Cannot delete icon from desktop

[LeoBv]

I have an icon on my Win7Pro desktop that cannot be deleted, changed, or anything. I believe it was originally connected to a pdf file that I downloaded (from a reputable site) but the download was interrupted. It's file name is simply Donor.

When I try to delete it I get a flash screen that states: Could not find this item. This is no longer located (in desktop location). Verify the item's location and try again.

I cannot rename the file. It's properties shows that it is on the desktop but has 0 bytes.

I have tried about a gazillion things to no avail, including:

• Searched the registry for any entry that matches Donor, with nothing found.
• Booted into safe mode and tried from there with no luck, still won't delete.
• I am using full Kaspersky and a complete system sweep shows no malware, virus, etc.
• Found some sites that gave some script for trying to remove such files via the CMD prompt, but result always was that the file does not exist.

Anybody have any other recommendations?


Thanks.:devil:

 

[Dinesh]

Open a command prompt and type the following

cd %USERPROFILE%\desktop
attrib -r -s -h "file name"*.*
del "file name"*.*

Replace "file name with the name of the file which you see on the desktop.

 

[LeoBv]

Thanks for the quick response!!

I found a similar suggested solution to this in my many searches, which did not work, but your script is a little different.

When I type in CMD it takes me right to the command line for the user name on the PC. The first line of your script then takes me to the same location plus "/desktop." OK so far.

Now, the second line of your script results in a response:

The target of the symbolic link C: \Users\ThinkPad W520\Desktop\Donor does not exist.

What I typed in was:

C: \Users\ThinkPad W520\Desktop\attrib -r -s -h "Donor"*.*

Any ideas?

Thanks again.

 

[AddRAM]

Did you create a folder, then move it into that folder, then try to delete it ?

 

[Dinesh]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55728-file-delete-command-prompt.html

 

[LeoBv]

Did you create a folder, then move it into that folder, then try to delete it ?

Yes, that was one of the gazillion things I tried early on. Will not be moved off the desktop.

Thanks.

 

[Kari]

I've sometimes had this kind of issue, and after frustrating attempts to delete the icon, I simply right cliked empty spot on desktop and selected Refresh. This took the orphan icon away.

Kari

 

[LeoBv]

I've sometimes had this kind of issue, and after frustrating attempts to delete the icon, I simply right cliked empty spot on desktop and selected Refresh. This took the orphan icon away.

Kari

That was about the fourth thing I did amongst the gazillion things. Didn't work, of course.

Thanks!

 

[LeoBv]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/55728-file-delete-command-prompt.html

Used the exact format in step 6 of the tutorial (already had it set to show file extension).

Said that it could not find the file.

 

[boohbah]

if the pdf is in your download history in your browser ,could you try downloading it again .
it may be able to replace or merge with the broken icon and then be deleted when it is fully downloaded.

 

[LeoBv]

if the pdf is in your download history in your browser ,could you try downloading it again .
it may be able to replace or merge with the broken icon and then be deleted when it is fully downloaded.

Well, I later on successfully downloaded that file (with the same name) and it opened and moved fine. I doubt that it's in the download history now as it's been many months.

 

[boohbah]

if you have or download malwarebytes, you can use the feature called file assassin to try and
remove it.

or try this here...

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/fileassassin/

 

[Dwarf]

Can you drag this item around your desktop?

 

[Anak]

There is a fix-it that touches on three areas you have mentioned, but I do not know if it includes some of the fixes you have tried, and other members have suggested.

What it fixes...

• Problems with desktop shortcuts and icons
  • Shortcuts on the desktop don't work or are broken
  • Desktop icons are broken or have not been used in 3 months
  • Startup items don't work or are broken
• System maintenance tasks
  • Free up disk space by repairing disk volume errors such as bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files and directory errors
  • Free up disk space by removing error reports and troubleshooting history older than 1 month
  • Set the correct system time and synchronize system clock with the time server
• You receive the following errors:
  • Windows update error 0x80072F8F
  • The item that this shortcut refers to has been deleted

Source: Fix broken desktop shortcuts and common system maintenance tasks

 

[LeoBv]

if you have or download malwarebytes, you can use the feature called file assassin to try and
remove it.

or try this here...

Malwarebytes : Remove any locked file with FileASSASSIN

Yes, already tried File Assassin. But File Assassin says the file does not exist.

 

[LeoBv]

Can you drag this item around your desktop?

Yep, I can drag it around anywhere. For quite a while I had it hidden beneath a desktop gadget so I would not see it, but I removed all the gadgets (per a security recommendation) and now I see it all the time.

 

[Dinesh]

if you have or download malwarebytes, you can use the feature called file assassin to try and
remove it.

or try this here...

Malwarebytes : Remove any locked file with FileASSASSIN

Yes, already tried File Assassin. But File Assassin says the file does not exist.

At this point, I would suggest you to create a new user account, move your files (excluding the culprit) and delete that account.

 

[LeoBv]

There is a fix-it that touches on three areas you have mentioned, but I do not know if it includes some of the fixes you have tried, and other members have suggested.

What it fixes...

• Problems with desktop shortcuts and icons
  • Shortcuts on the desktop don't work or are broken
  • Desktop icons are broken or have not been used in 3 months
  • Startup items don't work or are broken
• System maintenance tasks
  • Free up disk space by repairing disk volume errors such as bad sectors, lost clusters, cross-linked files and directory errors
  • Free up disk space by removing error reports and troubleshooting history older than 1 month
  • Set the correct system time and synchronize system clock with the time server
• You receive the following errors:
  • Windows update error 0x80072F8F
  • The item that this shortcut refers to has been deleted

Source: Fix broken desktop shortcuts and common system maintenance tasks

Just downloaded and run that. This is something I had not tried before. However, it says it found no errors or problems!

Thanks.

 

[LeoBv]

if you have or download malwarebytes, you can use the feature called file assassin to try and
remove it.

or try this here...

Malwarebytes : Remove any locked file with FileASSASSIN

Yes, already tried File Assassin. But File Assassin says the file does not exist.

At this point, I would suggest you to create a new user account, move your files (excluding the culprit) and delete that account.

Humm...never thought of that. Let me give that a whirl.

Thanks.

 

[boohbah]

if you have or download malwarebytes, you can use the feature called file assassin to try and
remove it.

or try this here...

Malwarebytes : Remove any locked file with FileASSASSIN

Yes, already tried File Assassin. But File Assassin says the file does not exist.

At this point, I would suggest you to create a new user account, move your files (excluding the culprit) and delete that account.

good idea dinesh