Windows 7: Non-Existent Icon Stuck on Desktop - Can't Delete

I have an icon on my Windows 7 desktop that won't delete. If I drag it to the Recycle Bin, it does nothing. If I right click and say "delete," it pops-up a dialogue saying the file doesn't exist.



I scanned for viruses. Nothing. I scanned the supposedly non-existing file for viruses. Nothing. I restarted in safe-mode, and tried to delete it. Same problem.

So, if I don't have a virus, I can't delete this icon in safe-mode, and restarting over-and-over doesn't get rid of it, what do I do? I just have an obnoxious icon stuck on my desktop forever.

I can't even rename this thing. What happens if I try to rename it, is that it tells me the file doesn't exist, and then pops up dialogue boxes eternally telling me that the source and destination files are the same. I can't ctrl-alt-del out of it, and have to restart to get the stupid windows out of my face.

Any ideas?

Boot from win 7 dvd, during boot hit shift F10 to open cmd window. navigate to desktop, find and delete file. If still stubborn try renaming extension to *.txt

Ken

Clean your cache. Then run Ccleaner, it will be gone.

http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner

Shift-F10 did not open a command window at any point during the start-up procedure on several attempts to start up using my Windows 7 disc. It did not work prior to startup, during the "Loading Windows Files" phase, or any time after.

That said, I unsuccessfully tried using the command prompt while inside Windows 7 to find the file and delete it. What I did:
cd desktop
dir
erase [name of file]

It gave me another error. Renaming doesn't work either.

See my above post.

Also, try dragging to documents and see if it can be deleted from that location; try changing the name

It appears to be from a torrent download. You have to be so careful with those.

Well, I tried clearing the cache in several different ways. I tried clearing the RAM cache, and I also used the "Rebuild Icon Cache" program download from right here on the 7-forums.

Then I ran the CCleaner program, enabling a number of the optional options.

The icon is still there....


I also tried what you suggested: dragging and dropping it to another folder. It says it doesn't exist when I'm trying to do that, too....

So.... file still there.... No viruses that the scanner can find.... It's just kinda stuck there.... Oh, and the torrent file was legit, not a virus or anything-- it was an ebook download. I scan everything coming in, and the torrent files themselves don't have a virus.

OK last thing that I know. Right click>rename> add .zip to the name. Then cross fingers.

Whatever you are told about the file not exisiting hit OK.

lol, that didn't work either! Thanks for all the help, though.

When I tried to add .zip as an extension or rename it to anything whatsoever, it says, "Could not find this item. This is no longer located in C:\Users\David\Desktop. Verify the item's location and try again."

I even tried right-clicking and going into properties, and then selecting "hidden" to hide the non-existing icon. The error it gave me is as follows:
"An error occurred applying attributes to the file:
...\[Torrentreactor.to] - Coming Out A...
The system cannot find the file specified."


Awww crap.

This is not going to work, but we can just add it to the list of failed attempts.

Right click on desktop and then refresh.

Well, since I am closing shop for the night and you still have the icon, here are a number of things to try.

Can't delete Icon on desktop

Nope, refresh didn't work!

I tried creating a file with the exact same name, putting it on the desktop, and then dragging the non-existent file by the same name into the recycle bin......

It didn't get rid of the phantom icon, BUT, it deleted the new one I created instead... It's kinda a funny magic trick!

LOL