Solved Ghost images on desktop

[Elljay]

Hello there.
How do I explain this?
For quite sometime, I have been having a weird issue with images remaining on my desktop, long after I have moved them to a folder and off my desktop completely. Starting to make me nuts.
If I download or move an image to my desktop and click on it to view it, I will see images that used to be there. In order to view the new image, I need to move it around my desktop and find a space where the new image will finally display.
I would appreciate anyone's help with this.
Thank you.

 

[andrew129260]

Could you add a screenshot to show the problem?

 

[Elljay]

Ok. I will. I need a few minutes though. I'm still green at this.

 

[Damian Adelle]

Use this to capture the screen:
PicPick | All-in-one design tool, Screen Capture, Image Editor, Color Picker, Pixel Ruler and More
But I believe what you are trying to explain is that, when you move pictures from one folder to another, you still see those pictures when you are looking at the files in preview mode?, like in big icons?, sometimes the system takes time in refreshing those previews. Or if a picture won't do, try to record the screen with this, CamStudio and upload it to youtube:
CamStudio - Free Screen Recording Software
or make a .gif file with this app, GifCam if youtube won't do:
GifCam | BahraniApps Blog
It's all open-source software, so it's free for use.

 

[Elljay]

Hi Andrew.
Here is what I will see. Say I want to look at this quote. When I click on it, I will see an image I filed and moved off my desktop months ago.
Occasionally (like now) I will also see 'Windows Photo Viewer can't open this picture because Photo Viewer doesn't support this file format or you don't have the latest updates to Photo Viewer.' I then have to move the image I want to view around the desktop to find 'a blank spot', so to speak and only then will it display.

 

[andrew129260]

Hmm that is odd. Do you have issues with any other graphic objects? Like in other programs or anything?

I use windows live photo gallery as it supports more formats. I do not use the original photo viewer.

May I make a suggestion? I normally do not recoomend to replace something just because it does not work, but could you try windows live photo gallery and set it as the default program for photos?

The issue should then no longer occur.

Windows live photo gallery:

Photo Gallery - Microsoft Windows

Check what programs you want. The photo gallery and video editor are quite decent.

 

[Layback Bear]

I would recommend also scanning each photo for infection. All it takes in one infected photo to mess up the rest of the photos and possibly more problems.

 

[Elljay]

Sorry Damien, I don't think you know what I mean. It can be a family photo that I just want to view and I see images that I once had one my desktop... but moved into a folder and OFF my desktop a long time ago. I can not explain it any other way.

 

[Elljay]

Really? Scan everyone Layback Bear... that would be intense and take me many many hours of work. Out of curiosity, how do I do that?

 

[Damian Adelle]

Andrew and Bear are right, you should try to use other program to open image files, or scan for virus, that never hurts to know. I personally use XNView:
XnView Software · Software for reading, organizing and processing images
This program is open source, is free and it opens almost ANY kind of existing image file, and to be. Try to check if those programs do open correctly your files, because to be honest, the native windows file viewer is not good at all, it doesn't even open .gif files.

 

[andrew129260]

Really? Scan everyone Layback Bear... that would be intense and take me many many hours of work. Out of curiosity, how do I do that?

He means to scan your pc for infection with your antivirus, such as running a full scan. Do you know how to do this?

I suggest this as well.

It could also be a bad thumbnail causing the issue.

Unfortunately these kind of issues can be hard to pinpoint.

 

[Damian Adelle]

Really? Scan everyone Layback Bear... that would be intense and take me many many hours of work. Out of curiosity, how do I do that?

You just do a complete file scan with your current anti-virus software, or select the directories you presume may be infected, it may take some time, but you don't have to check every single file, let the software take care of that.

 

[Elljay]

No, no issues Andrew. Just this one with the Windows Photo Viewer.

 

[andrew129260]

I know, I am referring to that issue.

 

[Elljay]

No Andrew, sorry I don't know how. It's something I've never done.

 

[Elljay]

Geez, now I feel kind of stund. I have Microsoft Security Essentials. Run that?

 

[Elljay]

Thank you Damian. I will try it.

 

[Elljay]

Ok. I get it. Starting a scan now. Thanks for all your help everyone. Let you know what happens.

 

[Elljay]

OK. I just finished scanning all my pictures and docs. Then ran a scan on the entire C:drive. No issues were found.
Question. I am wondering if I should uninstall the Windows Photo Viewer or just leave it alone?

 

[Damian Adelle]

How old is your current Windows installation?, perhaps the Image Viewer itself (or even worse, the Win Explorer) has some corrupt files, that's some unusual behavior. Try to run a scan for corrupt files, here is a tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
Or try to clean the thumbnail cache, like this:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10797-thumbnail-cache-clear-reset.html
Also, if we take the spyware infection more seriously, then run Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to be 100% sure it's not a malicious agent:
Malwarebytes | Free Anti-Malware & Internet Security Software
Also, try to clean your system with software such as:
CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download
Wise Disk Cleaner:
Wise Disk Cleaner - Best Free Disk Cleaner - cleanup your disk in one minute
Wise Registry Cleaner:
Wise Registry Cleaner - Best Free Registry Cleaner - speedup slow PC in one minute
All is free for use software, so you don't have to worry about that. And if that doesn't seem to find a solution, there's always the go-back-to-baiscs solution of backing your files up, and reinstall that OS, which if this was my case, I would do it, but let's see if someone else knows more about this particular issue.