How to stop Windows 7 from writing desktop.ini files everywhere?

DeaconFrost · 15 Sep 2010

Sourcerer said:

Won't that prevent me from using the built-in burner?

It sounds like it would, but you don't need the built-in burner anyway. There are some good, free alternatives with much more functionality.

7leagueboot · 02 Jan 2011

gladson1976 said:

(and no, I'm not likely to un-check viewing of hidden files)

@Sourcerer
If you have set windows to "Show hidden files" and "Hide system files", then you wont see the desktop.ini files but will still be able to see the hidden files.
Attachment 97551

That wont actually stop windows from writing the files, but atleast you wont see them

Doesn't work for me. I have folder options set up exactly as you have shown but I have darned desktop.ini files in every directory.

MacGyvr · 02 Jan 2011

7leagueboot said:

gladson1976 said:

(and no, I'm not likely to un-check viewing of hidden files)

@Sourcerer
If you have set windows to "Show hidden files" and "Hide system files", then you wont see the desktop.ini files but will still be able to see the hidden files.
Attachment 97551

That wont actually stop windows from writing the files, but atleast you wont see them

Doesn't work for me. I have folder options set up exactly as you have shown but I have darned desktop.ini files in every directory.

It does work...I have mine set up just that way:

Show hidden files - ON
Hide Protected Operating System Files - ON

With both of these ON, you will not see desktop.ini files unless you have altered the flags on those files causing them to no longer be protected system files.

7leagueboot · 02 Jan 2011

With all due respect, I didn't say it wouldn't work for you. I said it didn't work for me, and I haven't altered any flags for these files because I wouldn't know how to anyway. Here's a screen capture so you can see I'm not talking out of my hat.

MacGyvr · 03 Jan 2011

7leagueboot said:

With all due respect, I didn't say it wouldn't work for you. I said it didn't work for me, and I haven't altered any flags for these files because I wouldn't know how to anyway. Here's a screen capture so you can see I'm not talking out of my hat.

You are using a non-standard, third party file browser, so that proves nothing. Let's see the same screen shot with Windows Explorer.

7leagueboot · 03 Jan 2011

You are indeed correct. I never had this problem on my Vista based machine so I automatically assumed it was attributed to Windows 7. In Windows Explorer the desktop.ini files are not displayed so I will contact the author of Xplorer2 and let him know he has a bug to solve.

Thanks for helping me identify the source of my issue. :)

MacGyvr · 03 Jan 2011

7leagueboot said:

You are indeed correct. I never had this problem on my Vista based machine so I automatically assumed it was attributed to Windows 7. In Windows Explorer the desktop.ini files are not displayed so I will contact the author of Xplorer2 and let him know he has a bug to solve.

Thanks for helping me identify the source of my issue. :)

You are most welcome! :) If you don't mind, please mark the thread as solved.

CoolHipDude · 22 May 2011

Sourcerer said:

Hello,

so I have issues about hidden files (I always want to see them), and I'm particularly annoyed by this desktop.ini file. As if it wasn't enough that there is one in almost every folder, in Windows 7 there are TWO of them on my desktop!

Also, Windows 7 is always trying to burn/write that file on every removable media I have, including USB memory sticks, external hard drives, CD's, DVD's (and the fact that they aren't rewritable and have been burned and closed by the factory doesn't seem to stop it from getting that file ready to be written to disc), etc. Am I the only one thinking this is insane?

My question is simple - how do I stop Windows 7 from ever creating another one of these files again (that is, until next reinstall or some such thing, I'm just trying to be dramatic)?

Yes, I know I will lose some customization functions, but the fact is - I don't need them (which is why I want to see hidden files - to delete them if I don't need them). I know what's in what folder, thank you very much. And yes, I know I can go to Control Panel and set it to not show hidden files, but that's exactly what I don't want.

So, just show me which option to un-check and I'll be happy and I'll buy you some e-beer.

Thanks,
Nikola

The answer is simple. The reason you are seeing 'desktop.ini' everywhere in Windows 7
is because you have unchecked the 'Hide protected operating system files (recommended)'
box in the 'View' tab on the 'Folder Options' window.

Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide

To fix it, click on the Windows logo in the bottom left corner of the screen, click on
'Control Panel', click on 'Folder Options', click on 'View' tab, check the 'Hide protected
operating system files (recommended)' box, click on 'Apply' before clicking on 'OK' to
finish.

That should solve the problem. Even with the 'Hide protected operating system files
(recommended)' box checked, you can still set 'Hidden files and folders' to 'Show hidden
files, folders and drives' if you still want to access hidden files and folders on your
computer.

As an example, I too had the 'desktop.ini' file in the root directory on virtual drive S:
(which is actually 'C:\Users\****\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup'
directory), and when I checked on the 'Hide protected operating system files (recommended)'
box, the 'desktop.ini' file just disappeared from view, but I am still able to see hidden
files and hidden folders and open them too.

Hope that helps.

CHD

Sourcerer · 24 May 2011

@CoolHipDude,

My question is simple - how do I stop Windows 7 from ever creating another one of these files again (that is, until next reinstall or some such thing, I'm just trying to be dramatic)?

I don't recall asking "how to make it appear as if there were no desktop.ini files in my folder".

microbious · 21 Nov 2011

LOL this isnt getting anywhere.

I find my self annoyed by this feature having the desktop.ini apear everywhere.
But from a programmers point of view, this is the best solution for keeping folder customization information for each folder.

Problem i find is that if i copy 1 desktop.ini from customized folder into another, the another folder will not change thus making me think that the customizations of what ever folder you change is still stored somewhere in windows rather then in desktop.ini, because deleting desktop.ini changes only associated icon (if any), and creating desktop.ini with exact same text will not bring the icon back to the folder it located ever, unless you do it step by step with right click/customize etc.