Start Menu\Programs
    Startup REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    Local Settings REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Local Settings
    Local AppData REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data
    Cache REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
    History REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Local Settings\History
    My Pictures REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Pictures
    Fonts REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
    My Music REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Music
    CD Burning REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
    My Video REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Videos
    Administrative Tools REG_SZ

    ! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
    AppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Application Data
    Desktop REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Desktop
    Favorites REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Favorites
    NetHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\NetHood
    Personal REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\My Documents
    PrintHood REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\PrintHood
    Programs REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs
    SendTo REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\SendTo
    Start Menu REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu
    Startup REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    Templates REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Templates
    My Pictures REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Pictures
    Local Settings REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings
    Local AppData REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data
    Cache REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
    Cookies REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Cookies
    History REG_EXPAND_SZ %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\History

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\New

    ! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

    HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    AppData REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Application Data
    Cookies REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Cookies
    Desktop REG_SZ
    Favorites REG_SZ
    NetHood REG_SZ
    Personal REG_SZ
    PrintHood REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\PrintHood
    Recent REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Recent
    SendTo REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\SendTo
    Start Menu REG_SZ
    Templates REG_SZ
    Programs REG_SZ
    Startup REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    Local Settings REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings
    Local AppData REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data
    Cache REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
    History REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\History
    My Pictures REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Pictures
    Fonts REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
    My Music REG_SZ
    My Video REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Videos
    CD Burning REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
    Administrative Tools REG_SZ

    HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\HP

    ! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

    HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    AppData REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Application Data
    Cookies REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Cookies
    Desktop REG_SZ
    Favorites REG_SZ
    NetHood REG_SZ
    Personal REG_SZ
    PrintHood REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\PrintHood
    Recent REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Recent
    SendTo REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\SendTo
    Start Menu REG_SZ
    Templates REG_SZ
    Programs REG_SZ
    Startup REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    Local Settings REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings
    Local AppData REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data
    Cache REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
    History REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\History
    My Pictures REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Pictures
    Fonts REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
    My Music REG_SZ
    My Video REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents\My Videos
    CD Burning REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\CD Burning
    Administrative Tools REG_SZ

    HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\HP

    ! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

    HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders
    AppData REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application Data
    Cookies REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Cookies
    Desktop REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Desktop
    Favorites REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Favorites
    NetHood REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\NetHood
    Personal REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\My Documents
    PrintHood REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\PrintHood
    Recent REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Recent
    SendTo REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\SendTo
    Start Menu REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Start Menu
    Templates REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Templates
    Programs REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Start Menu\Programs
    Startup REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
    Local Settings REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings
    Local AppData REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data
    Cache REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files
    History REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\History
    My Pictures REG_SZ
    Fonts REG_SZ C:\WINDOWS\Fonts
    My Music REG_SZ

    It doesn't mean much to me, but maybe you can decipher it and spot any problems. Many thanks.
     
  7. 2008/10/04
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Highlight and copy the contents of the code box below to a blank notepad. Save it to the desktop as;

    Filename: fix.reg
    Save as type: All Files (*.*)

    Code:
    REGEDIT4
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
     "AppData "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\Application Data "
     "Cookies "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\Cookies "
     "Personal "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\My Documents "
     "Local AppData "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\Local Settings\\Application Data "
     "Cache "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\Local Settings\\Temporary Internet Files "
    
    Double click fix.reg and allow it to merge with the registry, then delete fix.reg.

    Let me know if that fixes the problem. Oh ....... if it does, you'll likely want to move the pictures from the LocalService\Desktop folder to the correct location, as well as anything else you know should be located elsewhere.
     
  8. 2008/10/04
    ApricotSmuggler

    ApricotSmuggler Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi. I did that, but I've just tried saving another image and it's still going to the Desktop off LocalService even though I think I'm saving it to the 'real' desktop. I've also noticed that in LocalService there are also other folders including another My Documents. Please help if you can?
     
  9. 2008/10/04
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Please click Start>Run and type %userprofile% then hit Enter. Tell me if it opens the LocalService folder or the HP_Owner folder. You might need to have the Address Bar showing, as well as the option to Display the full path in the address bar enabled in Folder Options>View tab. If you right click the toolbar, there is an option to show the Address Bar.
     
  10. 2008/10/04
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Just noticed a slight typo in my last reg fix, so lets fix it first.
    Highlight and copy the contents of the code box below to a blank notepad. Save it to the desktop as;

    Filename: fix.reg
    Save as type: All Files (*.*)

    Code:
    REGEDIT4
    
    [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
     "Personal "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\My Documents "
    
    [HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
     "Personal "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\My Documents "
    
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
     "Personal "= "C:\\Documents and Settings\\HP_Owner\\My Documents "
    
    Double click fix.reg and allow it to merge with the registry, then delete fix.reg.

    Let me know if that fixes the problem.


    Lets look at another couple of registry keys too.
    Highlight and copy the contents of the code box below.

    Code:
    @echo off
    reg query  "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths" >log.txt
    reg query  "\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders ">>log.txt
    start notepad log.txt
    exit
    cls
    
    
    Click Start then Run, type cmd and hit Enter to open a command window.
    Right click in the command window and select Paste.
    The commands will process rather quickly, the command window will close, and a log will open.
    Please post the contents of that log in a reply to this topic.
     
  11. 2008/10/05
    ApricotSmuggler

    ApricotSmuggler Inactive Thread Starter

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    great news! I used the revised regedit code and tried saving a couple of web images to the desktop and they've actually gone onto the desktop 'proper' so to speak. So it looks like you've helped me fix the problem for which I am truly grateful. As for the second piece of code you gave me, it has generated the following result:

    ! REG.EXE VERSION 3.0

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths
    Owner REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents
    HP_Owner REG_SZ C:\Documents and Settings\HP_Owner\My Documents

    Please let me know if you think I need to do more work? I'm also still intrigued as to why the problem might have occurred in the first place - any idea?
     
  12. 2008/10/05
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    I have no sort of explanation for why those registry paths were corrupted, but I'm happy to hear it's been resolved. :)
     
  13. 2008/10/05
    ApricotSmuggler

    ApricotSmuggler Inactive Thread Starter

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    Sorry noahdfear, I just realised you'd left two messages since I last logged in. I've now done the %userprofile% and it opened up the HP_Owner folder, but that might be as a result of your most recent advice? What ever the reason, the problem appears fixed. Thanks again for all your help and advice - much appreciated. Have a good week!
     

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