Persistent desktop folders

[bjm]

I made some file folders (not shortcuts) on my desktop. I moved all the
files somewhere else, so the folders are empty. I can't get them to stay
deleted! they reappear on reboot.

They are not read-only. The delete "works" -- the folders appear in the
recycle bin & are even still there when the (empty) folders reappear on the
desktop after reboot.

The computer is not on a network.
I am the administrator and only user.
There is no sharing.
I've had no problems with deleting other folders or shortcuts.
WinXP Home with SP3.

How can I get these folders to stay gone!
bj

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

I made some file folders (not shortcuts) on my desktop. I moved all the
files somewhere else, so the folders are empty. I can't get them to stay
deleted! they reappear on reboot.

They are not read-only. The delete "works" -- the folders appear in the
recycle bin & are even still there when the (empty) folders reappear on
the
desktop after reboot.

The computer is not on a network.
I am the administrator and only user.
There is no sharing.
I've had no problems with deleting other folders or shortcuts.
WinXP Home with SP3.

How can I get these folders to stay gone!
bj

The folders don't "reappear" - they are probably recreated by some malware
on your system (which you could confirm by examining the folders date/time
stamp). I suspect that they don't reappear when you boot the machine in Safe
Mode. You could run msconfig.exe and examine the tasks under the Startup tab
in order to locate the culprit.

 

[Elmo]

I made some file folders (not shortcuts) on my desktop. I moved all the
files somewhere else, so the folders are empty. I can't get them to stay
deleted! they reappear on reboot.

They are not read-only. The delete "works" -- the folders appear in the
recycle bin & are even still there when the (empty) folders reappear on the
desktop after reboot.

The computer is not on a network.
I am the administrator and only user.
There is no sharing.
I've had no problems with deleting other folders or shortcuts.
WinXP Home with SP3.

How can I get these folders to stay gone!
bj

Do a search for those files; I suspect they're in another Desktop
folder, and are reloaded upon restart. I've never had a problem like
this; it's just an idea.. Example folders:

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users
C:\Documents and Settings\Default User
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner

Google has a few posts on the problem:

- http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=77038
"Before I could try any of these methods, my roommate came to me today
and told me he believes he has fixed it by uninstalling AOL Instant
Messenger and re-installing it. He said he has re-booted 5 or 6 times
and the folder hasn't come back once.
I don't know why that would do anything, but it has apparently worked.
Thanks for the replies though. If it comes back, I'll let you know."

- This one suggests a registry entry could be referencing the folder.
Remove the reference and the file won't be recreated:
http://www.techexams.net/forums/off-topic/18797-deleted-folder-keeps-reappearing.html
"Thanks Guys! I found it. It was set up as the default inbox for my
Bluetooth File Exchanger... I reset that to simply be the desktop and I
haven't a problem with it since... good-bye so long!
Excellent work once again team... "

- Continue with the third hit, here:
http://groups.google.com/groups/search?q=desktop+folders+reappear&qt_s=Search+Groups

 

[Richard]

I made some file folders (not shortcuts) on my desktop. I moved all the
files somewhere else, so the folders are empty. I can't get them to stay
deleted! they reappear on reboot.

They are not read-only. The delete "works" -- the folders appear in the
recycle bin & are even still there when the (empty) folders reappear on
the
desktop after reboot.

The computer is not on a network.
I am the administrator and only user.
There is no sharing.
I've had no problems with deleting other folders or shortcuts.
WinXP Home with SP3.

How can I get these folders to stay gone!
bj

Have you tried both deleting from desktop and from Recycle Bin? Have you
ruled out Malware? Is the Archive attribute set on the folders? (Maybe some
setting on a file Back Up utility is restoring the folders?) Were the
folders compressed or encrypted? Have you tried Shift-Deleting the folders?

--Richard