HELP!! Windows file icons on my desktop!!?? how to get rid of them??

Dazzajl · 10 Jun 2019

Hi fellow forum members

I have an issue with my desktop, I logged in today and seem to have all of the system
file icons as well as my normal desktop icons on my screen?
I`m not sure what I have pressed or how to get rid of them and just go back to my normal desktop shortcuts rather than all these system files?

Could someone please help

I`m running Windows 7 64bit

Thank you in advance

Ranger4 · 10 Jun 2019

Hi Dazzajl, welcome to the Forum.

Have you tried to reboot the computer as that will sometimes clear a messy start up.

Megahertz07 · 11 Jun 2019

Welcome to the Forum

Witch system file icons?

Lance1 · 12 Jun 2019

Have you made changes in Folder Option? If so click Restore Defaults and that should return your desktop to normal

Paul Black · 12 Jun 2019

Hi Dazzajl, Lance1 beat me to it!

Megahertz07 · 12 Jun 2019

I would un mark Hide Extensions for known file types.
Have extensions hidden is the easiest way to run a malicious file.

Lance1 · 12 Jun 2019

Megahertz07 said:

I would un mark Hide Extensions for known file types.
Have extensions hidden is the easiest way to run a malicious file.

Yes I've seen this but never on any of my systems. For example "malicious.jpg.exe" Never Run Anything That Looks Like This That Adds "EXE" In The Extension

ToughDiamond · 25 Jun 2019

Changing the Folder Options will work, but how about if you want to see hidden files in Explorer but you don't want to see them on the desktop? Mind you I don't know why there would normally be many system file icons on the desktop. I've got just one - Desktop.ini - which I'd like to get rid of but I don't know how. I always figured it was Microsoft's way of punishing me for not accepting their default view settings.

Lance1 · 26 Jun 2019

ToughDiamond said:

Changing the Folder Options will work, but how about if you want to see hidden files in Explorer but you don't want to see them on the desktop? Mind you I don't know why there would normally be many system file icons on the desktop. I've got just one - Desktop.ini - which I'd like to get rid of but I don't know how. I always figured it was Microsoft's way of punishing me for not accepting their default view settings.

I think you're referring to hidden System Files "Desktop.ini" and not hidden files and folders. Not one and the same.

ToughDiamond · 26 Jun 2019

Lance1 said:

I think you're referring to hidden System Files "Desktop.ini" and not hidden files and folders. Not one and the same.

Yes I meant such stuff as becomes visible when "Hide protected operating system files" is unchecked in the View settings of Folder Options. You may be correct.....it would be clearer if it was made plain what these mysterious system file icons actually were. Maybe a screenshot of the affected desktop or a few filenames would be useful.