File is deleted, but still showing in 'Windows Search'

[Guy]

Hi

I have an issue that I have just notied several files that I deleted over a
month ago are still visible when doing searches on my computer. When trying
to delete that I'm told that it is "no longer located in" the folder it was.

When looking in the original folder the files were in they are not visible.
They can only be seen when doing a search. Does anyone know how to
completely get rid of them?

I believe this should happen automatically, but it does not appear to have
worked as it was a long time ago that I originally deleted them.

Thanks

 

[Ian]

Hi Guy,

That's because Vista keeps shortcuts of previously opened files (even
deleted ones) in the Recent folder. It's safe to delete these files.

The Recent folder is:
C:\Users\yourusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent

I believe the deleted files you see in Search are shortcuts found in the
Recent folder.

Once deleted, you shouldn't see these files when using search.

Regards,
Ian

 

[stan]

I tried this, but couldn't locate a "recent folder." I did find many of the
files I've been trying to delete by searching "recent." I was able to dump
some of them, not all of them. Many still have the same "item not found"
message, "this is no longer located in
C:\Users\myusername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent. Any other
fixes?

 

[stan]

I did, but they're still there. What about rebuilding the index? Would that
clean them up?

 

[stan]

No. I give up! I've tried everything. It must be a Vista glitch?

 

[stan]

No, I haven't tried rebuilding the index yet. Still searching for answers in
forums and message boards.

 

[stan]

Thanks for your help. I'm going to give it a shot. When I go to control
panel, indexing options. I see 2 folders, startup and users. Before
clicking advance, which folder should I select? Do I select one, go thru the
process, then come back for the other? I have a laptop that is showing 300
kb of temporary files that will not go away either with disk cleanup. How
might I remove them for good? Thanks again.

 

[On Request]

When I rebuild my index, I find that it will do all the items shown at one
go. When you initiate the rebuild, it will say that it is doing it at low
priority; it will take quite a while (hours) to rebuild if you are using
your computer; however, if you refrain from using your keyboard and mouse
for more than 45 seconds, the indexing will go at full tilt and will finish
pretty quickly (minutes). As soon as you touch the keyboard or mouse again,
it will revert to the slow mode for another 45 seconds, etc. Also, because
I am curious about such questions, I make a note of how many items are shown
as indexed before starting the rebuild to see how much, if any, changes
occurred in the number; usually it is only a small difference, like 10 or
so. Let us know how you make out.

 

[stan]

It worked! The files are gone now. Only 1 less index shown as index
following the rebuild. Think this will work on my laptop to rid it of
temporary files that I can't locate, but show up on the disk cleanup screen,
but never go away even after disk cleanup? Thanks again for all your help.
I'm learning and that's good.