Desktop Symbol (NOT Icon) Cannot Delete

[MageMaster]

WinXP Pro SP3

This is about the desktop, there is a symbol that will not go away.
This is NOT an icon, tried unchecking "Show desktop icons" and all
real icons disappeared but the symbol is still there.

Also, use Desktop Cleanup, but there is no unknown icon listed. Tried
using different desktop properties and styles (my default is Classic,
not XP) but nothing gets rid of the symbol. This includes NOT having a
wallpaper.

Note that this symbol is always on top, even this dialog has the
symbol.

The symbol looks like a very small gold text-bubble with a cloud to
one side.

Have no idea when this happened, but need a fix.

I did look at registry entries from posts on desktop icons, but none
apply since this is NOT a real icon.

By the way, I do not use a WEB desktop.

 

[Alex Clark]

Have you installed anything recently, any updated drivers, or any utilities?

Is the icon constantly on top of everything, or only on the desktop?

Have you scanned your system for malware?

 

[dadiOH]

WinXP Pro SP3

This is about the desktop, there is a symbol that will not go away.
This is NOT an icon, tried unchecking "Show desktop icons" and all
real icons disappeared but the symbol is still there.

Also, use Desktop Cleanup, but there is no unknown icon listed. Tried
using different desktop properties and styles (my default is Classic,
not XP) but nothing gets rid of the symbol. This includes NOT having a
wallpaper.

Note that this symbol is always on top, even this dialog has the
symbol.

The symbol looks like a very small gold text-bubble with a cloud to
one side.

Have no idea when this happened, but need a fix.

I did look at registry entries from posts on desktop icons, but none
apply since this is NOT a real icon.

Does the non-icon have properties? If so, what are they?



--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[MageMaster]

Alex Clark & dadiOH

The symbol is ALWAYS on top, on the desktop, no matter what the
Desktop Properties (wallpaper or not, style XP or Window Classic,
background color, etc.).

It does NOT have properties because it is NOT an icon.

 

[Malke]

Alex Clark & dadiOH

The symbol is ALWAYS on top, on the desktop, no matter what the
Desktop Properties (wallpaper or not, style XP or Window Classic,
background color, etc.).

It does NOT have properties because it is NOT an icon.

Try a clean boot. *Something* has put the "symbol" on your Desktop. It
didn't magically appear all by itself.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

If the "symbol" isn't there with a clean boot, then you can start tracking
down the culprit. The free Autoruns program is very useful for managing
your Startup - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx -
Autoruns

And double-check that you're not using the Web wallpaper. I know you said
you checked, but look again.

Other than that, see if there is anything in the Desktop's namespace here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

Malke

 

[3c273]

Perhaps it is something from the OSD (On Screen Display) of your monitor.
Louis

 

[dadiOH]

Alex Clark & dadiOH

The symbol is ALWAYS on top, on the desktop, no matter what the
Desktop Properties (wallpaper or not, style XP or Window Classic,
background color, etc.).

It does NOT have properties because it is NOT an icon.

Drives have properties
Folders have properties
Files have properties

It is highly likely that your non-icon fits into one of those catagories.
Even icons do.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

 

[Tecknomage]

Try a clean boot. *Something* has put the "symbol" on your Desktop. It
didn't magically appear all by itself.

Clean boot in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353
Clean-boot advanced troubleshooting in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316434
How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

If the "symbol" isn't there with a clean boot, then you can start tracking
down the culprit. The free Autoruns program is very useful for managing
your Startup - http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/default.mspx -
Autoruns

And double-check that you're not using the Web wallpaper. I know you said
you checked, but look again.

I use Desktop Properties and selected "None" for the Wallpaper, no
fix.

Also, the symbol is always on top. On top of *every* window or
dialog.

Other than that, see if there is anything in the Desktop's namespace here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

There is, but some entries look legit, like Recycle Bin.

Is there a list of what SHOULD be there?

 

[Jim]

WinXP Pro SP3

This is about the desktop, there is a symbol that will not go away.
This is NOT an icon, tried unchecking "Show desktop icons" and all
real icons disappeared but the symbol is still there.

Also, use Desktop Cleanup, but there is no unknown icon listed. Tried
using different desktop properties and styles (my default is Classic,
not XP) but nothing gets rid of the symbol. This includes NOT having a
wallpaper.

Note that this symbol is always on top, even this dialog has the
symbol.

The symbol looks like a very small gold text-bubble with a cloud to
one side.

Have no idea when this happened, but need a fix.

I did look at registry entries from posts on desktop icons, but none
apply since this is NOT a real icon.

By the way, I do not use a WEB desktop.

Right click , properties ?

 

[Olórin]

Alex Clark & dadiOH

The symbol is ALWAYS on top, on the desktop, no matter what the
Desktop Properties (wallpaper or not, style XP or Window Classic,
background color, etc.).

It does NOT have properties because it is NOT an icon.

Charming. It's NOT just icons that have properties, you know. If you
right-click and there's no "Properties" item in the drop-down list, would it
be so painful to just politely say so?

You haven't actually told us - what, if anything, happens if you
double-click on it? Or is it not "selectable" with the mouse? (PUH-LEASE
don't reply "It's NOT an icon"! You need to be more descriptive than
dogmatic.) Could it be a sticker on your monitor...?

Maybe try the standalone and free ShellExView
(http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html) - the thing could be some sort
of special shell icon/folder/symbol/artefact/non-contentious epithet.

And you didn't answer the question about scanning for malware...

 

[Bill Sharpe]

WinXP Pro SP3

This is about the desktop, there is a symbol that will not go away.
This is NOT an icon, tried unchecking "Show desktop icons" and all
real icons disappeared but the symbol is still there.

Also, use Desktop Cleanup, but there is no unknown icon listed. Tried
using different desktop properties and styles (my default is Classic,
not XP) but nothing gets rid of the symbol. This includes NOT having a
wallpaper.

Note that this symbol is always on top, even this dialog has the
symbol.

The symbol looks like a very small gold text-bubble with a cloud to
one side.

Have no idea when this happened, but need a fix.

I did look at registry entries from posts on desktop icons, but none
apply since this is NOT a real icon.

By the way, I do not use a WEB desktop.

How long has this been going on?

Have you tried malware scan, safe mode startup, system restore?

If you go to a command prompt, i.e. type "cmd.exe" in the run box, then
Alt-Enter to go to full screen mode, does the symbol still appear?

Does the symbol appear as you boot up, but before the Windows desktop
appears?

If the answer to the last question is Yes it's a monitor problem, not a
Windows problem.

Bill

 

[Alex Clark]

Reading through your other posts, you're saying it's always on top of all
windows, not just on the desktop.

Can you test a different monitor on your system to see if it still appears?

Does your mouse cursor disappear behind the icon, or is it still visible
over the top of it?

If the former is true, then it sounds a lot like some kind of
on-screen-display icon that your monitor is displaying. Failing that, I'd
say your graphics card may be the culprit.

Have you tried booting into safe-mode? Is it still there, if so?

Also, once again, have you run any kind of malware scan?