Vista - Desktop.ini files shown on the desktop
Q: I have enabled the Show hidden files and folders setting in the Folder Options. Now, the two Desktop.ini icons are now showing on the desktop. I know that one comes from the C:\Users\Public\Desktop, the other comes from the current users Desktop folder. How do I hide them whilst still keeping other hidden files and folder visible?
A: The two desktop.ini files by default have the System, Hidden and Read-only attributes assigned. So they should not be showing on the Desktop unless the following option is disabled in Folder Options:
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
When I faced this problem in my own computer running Windows Vista, the option Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) was already enabled. Later I found that the ShowSuperHidden value was not present in the registry, but its corresponding GUI option Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) is enabled though. This sounds like a bug to me.
Fix
I then got this working by opening Folder Options (by typing CONTROL FOLDERS in Start - Search box), unchecked Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) and clicked Apply. Then re-checked the option and clicked Apply, OK.
The two desktop.ini files are no longer visible on the Desktop.
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Pingback by Save and Restore Desktop icon layout | The Winhelponline.com Blog on 15 March 2008:
[...] Vista - Desktop.ini files shown on the desktop [...]
Comment by Mark on 5 April 2008:
This worked like a champ…thx for this tip.
Comment by Dheeraj on 11 April 2008:
Well thanks for this, worked like a charm. This is also caused if you get the nhatquanglan virus while you have NOD32 rnning then nothing happens but in XP only Task Manager gets disabled and .bat files and .ini files get a ” at their file association to notepad and in vista only .ini files get this problem unfortunately you have to use CreativePowerElements tro fix that and these two dektop.ini s appear on the desktop.