Viewing thumbnails as images but without .thumbs file

[pintree3]

I know that if in Folder Options I choose "Always show icons, never thumbnails' the '.thumbs' file stops being created everytime you view an image file in Explorer. But I do want to see thumbnails, or more specifically I like the idea of viewing the image of the *.jpg, *.dng etc. when in Explorer. However, what I don't like is getting a '.thumbs' file being created.
I'm sure it is possible to have one without the other but can't recall how to do so.
Thank you

 

[Berton]

In Windows Explorer [Win7 and earlier] go to Organize, Folder and Search Options, View tab and the first item Files and Folders and uncheck the first thing about Always show icons, never thumbnails. At least that is what works with my Win7 Ult. But then I use the Extra Large Icons view for pictures and don't get the .thumbs part.

 

[pintree3]

Desktop is actually the thumbs problem

OK new discovery: As you wrote, "Folder and Search Options, View tab ...Files and Folders and uncheck the first thing about Always show icons, never thumbnails."
Well that is exactly how I have it and also how I had it and there is no ".thumbs" file within Explorer and herein lies my new discovery.
What bothered me (and still does) is that recently I've been placing all photos I download on my desktop, and since I can see the thumbnails therefore the images I could easily delete them, and most of them do get deleted. And here's the thing If I download into a folder nothings happens all is GOOD. However if it's downloaded to the desktop then and only then is the .thumbs file created. Aaaah! why would it do this? SO the question now is: How do I keep things as they are within a folder (within Explorer) but not have the .thumbs file be created on the desktop.
If we check the "Show icons and never thumbnails' option within Folder Options the problem is taken care of on the desktop but then nothing is visible within Explorer.

 

[townsbg]

That is how Microsoft handles caching of thumbnails and is automatic. As far as I know there isn't anything that can be done about it however the files are normally hidden. Is that not the case?

 

[Berton]

I just tried to duplicate the issue by creating a New Folder on the Desktop then Copying files from another location into it, could not get the .thumbs files in any of the 8 types of view. Win7 Ultimate 64-bit
Windows thumbnail cache - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[pintree3]

townsbg said: "That is how Microsoft handles caching of thumbnails and is automatic. As far as I know there isn't anything that can be done about it however the files are normally hidden. Is that not the case?"
While Berton added: "I just tried to duplicate the issue by creating a New Folder on the Desktop then Copying files from another location into it, could not get the .thumbs files in any of the 8 types of view. Win7 Ultimate 64-bit"

I think in both cases the reason is this, in order not to see anything you have, in your folder options, "Don't show hidden folder or files" or you have checked "Hide extensions for known file types."
Since I want to see everything my .thumbs file will show.
Nevertheless, I am convinced there was a way around this since I have always had my folder settings set as such and still not have the '.thumbs' icon visible. It may have been a registry hack or something, can't really remember. I think a recent windows series of updates may have changed this for me.

 

[townsbg]

You want to see system files? Why?

 

[pintree3]

You want to see system files? Why?

Why, you ask? paranoia I like to see what is there. I am likely to notice some if these files, or their change, if they are visible AND at times these files need to be visible in order to access them, to change them, to delete them, to replace them etc.

 

[Berton]

at times these files need to be visible in order to access them, to change them, to delete them, to replace them etc.

Access them? Maybe access the Folder they are in to look at the files.
Change them? Only if desiring to kill Windows.
Delete them? Only if desiring to prevent Windows from booting or running.
Replace them? Only if it's known for certain something is wrong with them.

They are hidden System files for a reason, one part of which is to make it more difficult for outsiders/hackers/'infectors' to mess with them.

 

[pintree3]

[/QUOTE]Access them? Maybe access the Folder they are in to look at the files.
Change them? Only if desiring to kill Windows.
Delete them? Only if desiring to prevent Windows from booting or running.
Replace them? Only if it's known for certain something is wrong with them.
They are hidden System files for a reason, one part of which is to make it more difficult for outsiders/hackers/'infectors' to mess with them.[/QUOTE]
"Access them? Maybe access the Folder they are in to look at the files." YES and to see if anything looks suspicious or is missing or is there which shouldn't be there. A crucial thing I would think
"Change them? Only if desiring to kill Windows." not necessarily needs to be applied with caution and utmost certainty.
" Delete them? Only if desiring to prevent Windows from booting or running." Not at all, because files such as '.thumbs' can easily be deleted with no repercussions whatsoever.
"Replace them? Only if it's known for certain something is wrong with them." YUP
"They are hidden System files for a reason, one part of which is to make it more difficult for outsiders/hackers/'infectors' to mess with them."
Hackers know they are there and can access some of them (and they do) regardless of if or not you choose to see them. It is after all system files which are more often than not hacked, via viruses, trojans, malaware and stuff, are they not?
I think, more than anything, they are hidden by default, to prevent people like me from screwing up their own computers (or their sister's)

 

[A Guy]

Do you have Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) unchecked as well?



I have Show hidden files, folders, and drives checked, and Hide extensions for known file types unchecked, and I get no .thumbs file on the desktop (nor desktop.ini which will also show if protected system files are showing).

Show hidden files, folders, and drives is NOT the same as Hide protected operating system files (Recommended). I doubt you need to regularly have protected operating system files showing. Those files should not have reason to "access them, to change them, to delete them, to replace them etc."

A Guy

 

[Berton]

I think, more than anything, they are hidden by default, to prevent people like me from screwing up their own computers (or their sister's)

I think the assumption with that is that you are absolutely correct.

 

[townsbg]

at times these files need to be visible in order to access them, to change them, to delete them, to replace them etc.

Access them? Maybe access the Folder they are in to look at the files.
Change them? Only if desiring to kill Windows.
Delete them? Only if desiring to prevent Windows from booting or running.
Replace them? Only if it's known for certain something is wrong with them.

They are hidden System files for a reason, one part of which is to make it more difficult for outsiders/hackers/'infectors' to mess with them.

I agree completely.

 

[Callender]

Disable thumbnail cache

What is the .thumbs file? I've searched my entire hard drive and don't have a single instance of it.

I could be wrong but I thought thumbnails get stored in thumbs.db files.

Take a look at this tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10794-thumbnail-cache-enable-disable.html

and this one:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11738-thumbnail-previews-enable-disable.html

I don't see any thumbnail cache on my system even with hidden files shown.

Well I do see a few small files in this folder only:

%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer

There are 6 files in total. All except one are 1kb in size. The other is 4kb.

Folder options are set to show icons never thumbnails in all folders. Folder template discovery is switched off and all folders are set to general template and list view with no preview pane.

If I want a thumbnail cache I create my own as per This Post

I'm not sure if there's any additional settings that I've tweaked in order to prevent any thumbnail cache being created.