Windows 7 - blank desktop files - @#$%!

[ryandalling]

Just recently a blank file showed up on my desktop... I went to delete it... and it says file does not exist.... today, there is a second file... same issue... the properties show no size to the file... and a google search indicates that this could be a corrupted shortcut... but I am not missing any shortcuts... anyhow, anybody know how to delete these things?

[Monster Dave]

I could be a temp file saved by a program like word that was corrupted - were you by any chance using anything like that and experienced a system crash where it would have generated a restore temp file?

[ryandalling]

Nothing at all. It's just irritating.

[mitt]

It sounds like a corrupted icon cache - not an uncommon problem.  How comfortable are you with command prompt?  You need to kill explorer, then use task manager to run a cmd window, then navigate to where the icon database is stored, and then delete the icon database file, which of course is hidden and protected, so you need a couple modifiers.


http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/how-to-rebuild-the-icon-cache-in-windows-vista/

I have done this on 2 different windows 7 machines. 

mitt

[Monster Dave]

That would make sense if his issue was with current icons - but his a new files popping up on the desktop.


(thinking)..

[mitt]

That would make sense if his issue was with current icons - but his a new files popping up on the desktop.


(thinking)..

Have you experienced weird desktop issues in 7 yet?  I have on 2 different computers.  

A shortcut is a file, just a little one.  And a corrupted short cut icon uses the default windows file icon if my memory is correct.

When the cache database gets hosed up, old short cut icons can start appearing on the desktop, but with the wrong windows default file icon.

Maybe more details of the files would help, like from explorer in the detail view - what is the extension, size, etc.

Rebuilding the icon database like I linked above will not hurt & is worth a try (unless the procedure is done wrong   )


mitt

[Monster Dave]

Interesting. I'm in the IT field and manage a slew of PC's - I have yet to see that - noted through for future reference!!

[mitt]

Interesting. I'm in the IT field and manage a slew of PC's - I have yet to see that - noted through for future reference!!

Yea, you would think that MS could have gotten this right. 

I think happens when people that delete a lot of desktop short cuts.  At least that is what happened to me.  I did a fresh install of win7 64bit Pro on my home desktop, then installed my usual software (FF, adobe, Avast, GIMP, etc etc).  I then deleted all the desktop shortcuts, because I do not use them (If I use the program a lot, I pin it to the start menu).   A couple days later, weird icons appeared on the desktop that look like the default icon windows uses for a file. 

Same thing happened with my laptop I bought 1 month ago, with 64bit Home Premium.  Deleted almost all of the short cuts from the desktop, then had the same problem, but recognized it quickly due to my 1st experience. 

There is a better how-to out there than the one I linked, but I don't have the bookmark here at work, and the one I linked to looked correct.



mitt

[Monster Dave]

That's really odd. The one piece of software that I use to maintain my systems is called CCleaner. I wonder if running that has anything to do with me not coming into contact with anything like that.

[mitt]

That's really odd. The one piece of software that I use to maintain my systems is called CCleaner. I wonder if running that has anything to do with me not coming into contact with anything like that.

I don't think so.  I don't think CCleaner can touch the icon database.  If explorer process is running (basically your taskbar), then the file cannot be deleted.  That is why you have to end explorer in task mgr and then use command prompt to do it.

mitt

[ryandalling]

I rebooted this morning... and the files are all gone on thier own... I think I have it narrowed down though... I have a couple of Excell 97 spread sheets on my desktop. When ever I edit these with Excell 2007... I think it puts a temp file on the desktop while I am in edit mode... then when I save and close, the edit file is removed... but the desktop keeps a weird blank file on the screen for it. This is my understanding of what is happening... so if I open, edit, and save a bunch of files.. I could have a bunch of blank things on my screen. Maybe I don't reboot enough... I just shut the laptop... but the reboot cured it this time... I don't recall if I tried that before or not... anyhow... thanks for the ideas people. 

[Monster Dave]

I rebooted this morning... and the files are all gone on thier own... I think I have it narrowed down though... I have a couple of Excell 97 spread sheets on my desktop. When ever I edit these with Excell 2007... I think it puts a temp file on the desktop while I am in edit mode... then when I save and close, the edit file is removed... but the desktop keeps a weird blank file on the screen for it. This is my understanding of what is happening... so if I open, edit, and save a bunch of files.. I could have a bunch of blank things on my screen. Maybe I don't reboot enough... I just shut the laptop... but the reboot cured it this time... I don't recall if I tried that before or not... anyhow... thanks for the ideas people. 

That was my thought from the beginning. MS Office tools are notorious for the temp files. If you're not rebooting very often, they are most likely getting hung up in the system cache when you flip the lid closed on your laptop. Glad you got it squared away!