Thumbs.dll - Shortcut is in Most of my Folders

[Gene]

Windows XP Home, IE6.0

Repairing a problem I had with my mail required
reinstalling MSN v8.5 and MSN Messenger v6.0. Upon
completion a Thumbs.db DLL appeared on my Desktop and
subsequently sent to the Recycle Bin.

I now notice that in most, not all, of my Folders along
with the Files is a Thumbs.db They are not duplicates
because each one is a different size e.g. 10KB, 42KB,
17.5KB, I suppose depending on the number of files in that
particular Folder so, these must be newly created Data
Base shortcuts that were created in conjunction with the
reinstall of MSN 8.5.

Also, when I try to click on any of them I cannot open
them but get a message "Windows cannot open this
file...etc"

I guess they are harmless but they raise questions:

How and why did they get created? Is it an indicator of
something wrong? Can I get rid of them en masse or should
I just ignore them?

If I treat one like a Shortcut and try to move it to my
Screen I get a message "Confirm File Move: Are you sure
you want to move the System File 'Thumbs.db'? At that
point I say 'no' not knowing what the impact might be by
saying 'yes'.

I seem to be able to right click and send them to the
Recycle Bin without an apparent problem.

Thanks,
Gene

 

[Jonathan Kay [MVP]]

Greetings Gene,

You can delete thumbs.db files (and their shortcuts) without a problem. When you go into a
folder in Windows XP in thumbnail view, to speed up viewing of the folder in the future,
these thumbs.db files are created. All the thumbs.db file contains is a group of small
images of the files in your folder (hence why they're a different size in each folder)
There's no harm in removing them, but it is recommended that you leave them alone (it does
speed up folder viewing).

However, the only reason you're actually seeing these, is because you turned off the
'protected operating system files' option the other day (to get at the MSNCoreFiles folder).
To turn it back on, open any folder, then click the Tools menu, then Folder Options, click
the View tab, then check the 'Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)' and then
click OK. After this option is back on, all the thumbs.db files will be "hidden" and they
won't get in your way.
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Windows MVP, Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com

 

[Gene]

Hello Jonathan,

It just never occurred to me that the Thumbs.db were the
result of unchecking "Hide Protected......". As soon as I
read your answer a big (DUH!) came over me...lol

Now that I know, I'll leave them alone and once again be
at peace with the world. There not in the way at all, I
was just puzzled as to how they got there. I've been
enlightened.

Thank you again,
Gene

-----Original Message-----
Greetings Gene,

You can delete thumbs.db files (and their shortcuts)

without a problem. When you go into a

folder in Windows XP in thumbnail view, to speed up

viewing of the folder in the future,

these thumbs.db files are created. All the thumbs.db

file contains is a group of small

images of the files in your folder (hence why they're a different size in each folder)
There's no harm in removing them, but it is recommended

that you leave them alone (it does

speed up folder viewing).

However, the only reason you're actually seeing these, is because you turned off the
'protected operating system files' option the other day

(to get at the MSNCoreFiles folder).

To turn it back on, open any folder, then click the Tools

menu, then Folder Options, click

the View tab, then check the 'Hide protected operating

system files (Recommended)' and then

click OK. After this option is back on, all the

thumbs.db files will be "hidden" and they