Locating files in "Downloaded Program Files"

[Guest]

I am trying to locate and delete the file "bridge.inf" which my Norton
Antivirus software indicates is in C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files, an
IE6 related folder. Properties of that folder indicates it contains 26
files. View is set to show hidden files. I can only see 12 objects in the
folder and they appear related to Active X. I cannot see bridge.inf. or the
other files which apparently are in the folder. What do I need to do to see
those files and delete bridge.inf?

Thanks for any help

 

[MsOsWin]

C:\Windows\Downloaded Program Files

try going to that folder
click start >> run
type
command
(or type cmd in winxp?)
then in hte DOS window, type DIR. you;'ll see more files listed than files that show in windows

(or,,, at least, *i* see more in my DOS window than in windows window -- haha)

first, you might want to drag copy of whole folder to elsewhere as backup, before trying to DEL the norton file

and, windows may still complain if you try to DEL any file in "DOS"

if win wont let you DEL, then maybe you have to go to this as a DOS folder from a boot floppy

 

[Gary Smith]

Downloaded Program Files is a system folder, so what Windows Explorer
shows is a special view, not what files are actually present.

This works in Windows 2000 and should work in XP as well:

Open a command prompt window by clicking Start, Run, typing "cmd" (NOT
"command") in the box, and clicking OK. In the command Window, type

cd %systemroot%

and press Enter. That will take you to your Windows folder, whatever its
name may be. Now type

attrib -s "Downloaded Program Files"

and press Enter. The quotes are necessary. It's most convenient to leave
the command windows open at this point. Open Windows Explorer and
navigate to the Downloaded Program Files folder. You should see the
actual file present in the folder and be able to delete any that you do
not want.

When you've finished, return to the command windoes and enter

attrib +s "Downloaded Program Files"

That restores the system attribute to the folder, which will return to its
usual appearance once Explorer has been closed and re-opened.

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much. It worked.

Downloaded Program Files is a system folder, so what Windows Explorer
shows is a special view, not what files are actually present.

This works in Windows 2000 and should work in XP as well:

Open a command prompt window by clicking Start, Run, typing "cmd" (NOT
"command") in the box, and clicking OK. In the command Window, type

cd %systemroot%

and press Enter. That will take you to your Windows folder, whatever its
name may be. Now type

attrib -s "Downloaded Program Files"

and press Enter. The quotes are necessary. It's most convenient to leave
the command windows open at this point. Open Windows Explorer and
navigate to the Downloaded Program Files folder. You should see the
actual file present in the folder and be able to delete any that you do
not want.

When you've finished, return to the command windoes and enter

attrib +s "Downloaded Program Files"

That restores the system attribute to the folder, which will return to its
usual appearance once Explorer has been closed and re-opened.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your response.

try going to that folder
click start >> run
type
command
(or type cmd in winxp?)
then in hte DOS window, type DIR. you;'ll see more files listed than files that show in windows

(or,,, at least, *i* see more in my DOS window than in windows window -- haha)

first, you might want to drag copy of whole folder to elsewhere as backup, before trying to DEL the norton file

and, windows may still complain if you try to DEL any file in "DOS"

if win wont let you DEL, then maybe you have to go to this as a DOS folder from a boot floppy

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Downloaded Program Files is a system folder, so what Windows Explorer
shows is a special view, not what files are actually present.

Gary,

The real reason for the special view is the hidden file Desktop.ini
Actually, more correctly perhaps for the "Shell Namespace Extension"
represented by the CLSDID= which that file refers to.

This works in Windows 2000 and should work in XP as well:

Open a command prompt window by clicking Start, Run, typing "cmd" (NOT
"command") in the box, and clicking OK. In the command Window, type

cd %systemroot%

and press Enter. That will take you to your Windows folder, whatever its
name may be. Now type

attrib -s "Downloaded Program Files"

and press Enter. The quotes are necessary. It's most convenient to leave
the command windows open at this point. Open Windows Explorer and
navigate to the Downloaded Program Files folder. You should see the
actual file present in the folder and be able to delete any that you do
not want.

When you've finished, return to the command windoes and enter

attrib +s "Downloaded Program Files"

That restores the system attribute to the folder, which will return to its
usual appearance once Explorer has been closed and re-opened.

Provided desktop.ini isn't one of the ones he deleted... <eg>


FYI

Robert Aldwinckle
---

 

[Gary Smith]

The real reason for the special view is the hidden file Desktop.ini
Actually, more correctly perhaps for the "Shell Namespace Extension"
represented by the CLSDID= which that file refers to.

Right, but I didn't want to get into too much detail. Desktop.ini is
only used when the containing folder has the System or Read-only
attribute, so the easiest way to switch from system to normal view is to
remove the attribute. Renaming desktop.ini will do the same thing, but
you have to remove the hidden attribute before you can do that.

You can also disable the system view by editing desktop.ini, but I save
that approach for very special situations.

 

[Gary Smith]

Thanks for the feedback. Glad I could help

Thanks very much. It worked.