Funky Desktop ghost gadget looking thing

G

gtdrummie

New member
Hello,

Please check the attached graphic. I somehow have this odd "ghost" of a desktop gadget. I cannot right or left on it to cause any type of dialog or config option. I have only installed a few mainstream gadgets, but uninstalled them all to troubleshoot this, but cannot get it to disappear.

This is a fresh install that has had no problems. Also, I am actively running Microsoft Security Essentials. I really doubt this is any kind of virus or malware.

Nonetheless... I can't figure it out at all.

Does anyone have any ideas?
 

Attachments

  • windows-desktop.png
    windows-desktop.png
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My Computer

OS
Windows 7 x64
Type "Gadgets" in the search bar in the Start Menu (Windows's orb), and click on "View list of running gadgets", so you'll be able to see the real name of the Ghost Gadget. Then, you could try to find it and uninstall it.

There's also "Restore gadgets installed with Windows" option; you could use it too -- it'll, as you may have already figured out, delete all the gadgets you could have possibly downloaded and keep only those that came with Windows.

I hope that helps.

PS: You are sure it's a Windows Gadget, aren't you?
 

My Computer

OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Build 7601 SP1)
CPU
AMD Phenom II X2 555 @ X4 B55 (3.2Ghz, 2MB L2/6MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard
ASUS M4A785TD-V Evo
Memory
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair DDR3, 1333Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ENGTX560, DirectCU, 1GD5
Sound Card
8-Channel HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Philips 226CL2SB
Screen Resolution
1920x1080p
Hard Drives
500GB Seagate, SATA2, 7200rpm, 16MB/s
PSU
Corsair TX650 v2
Internet Speed
90mbps Fiber Optics
Thanks for the quick reply!

I forgot to mention that I tried removing all gadgets in the manner you suggested and that did not work.

I am not 100% sure it is a windows gadget, but I have no idea what else it could be. If I right click all around it, i see the appropriate menu, but if right click on it, nothing happens. Also, I am running three monitors, and it only displays on one of them.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 x64
Try to change your deskop, if it disapears it is a corruption in that desktop
Try in another user account ,if it is not there, it is a corrupt account. Open a new user account and close the old one.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS 420
OS
Windows 10, Home Clean Install
CPU
Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech
Motherboard
Dell
Memory
6 gb
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650
Sound Card
Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell SP2009W 20"
Hard Drives
640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive
Cooling
Fan
Keyboard
Dell USB Keyboard
Mouse
Dell Premium Optical USB
Internet Speed
DSL 2.85

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hey guys...

thanks a lot for your ideas. This is absolutely bizarre to me.

Rich -- What do you mean try to change my desktop?

I tried logging into another user account and the box still appears.

Brink -- I tried the view setting in the link you provided and I still see the little box.

Any other ideas?

Jonathan
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 x64
I noticed that as the system loads, the box is the last thing to popup after loading all icons, couple other gadgets, etc ... is there a way to see the sequential order items boot up?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 x64
Jonathan,

What I meant, is that your desktop wallpaper may have the defect. Try another one.
The screen shot that you gave us just shows a big black mark as problem, it could be anything.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell XPS 420
OS
Windows 10, Home Clean Install
CPU
Intel Core2 processsor Q8200(2.33Ghz 1333FSB) Quad Core Tech
Motherboard
Dell
Memory
6 gb
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon 256MB HD3650
Sound Card
Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell SP2009W 20"
Hard Drives
640 GB Serial ATA Hard drive
Cooling
Fan
Keyboard
Dell USB Keyboard
Mouse
Dell Premium Optical USB
Internet Speed
DSL 2.85
It could be a program that runs on startup. Try to close most of your programs and see if it's still there.
 

My Computer

OS
Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Build 7601 SP1)
CPU
AMD Phenom II X2 555 @ X4 B55 (3.2Ghz, 2MB L2/6MB L3 Cache)
Motherboard
ASUS M4A785TD-V Evo
Memory
4GB (2x2GB) Corsair DDR3, 1333Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ENGTX560, DirectCU, 1GD5
Sound Card
8-Channel HD Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
Philips 226CL2SB
Screen Resolution
1920x1080p
Hard Drives
500GB Seagate, SATA2, 7200rpm, 16MB/s
PSU
Corsair TX650 v2
Internet Speed
90mbps Fiber Optics

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
OS
Windows 10 Home x64
CPU
INTEL Core i5-750 Quad-Core 3.37GHz
Motherboard
ASUS P7P55D
Memory
HyperX Fury Black Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 1866Mhz
Graphics Card(s)
EVGA GeForce GTX 750 Superclocked 1GB 128-Bit GDDR5
Monitor(s) Displays
LG 32MA68HY 32" IPS
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
Samsung 840 Evo 120GB, SEAGATE 500GB Barracuda® 7200.12, SATA 3 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 16MB cache
PSU
ANTEC TruePower New TP-550, 80 PLUS, 550W
Case
ANTEC Three Hundred Illusion
Cooling
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus, 4 x 120mm 1 x 140mm Noctua's
Internet Speed
85 + Mbps
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Vivaldi
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