Desktop undeleting files

msdunkel · 09 Aug 2016

For the past several months my computer's OS has been randomly resurrecting files that I had previously deleted off the desktop. For example, let's say I have files 1-10. I delete files 6-10, later add files 11-15 and after some random time period when I restart my computer the desktop will have files 1-15 sitting there. Most of my username/password combinations are saved on web pages, but my steam login/password information is always reset whenever this happens. Even more annoying, my son has to reauthorize my computer to share all his games every time this happens. I suspect the steam issue is a symptom of a windows problem but I really have no proof it's not the other way around.

No known viruses, no other problems, no system restores. Just files that I've previously deleted from the desktop mysteriously coming back to life weeks after I've deleted them.

Any ideas?

Ranger4 · 09 Aug 2016

How are you actually deleting these files?. Are you just deleting them from the Desktop, if you are then you are probably just deleting the short cuts & not the actual files themselves.

You need to locate the actual files themselves & delete them from their source. If they are document files they should be in your Documents library, if pictures they should be in your Pictures Library, if music they should be in your Music Library & so on.

Usually if you delete files etc. they will be put in the Recycle Bin. If you open the Recycle Bin & click on Restore, they will be returned to their original locations. So if you want to permanently delete files from the Recycle Bin, click on Empty the Recycle Bin.

msdunkel · 11 Aug 2016

I am left clicking the files and pressing the delete key on my keyboard. About half the files are shortcuts and the other half .jpg images I wanted quick and temporary access to on the desktop.