Weird icon on desktop that cannot be deleted

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  1. Posts : 5
    Windoes 7 Home Premium 32bit
       #1

    Weird icon on desktop that cannot be deleted


    Hey guys! I've got this problem of an internet explorer icon on my desktop that cannot be deleted.

    I've tried dragging it to the recycle bin (nothing happens).

    Tried searching for it in cmd (can't find it in /Default/desktop, /<User>/Desktop, or /Public/Desktop, even with the dir /a:h /b setting)

    The context menu is weird (see image).
    Weird icon on desktop that cannot be deleted-weird.png

    Tried unlocker (unlocker option doesn't appear in the context menu of that file so i guess it doesn't work)

    Tried MoveonBoot (can't find the file in desktop folder)

    Basically that file appears on my computer's desktop folder (see image), but not when I access the Desktop folder from elsewhere, such as to upload on sevenforums (see image)
    Weird icon on desktop that cannot be deleted-weird2.png
    Weird icon on desktop that cannot be deleted-weird3.png

    All I can do with the file is rename it (it was originally 'Internet Explorer' and, as you can see, I've named it 'wtf'). I cannot move it to a folder either (it creates a link in the folder instead of itself moving into the folder).

    If you're wondering what happens when I run the file, basically internet explorer runs but the homepage is reset to some Chinese site

    I would greatly appreciate help in removing this icon that hopefully doesn't involve reinstalling windows.

    Cheers
    Last edited by Brink; 29 Jan 2015 at 23:23. Reason: removed possible malicious site link
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #2

    Any malware detected from any scans?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windoes 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Used malwarebytes before and cleaned everything up. Nothing else detected afterwards.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #4

    I seem to recall this problem a while ago from someone here

    if you navigate in the registry to:

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]

    These are some of the common entries:
    Network Places: {208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}
    My Computer: {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}
    My Documents: {450D8FBA-AD25-11D0-98A8-0800361B1103}
    Internet Explorer: {871C5380-42A0-1069-A2EA-08002B30309D}
    Recycle Bin: {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
    Before you do any altering, is there a strange looking entry, perhaps with Asian langue?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    Windoes 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for your help so far!

    It appears I do not have the HideDesktopIcons folder in [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer]

    However, I am able to find it in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE:
    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel]

    Here is the screenshot. It's all strings though.. No english/asian text.
    Weird icon on desktop that cannot be deleted-registry.png

    I've copied them out in a text file here rege.txt
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #6

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

    There will be a bunch of entries, which I recall being able to remove icons such as recycle bin, but I'll hav eto run a test to see if it will work with created shortcuts and other icons
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #7

    Desktop Icons - Add or Remove

    This might be a long shot before messing with the registry, but you never know
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #8

    Give this a shot too. I've had some great results finding things with this little gem
    AdwCleaner Download
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 330
    Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
       #9

    Ah, I have found the page here on the forums.

    Internet Explorer 9 strange desktop icon
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 5
    Windoes 7 Home Premium 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Found it! There's an entry which has the value "internet explorer". I just deleted it and refreshed my desktop. The icon's gone now.

    Thanks for your help!
      My Computer


 
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