mysterious folder

I have a folder that recently appeared on my desktop. I have no idea how it got there. Its just a plain yellow folder not labled and when I right click on properties the contents are items that are on my desktop. I cant move the folder anywhere it wont let me it just stays. How do I get rid of it?

 

Hi Salibu

I'm going to need a little more information in order to try and figure out just what you have there.

I don't understand your statement, "when I right click on properties the contents are items that are on my desktop" since normally right clicking any folder will only give you a menu and then clicking properties will give you the information about the folder but not list the files.

What I need is for you to right click it and select properties and tell me which boxes are checked, if any, of the three that you see there labeled READ- ONLY, SYSTEM, and HIDDEN.

If none of those boxes are checked, then go ahead and select DELETE from that same menu. Send it to the Recycle Bin if it will allow that. If not get the exact error message and report it. If it allows deleting, do not empty the recycle bin until we determine it's safe to do so.

Post back when you get that done and let's see what you find.

 

Hi there...............when I right click on the folder all it says is open, explore and create shortcut. It doesnt give me the option to select properties. I click on open it says " This file does not have a program associated with it for preforming this action. Create an association in the folder options control panel" When I click on Explore it just opes up and shows me everything that is on my desktop. I try to drag it to my recyle bin but it wont budge.

 

Wow! You've got yourself a real monster there. It reminds me of my mother in law, just won't go away.

Let's try this, right click and select "Create Shortcut ".

Then right click the shortcut it created and select "properties ".

Take a good look at the "Target" and see if you can get a name for this beast. Tell me what it says in the target line.

 

Hi I tried to create shortcut but it says" Windows could not create shortcut. Chect to see if the disk is full "

 

Not good.

Let's do this, use Windows Explorer and navigate to "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop" and see if you see this beast listed among the other files there. If so, see if you can right click it and get 'Properties ".

Assuming you won't be able to get the properties there either, I'll give you the next step to try,

While still in the Windows Explorer screen, highlight the defective file by a single left click and then click EDIT > INVERT SELECTION > FILE > DELETE. Be sure you have selected the proper file before confirming the delete. If you get it wrong you can always go to the Recycle Bin and recover it.

 

In the owners folder I see 2 folders one says cookies and the other says desktop. I can click on properties. it says
Type: file folder
Size: 0 bytes
Size on disk: 0 bytes
Contains: 0 Files 0 Folders
Created: Monday Sept. 17 2001
Attributes: Read only

 

I wanted you to open the Desktop folder. That's where the files are that you see on the Desktop. Give that another shot.

edit. Now I'm assuming you're logged on as the owner. If not you'll have to navigate to your own Desktop folder and open it.

 

I did but there is nothing in the folder, it's empty

 

Are you the only user on that machine? Are you logged in as the Owner? If so, you should see files inside the Desktop folder if you indeed have icons on your Desktop when you view it directly.

A virus may be at work here. Have you scanned lately with updated signatures?

Let's try the easy way out. START > ALL PROGRAMS > ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > SYSTEM RESTORE. Select to restore the system and pick a restore point that predates your mysterious problem.

 

Yes I am the only user on this computer. I did a system restore also from the point where before I believe it first appeared and it is still there. I did a virus scan and found nothing so I am thinking that maybe if its doing no harm I guess just let it sit. I dont knw what else to do.

 

Well, since the Restore didn't wipe it clean you can probably assume it isn't a system file.

It likely got created as a result of a system crash or some other aberration, and as you have decided, it may not be causing any harm.

Just drag it out in the bushes somewhere and leave it there. oops, that won't work either since you can't drag it.

I hate things like this that don't get explained so I'll stay alert for any sign of an answer and will post it here if I do see something. You please do the same so we can all learn.

If Murphy was right, it'll happen to others too.

Best regards.

 

If your sure

you don't need this folder...

Sometimes you can rename the folder and then delete will work.

 

I cant rename it either. I tried that too. Gosh this is bugging me.

 

Salibu I wish I could sit in your seat for a while. I've never had anything appear on my desktop that I couldn't nuke off. These one eyed monsters aren't that smart. You have the power! It's just a matter of finding out how to apply it.

Keep on truckin' and you'll put it down I'm sure. When you do, post the method back here for others to see.

 

.

 

I sure do wish you could too.....................want me to bring you my laptop!.................lol

 

There's hope still. I have been fooling around my system for a possible fix for you and here's what I came up with.

If you have several desktop shortcuts that you have created and want to save, create a new folder on the C: root and name it deskbk. The drag all the shortcuts you want saved into that folder.

Now, go to START > RUN and type command.com <enter> When you get the command prompt, verify that it shows you to be at C:\DOCUME~1\OWNER. If so, type, RD /S DESKTOP <enter> confirm the action.

Close out the command session screen. When you see the Desktop it should have only the four applets that Windows XP places there by default. (you may have to refresh the view by pressing F5 and cancel any error message you get) We hope your mysterious folder is gone!

If that's the case you may then drag all your saved shortcuts back to the new desktop and delete the deskbk folder.

edit, As a sidebar note, I must say I was surprised to see that XP had a dos window available. The command.com I referenced above gets you that window and it has different capabilities than the command prompt window you get by using what XP provides up front. Live and learn....then forget most of it.

 

Do i go to windows explore to make that new folder? I dont understand what you mean by several desktop shortcuts saved?

 

Hi Salibu,

I'm glad you checked back.

To make it easier, just drag any Desktop Shortcuts that you want to save over onto the My Documents icon and let them be stored in there. You can't drag the My Computer, Recycle Bin, or the Internet explorer icon since they are applets and will be preserved anyway. (As will the My Documents icon) If you don't really care about losing any of your shortcut icons, you can just leave them where they are. I'll leave that up to you.

Then follow my previous directions starting with the word NOW in the third paragraph.

If you're not clear on my instructions don't go forward without asking whatever you need clarified. I don't want you to get into trouble needlessly. This process will cause no damage to your system if you do it as I have outlined.

OK?