Solved Remove desktop shortcut (HP File Sanitizer)

Hi all
I'm using Windows 7 x64 SP1 Pro on a HP Compaq notebook.
Since I installed Windows and all those HP apps (some of them apparently required to access BIOS) I got THIS shortcut on desktop and I cannot remove it. Deleting it manually does not work and the shortcut does not appear in User/Desktop or Public/Desktop folders. Right clicking it does not show the usual menu but THIS so I cannot get the location of the file. Also, the Remove Icon option does nothing not even in Safe Mode. Any ideas on how to get rid of this? Some suggested to reinstall the app however this also does not work.

That icon is part of HP ProtectTools. Does your laptop have a fingerprint reader for security? If so it's part of that package. Try opening Start then All Programs and HP ProtectTools, see if there is any option in there to turn off File Sanitizer.

There is no option to disable the entire HP ProtectTools suite as I already tried this. However I disabled Drive Encryption & Credential Manager when I installed ProtectTools.

Read here, see if it helps: MajorGeeks Support Forums - View Single Post - Help disabling HP ProtectTools

Ztruker said:

Read here, see if it helps: MajorGeeks Support Forums - View Single Post - Help disabling HP ProtectTools

Click to expand...

Sorry for the late reply.
HP ProtectTools service (not hpqwmiex) is already disabled. hpqwmiex is a HP framework service and disabling it causes other software(like wireless assistant & function keys) to stop working.