Desktop.ini deletable?

[Bradlee Robertson]

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this Desktop.ini
are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it.

It's normal that this file is present in the "Recent" folder.

Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

What benefit do you expect by removing that system file (150 Bytes)?

 

[Guest]

Desktop.ini is an auto generated System and Hidden file. There is no need to
delete this file as it has information regarding your folder. Deleting this
file however will not harm anything but it is not recommended.

You will this file in many folders. This is because you have "Show Hidden
Files" and "Hide Protected System Files" enable. Just goto Folder Options
from Tools menu and Restore Default values.

Hope this information will useful to you, let us know!

 

[Wesley Vogel]

The My Recent Documents folder gets its name from that desktop.ini file.

From this line:
[email protected],-12691

If you delete that desktop.ini file, the folder's name will change from My
Recent Documents to Recent.

The folder will also lose the special icon from these two lines:
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21

The icon looks like a document with a clock.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

It's normal that this file is present in the "Recent" folder.

But for years it was not there.

What benefit do you expect by removing that system file (150 Bytes)?

As a matter of standard procedure, I empty the "Recent" folder
after I visit a website with IE. I also empty the "Temp" and "Temporary
Internet files" folders. It's for privacy.

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

I have had "Show Hidden Files" and "Hide Protected System Files"
disabled for years without this Desktop.ini file visible in the "Recent"
folder. I normally empty the "Recent" folder periodically for privacy
by highlighting the entire contents of "Recent" with ctl-A and then
delete the contents with ctl-D. But in the last couple days, this
Desktop.ini file showed up, and it can't be deleted without the warning
message about it being a system file, and I'm leary of deleting it until
I know what it will do to the system.

---------------
_Bradlee_

Desktop.ini is an auto generated System and Hidden file. There is no need to
delete this file as it has information regarding your folder. Deleting this
file however will not harm anything but it is not recommended.

You will this file in many folders. This is because you have "Show Hidden
Files" and "Hide Protected System Files" enable. Just goto Folder Options
from Tools menu and Restore Default values.

Hope this information will useful to you, let us know!

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this Desktop.ini
are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

The My Recent Documents folder gets its name from that desktop.ini file.

From this line:
[email protected],-12691

If you delete that desktop.ini file, the folder's name will change from My
Recent Documents to Recent.

It's called "Recent" already, and it has been called that for years.
It is represented on my Desktop as a shortcut called "Recent", and
that shortcut has been how I've normally accessed that folder.

The folder will also lose the special icon from these two lines:
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21

The icon looks like a document with a clock.

Right now, the "Recent" folder's icon is just the generic manila
folder icon. I don't care what icon is used. It sounds so far like
I can just delete it. Or is there something else lurking as a "gotcha!"?

---------------
_Bradlee_

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this Desktop.ini
are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

As a matter of standard procedure, I empty the "Recent" folder
after I visit a website with IE.

There are no remainders in that folder after visiting websites. If you
don't want any entries in that folder: Right click the empty taskbar >
Properties > Start menu > Customize > Advanced tab > untick the check-
box at the bottom. If using the classic start menu, that option is not
available. Install "TweakUI" in addition:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

TweakUI > Explorer > Allow Recent Documents on Start meunu > untick >
Clear document history on exit > tick > Maintain document history >
untick.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

If you really meant C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator instead of
C:\Documents and Settings\Admin...

I assumed that C:\Documents and Settings\Admin was your %userprofile%

Start | Run | Type: %userprofile% | Click OK
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here opens.

Start | Run | Type: recent | Click OK |
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Recent opens.

Start | Run | Type: %userprofile%\recent | Click OK |
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here\Recent opens.

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Recent does not have a desktop.ini
file.

C:\Documents and Settings\Admin would have a desktop.ini file if Admin is
your userprofile.


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

The My Recent Documents folder gets its name from that desktop.ini file.

From this line:
[email protected],-12691

If you delete that desktop.ini file, the folder's name will change from
My Recent Documents to Recent.

It's called "Recent" already, and it has been called that for years.
It is represented on my Desktop as a shortcut called "Recent", and
that shortcut has been how I've normally accessed that folder.

The folder will also lose the special icon from these two lines:
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21

The icon looks like a document with a clock.

Right now, the "Recent" folder's icon is just the generic manila
folder icon. I don't care what icon is used. It sounds so far like
I can just delete it. Or is there something else lurking as a "gotcha!"?

---------------
_Bradlee_

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this
Desktop.ini are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

 

[Rock]

I have had "Show Hidden Files" and "Hide Protected System Files"
disabled for years without this Desktop.ini file visible in the "Recent"
folder. I normally empty the "Recent" folder periodically for privacy
by highlighting the entire contents of "Recent" with ctl-A and then
delete the contents with ctl-D. But in the last couple days, this
Desktop.ini file showed up, and it can't be deleted without the warning
message about it being a system file, and I'm leary of deleting it until
I know what it will do to the system.

---------------
_Bradlee_

Desktop.ini is an auto generated System and Hidden file. There is no need
to delete this file as it has information regarding your folder. Deleting
this file however will not harm anything but it is not recommended.

You will this file in many folders. This is because you have "Show Hidden
Files" and "Hide Protected System Files" enable. Just goto Folder Options
from Tools menu and Restore Default values.

Hope this information will useful to you, let us know!

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this
Desktop.ini
are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

Then just rename it or move it somewhere else and see what happens

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

It's normal that this file is present in the "Recent" folder.


What benefit do you expect by removing that system file (150 Bytes)?

I want to get it back where it belongs. It wasn't there for several
years, and suddenly it's there giving me an error message whenever
I clear the folder. It's an annoyance.

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

Thanks, Raj. With the Recent folder contents displayed in Explorer,
I went to Tools/Folder Options/View tab/Hidden Files & Folders/
checked "Do not show hidden files and folders". Now displaying
the contents of Recent and selecting and deleting them all does give
an error message.

---------------
_Bradlee_

Desktop.ini is an auto generated System and Hidden file. There is
no need to delete this file as it has information regarding your folder.
Deleting this file however will not harm anything but it is not recommended.

You will this file in many folders. This is because you have "Show Hidden
Files" and "Hide Protected System Files" enable. Just goto Folder Options
from Tools menu and Restore Default values.

Hope this information will useful to you, let us know!

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this Desktop.ini
are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

Thanks, Wesley. Your comments assure me that the file belongs
there. Raj showed me how to hide it from deletion so as not to
get the error message. You guys are a tremendous help to the
Internet community.

---------------
_Bradlee_

The My Recent Documents folder gets its name from that desktop.ini file.

From this line:
[email protected],-12691

If you delete that desktop.ini file, the folder's name will change from My
Recent Documents to Recent.

The folder will also lose the special icon from these two lines:
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21

The icon looks like a document with a clock.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User


Bradlee Robertson hunted and pecked:

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this Desktop.ini
are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?

 

[Bradlee Robertson]

Now displaying the contents of Recent and selecting and
deleting them all does give an error message.

Ummm... shoulda said "does NOT give an error message".
That is, ctl-A, ctl-D doesn't give an error.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Keep having fun, Bradlee.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks, Wesley. Your comments assure me that the file belongs
there. Raj showed me how to hide it from deletion so as not to
get the error message. You guys are a tremendous help to the
Internet community.

---------------
_Bradlee_

The My Recent Documents folder gets its name from that desktop.ini file.

From this line:
[email protected],-12691

If you delete that desktop.ini file, the folder's name will change from
My Recent Documents to Recent.

The folder will also lose the special icon from these two lines:
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21

The icon looks like a document with a clock.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User


Bradlee Robertson hunted and pecked:

My "Recent" folder in C:\Documents and Settings\Admin somehow
has acquired a "Desktop.ini" file in it. The contents of this
Desktop.ini are:

[.ShellClassInfo]
[email protected],-12692
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll
IconIndex=-21
[email protected],-12691


Can this file be deleted without ruining some process or setup?