Blank empty file on desktop, no name, no extension

[holydevil]

There's something rather odd happening on my computer, a blank white empty file appears on the desktop. It does not have a filename, and it does not have an extension. Here's everything I've noticed about it so far.

When I right click, I only get three menu options, "Cut" "Create shortcut" and "Delete".
When I attempt to delete it, it goes away but comes back later.
When I attempt to move or copy it with drag and drop, windows tries to create a shortcut to it instead but fails.
Ctrl+c and Ctrl+x do nothing when this file is selected.
When I attempt to view it in cmd, it isn't there. (cd to desktop, then dir command)
When I open an explorer window and navigate to the desktop, it is there.

Here is a screenshot of the file. I was not pressing any modifier keys when right clicking on it, did not move the mouse when right clicking on it, and the right click menu for every other file looks normal instead of like this.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jx8iaut44rbosya/wtf blank file on desktop.png?dl=0

Does anyone have any idea what could be going on here or how to permanently get rid of this "fake" file? I'm perplexed.

 

[Ztruker]

If it's there in Windows Explorer, what is it called (fn.ext)?

 

[holydevil]

If it's there in Windows Explorer, what is it called (fn.ext)?

It's not called anything. It looks exactly the same in the Explorer window as it does on my desktop, and it behaves the same too with right clicking only giving three menu options and all the other things I've tried too.

[edit]
It's not in Explorer now for some reason. I deleted the file from my desktop last night and got back in the morning. The file is back on my desktop but it does it doesn't show up in the Explorer window now.

 

[Tookeri]

The file could be named with a not visible character, example: Hide Desktop Icon Text on Windows 7 or Vista

I created a file like that and it shows with dir command like this, so it's easy to miss:

2014-11-26  15:52                 0

 

[holydevil]

The file could be named with a not visible character, example: Hide Desktop Icon Text on Windows 7 or Vista

I created a file like that and it shows with dir command like this, so it's easy to miss:

2014-11-26  15:52                 0

I am aware of that possibility and have done that before just to try it.

Look at the list of things I did with the file in the OP, the first 5 out of 6 of those things would each on it's own be enough to show it isn't just a blank character file name. I did check dir thoroughly (a few times) because I figured it would be pretty easy to miss.

 

[Tookeri]

I have to admit it's very strange. Have you tried searching for system and/or hidden files?

dir /A:S
dir /A:H
dir /A:SH

 

[Anak]

You're not alone holydevil I have one that's similar.

I found it the other day while doing some deep malware scans, it's a file called my and resides in my C:\Windows\System32 Folder.

It has an A attribute, no file extension, a full right context menu and Properties list i.e. General, Securities, Details, and Previous Version tabs, the run I made to search for previous versions says there are no previous versions.

The system and administrator (me) has all permissions except Special Permissions, the one user I have can only read & execute and read.








Something happened on Sunday March the 4th 2012 to create it, but I'll be danged if I know what that something was. :shock:

 

[Tookeri]

Have you tried a dir /R?
To show any ADS - Alternate Data Streams. If you use Internet Explorer you can try this in the Downloads or Favorites folder to see what it looks like. Information about which Internet Security Zone the file was downloaded from are stored like this. And for favorites it might store the icon file as an ADS. These things are not visible in explorer and doesn't affect the file's original size. So a 0 byte file doesn't mean it's necessary empty. I don't think there's a limit so in theory it's possible to "hide" several GB of data like this and still have the file show 0 bytes.

Example:
I have a favorite bookmark named "CCleaner - Download.url". If a do a dir command it says the file size is 182 byte. But if I do a dir / R it shows this:

182 CCleaner - Download.url
5 430 CCleaner - Download.url:favicon:$DATA

That's the same size as if you download this picture and check its size:

$DATA means it's an ADS, and favicon is the name of the ADS. You can think of it like hidden properties or attachments for the file.

If you're curious I've created a program that uses this technique: http://www.sevenforums.com/free-dev...686-texthider-make-text-invisible-hidden.html

 

[Anak]

I tried, dir /r where all the files showed but my.

I even tried:

• dir /s /r | find ":$DATA"

• dir /r | find ":$DATA"

• dir /a-d /s /r | find ":$DATA"

You could tell it was searching but after a few seconds it went back to the prompt.


Tookeri,

I don't feel right trying to find out what that my file is, in holydevil's thread, would you want to go to yours that has the, vbs code? or I could start a new thread.

 

[Tookeri]

Anak, then it probably is just an empty file in your case, so little point in investigating further IMO. But a new thread is probably best if you still want to do that.

The dir /R was an advice both to you and holydevil. Waiting for OP's feedback on that and checking for hidden/system properties.

 

[SuperFurias]

Resolved

The cause is probably clear to me, it was CCleaner. After restarting the computer, this file appeared "without name, without extension, without anything" completely empty,, I couldn't move it in the folders nor delete it because it always reappeared. I solved it in a simple way: Desktop >> Locate the suspicious file >> click "Delete" >> Go to task manager >> Restart explorer >> Solved. Even updating the desktop does not reappear. Now I just have to check if this is true even after rebooting, I'll let you know

 

[GoldenDog]

Hey holydevil it is recommenced that you upload files onto the site by clicking the little paper clip on you screen please do not include links to pictures!

 

[Golden]

Hey holydevil it is recommenced that you upload files onto the site by clicking the little paper clip on you screen please do not include links to pictures!

? Original thread is 5 years old

 

[SuperFurias]

The cause is probably clear to me, it was CCleaner. After restarting the computer, this file appeared "without name, without extension, without anything" completely empty,, I couldn't move it in the folders nor delete it because it always reappeared. I solved it in a simple way: Desktop >> Locate the suspicious file >> click "Delete" >> Go to task manager >> Restart explorer >> Solved. Even updating the desktop does not reappear. Now I just have to check if this is true even after rebooting, I'll let you know

Even after restarting the pc, the file does not show up again, I would say it is a definitive solution

 

[OakBricks]

Fix using CCleaner

Use CCleaner's Registry Cleaner function to fix it.