Windows BBS The Place for Microsoft Windows Support! Windows, Support, Help Site

Go Back   Windows BBS > Other > Other Software
Reload this Page

Where does DESKTOP.INI belong?

Register FAQDonate Mark Forums Read

Other Software Post questions here about stuff not directly related to a specific OS (Applications, Games).

Register your FREE account to unlock additional features at WindowsBBS.com
Register
Welcome to WindowsBBS.com
Microsoft Windows Support

Mission Statement

WindowsBBS is an online community dedicated to easily accessible technical support for those using Microsoft operating systems and other Windows software.

Our goal is to become the leading resource for computer users that require assistance with their day-to-day computer usage, including full support for networking PC's, virus & malware removal, system upgrades and general support questions.

Discussion Forums
Operating Systems
Windows 7 Windows 7
Windows Vista Windows Vista
Windows XP Windows XP
Windows Server System Windows Server System
Windows 2000 Windows 2000
Windows 95/98/Me/NT Windows 95/98/Me/NT
Internet & Networking
Networking
Internet Explorer
Microsoft Mail
Firefox, Thunderbird
      & SeaMonkey
General Internet
Security
General Security
Malware and Virus
     Removal
Other
Other Software
Hardware
Test Posts
Community
Introductions
General Discussions
Comments
      & Suggestions
News @ WindowsBBS

Forum Sponsor
Image

Closed Thread
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 1st June 2002   #1
SuperGeek
 
Profile:
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: California
Posts: 1,270
Computer Experience:
Intermediate *sigh*
BOBBO Reputation LevelBOBBO Reputation LevelBOBBO Reputation Level
Where does DESKTOP.INI belong?
I just went into Winword2000 (part of MS Office 2000) to retrieve a document. In Winword2000\My Documents, below the 20 folders I've created I found a file called "desktop". Clicking on Properties, I see it's really DESKTOP.INI, a configuration settings file. I've never seen it there before, and I considered deleting it, but I'm wondering if it's a necessary file that just belongs somewhere else, but I don't know where. Opening the file shows:

[.ShellClassInfo]
CLSID2={450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}
InfoTip=Stores your documents, graphics, and other files.

If it makes any difference, my OS is Windows98.

Any ideas?
BOBBO is online now  
Didn't find the information you thought to find?
Check out these Similar Threads
Old 1st June 2002   #2
Inactive
 
Profile:
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Posts: 1,522
Computer Experience:
Ane
Zephyr Reputation Level
BOBBO Perhaps you have just recently selected to view hidden files since most copies of desktop.ini have the hidden attribute.

Apparently desktop.ini is like the 1200 pound gorilla, it goes anywhere it want to! I did a search on my XP system and it revealed over 100 copies at various locations. I think only two of them did not have the hidden attribute.
Zephyr is offline  
Old 1st June 2002   #3
Inactive
 
Profile:
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Southern California, U.S.A.
Posts: 1,522
Computer Experience:
Ane
Zephyr Reputation Level
This probably won't serve any real purpose other than to demonstrate that I have a freeware program that copies the complete path to any files I wish.

These are the results I referred to above:

C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C8A72ME5\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\6QENFBH5\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0LYB8PAR\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0DM7GTYB\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WTQV4XY7\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\UD8FANU7\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\KTMJG1Q3\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\H0A234NF\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications\Fax\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Start Menu\Programs\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\My Documents\My Pictures\Desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\My Documents\My Music\Desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\desktop.ini
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\config\systemprofile\Local Settings\History\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\WBEWCOVJ\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\N2XR76PJ\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\ITOH8JYZ\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C2O6VZ8V\desktop.ini
Today
Thursday
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C8A72ME5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\6QENFBH5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0LYB8PAR\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\NetworkService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0DM7GTYB\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\RST3M5XP\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\QFABUJWL\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\MNO7KXSZ\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\CVKR4BCD\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Temp\History\History.IE5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C8A72ME5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\6QENFBH5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0LYB8PAR\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0DM7GTYB\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Guest\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C8A72ME5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\6QENFBH5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0LYB8PAR\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0DM7GTYB\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Communications\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Entertainment\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\Accessibility\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\C8A72ME5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\6QENFBH5\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0LYB8PAR\desktop.ini
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\0DM7GTYB\desktop.ini

There were more but the message size limit here is 10000 characters and I ran over that. I think you got the picture though.
Last edited by Zephyr; 1st June 2002 at 00:44.
Zephyr is offline  
Old 1st June 2002   #4
SuperGeek
 
Profile:
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: California
Posts: 1,270
Computer Experience:
Intermediate *sigh*
BOBBO Reputation LevelBOBBO Reputation LevelBOBBO Reputation Level
Thanks for the reply, Zephyr.

I went back into Winword2000\My Documents and changed Files of type: from All files to Word Documents. That removed the "desktop" file from view, so now it's the way I want it.

Out of curiosity, I did what you did and a Find search for desktop.ini produced 20 different ones on my system.

Thanks again for the tip.
BOBBO is online now  
Old 1st June 2002   #5
Geek Member
 
Profile:
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Whitby, Ontario
Posts: 599
Computer Experience:
Experienced
WhitPhil Reputation LevelWhitPhil Reputation Level
This explains what desktop.ini is used for and why there are so many.
WhitPhil is offline  
Closed Thread

« Adobe Photoshop 5.5 | scratch disc »
Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 04:46.




Advertise - Contact Us - Windows BBS - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top

Advertisements do not imply our endorsement of the product or service advertised.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2
Copyright © 2002 - 2009 WindowsBBS.com. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use, Legal Information & Privacy Policy
[]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32