I haven't used Vista but I am assuming it would have this same behavior. When I set Explorer to show hidden system files on Win7 Ultimate the desktop .ini icons show up on the desktop. I never saw this on any pre-Vista Windows. Is there a way to to hide just these 2 files as I really don't need to see them on the desktop? Could I move them somewhere else?
Hello Will, and welcome to Seven Forums.
You can check the Hide protected operating system files box to hide those type of files, and leave Show hidden files, folders, and drives selected (dotted) to see only the hidden system files.
Hidden Files and Folders - Show or Hide
Hope this helps,
Shawn
IDK what exactly you want to do, but the desktop.ini files are protected operating system files. If you uncheck "Show hidden files, folders and drives" in Folder Options-View tab, but keep "Hide protected operating system files" checked, then these 2 files will not show up.
Are these the actual files or just shortcuts. Right click on one of them and click "Properties" to see if it is a shortcut. If it is just delete it!
Hello Mitchell,
desktop.ini files are protected operating system files. They are used to tell Windows how to display a folder. For example, enabling Thumbnail view creates a desktop.ini file in that folder which amongst other things, tells Windows to add an extra item to the View menu for that folder. Desktop.ini files are also used when you customize folders, change their icons etc.
Just deleting them could cause issues with how that folder (ex: icon) is displayed in negative way. It would usually be best to rehide them instead. :)
These are not shortcuts and they appear slightly faded out just like hidden files in explorer. I need these system files exposed in explorer so hiding all system files is not the answer. Of course I can't delete them from the folder. If they weren't necessary they probably wouldn't be there. Maybe I could live without the system ini files showing so this could be a solution but I was hoping to find a way to hide them in the desktop folder only. I don't know why they show up at all since they don't in previous versions of Windows. Just seems Goofy for an "improved" OS.
Why do you need important system files being shown?
They are not necessary, they just happen to customize the desktop folder, giving it a different icon for example.Of course I can't delete them from the folder. If they weren't necessary they probably wouldn't be there.
They don't show up in Windows XP because it does not do anything special with the desktop folder by default. (i.e., use a special desktop folder icon) So there is no "desktop.ini" file by default.I don't know why they show up at all since they don't in previous versions of Windows. Just seems Goofy for an "improved" OS.
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