System Files Randomly Appearing

[MikeW]

XP Home with SP2



I have recently noticed system files randomly appearing in various
applications on my computer. The icons appear to be semi greyed out but
when I sent one to the recycle bin it changed to full colour.



When I attempt to delete any of these files I get the warning popup that
if I delete this file my computer or programs on my computer may not
work. Below are some examples of the files.



Location Name of file size
Attributes

In a photo folder ##picat 75 bytes
Hidden

In a photo folder Thumbs.db 94.5KB
Archive

In My Pictures Thumbs.db 242KB
Archive

In a photo folder _PICAT 73bytes
Hidden/Archive

In My Documents Desktop.ini 76bytes
Hidden (greyed out)



As a Newbie I would be most grateful if one of you guys could answer the
following;



1. Why are these files appearing?

2. How are they appearing?

3. Is it safe to delete them?

 

[Sharon F]

XP Home with SP2

I have recently noticed system files randomly appearing in various
applications on my computer. The icons appear to be semi greyed out but
when I sent one to the recycle bin it changed to full colour.

When I attempt to delete any of these files I get the warning popup that
if I delete this file my computer or programs on my computer may not
work. Below are some examples of the files.

Location Name of file size
Attributes

In a photo folder ##picat 75 bytes
Hidden

In a photo folder Thumbs.db 94.5KB
Archive

In My Pictures Thumbs.db 242KB
Archive

In a photo folder _PICAT 73bytes
Hidden/Archive

In My Documents Desktop.ini 76bytes
Hidden (greyed out)

As a Newbie I would be most grateful if one of you guys could answer the
following;

1. Why are these files appearing?

2. How are they appearing?

3. Is it safe to delete them?

The desktop.ini files record viewing/template preferences for the folders
they reside in. They are created when you first access a folder and used
for reference whenever you open the folder again. Unless your antivirus
program alerts you to remove one of these, I can't think of a good reason
to delete them.

The thumb.db files are database files that support the thumbnail view
setting applicable to image files. Deleting thumbs.db does no harm but it
may not work in your favor either. If you delete the file and use thumbnail
view, the file will be rebuilt the next time you access the folder. This is
useful if the file becomes corrupt but if the file is in good health, its
presence will make browsing a folder more efficient.

If you do not use thumbnail view or you disallow the caching of thumbnails
(Folder Options> View), you do not need the files.

PICAT files. No idea. Picture Catalog? Perhaps something from an image
managing program that you have installed in addition to Windows. A search
on Google yields results that tell me these may be related to Picture It!

Deleting these may cause some difficulty when working with the program that
is creating them.

If it is Picture It that is responsible for the appearance of these files,
you should ask in a Picture It newsgroup whether these files should be kept
or cleaned out on a regular basis.

Web Interface (Picture It is listed under "Publishing"):
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.aspx
Or NNTP/newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.pictureit

 

[Wesley Vogel]

In addition to what Sharon posted, you need to adjust a couple of settings.

These are normally Hidden files. [[Hidden files and folders will appear
dimmed to indicate they are not typical items.]]

Try this...

Start | Run | Type: control folders | OK |
View tab | Make sure this is UNChecked:
Display the contents of system folders |
Check: Do not show hidden files and folders |
Apply button | OK button

Now you won't see those files.

 

[MikeW]

The desktop.ini files record viewing/template preferences for the
folders
they reside in. They are created when you first access a folder and
used
for reference whenever you open the folder again. Unless your
antivirus
program alerts you to remove one of these, I can't think of a good
reason
to delete them.

The thumb.db files are database files that support the thumbnail view
setting applicable to image files. Deleting thumbs.db does no harm but
it
may not work in your favor either. If you delete the file and use
thumbnail
view, the file will be rebuilt the next time you access the folder.
This is
useful if the file becomes corrupt but if the file is in good health,
its
presence will make browsing a folder more efficient.

If you do not use thumbnail view or you disallow the caching of
thumbnails
(Folder Options> View), you do not need the files.

PICAT files. No idea. Picture Catalog? Perhaps something from an image
managing program that you have installed in addition to Windows. A
search
on Google yields results that tell me these may be related to Picture
It!

Deleting these may cause some difficulty when working with the program
that
is creating them.

If it is Picture It that is responsible for the appearance of these
files,
you should ask in a Picture It newsgroup whether these files should be
kept
or cleaned out on a regular basis.

Web Interface (Picture It is listed under "Publishing"):
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/default.aspx
Or NNTP/newsreader:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.pictureit

Thanks Sharon for your very informative reply and for the link.

 

[MikeW]

Thanks Wesley. I followed your instructions and the "problem" is now
sorted.

In addition to what Sharon posted, you need to adjust a couple of
settings.

These are normally Hidden files. [[Hidden files and folders will
appear
dimmed to indicate they are not typical items.]]

Try this...

Start | Run | Type: control folders | OK |
View tab | Make sure this is UNChecked:
Display the contents of system folders |
Check: Do not show hidden files and folders |
Apply button | OK button

Now you won't see those files.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

XP Home with SP2



I have recently noticed system files randomly appearing in various
applications on my computer. The icons appear to be semi greyed out
but when I sent one to the recycle bin it changed to full colour.



When I attempt to delete any of these files I get the warning popup
that if I delete this file my computer or programs on my computer may
not work. Below are some examples of the files.



Location Name of file size
Attributes

In a photo folder ##picat 75 bytes
Hidden

In a photo folder Thumbs.db 94.5KB
Archive

In My Pictures Thumbs.db 242KB
Archive

In a photo folder _PICAT 73bytes
Hidden/Archive

In My Documents Desktop.ini 76bytes
Hidden (greyed out)



As a Newbie I would be most grateful if one of you guys could answer
the following;



1. Why are these files appearing?

2. How are they appearing?

3. Is it safe to delete them?

 

[Sharon F]

Thanks Sharon for your very informative reply and for the link.

You're welcome, Mike and best of luck.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Keep having fun, Mike!

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Thanks Wesley. I followed your instructions and the "problem" is now
sorted.

In addition to what Sharon posted, you need to adjust a couple of
settings.

These are normally Hidden files. [[Hidden files and folders will
appear
dimmed to indicate they are not typical items.]]

Try this...

Start | Run | Type: control folders | OK |
View tab | Make sure this is UNChecked:
Display the contents of system folders |
Check: Do not show hidden files and folders |
Apply button | OK button

Now you won't see those files.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

XP Home with SP2



I have recently noticed system files randomly appearing in various
applications on my computer. The icons appear to be semi greyed out
but when I sent one to the recycle bin it changed to full colour.



When I attempt to delete any of these files I get the warning popup
that if I delete this file my computer or programs on my computer
may not work. Below are some examples of the files.



Location Name of file size
Attributes

In a photo folder ##picat 75 bytes
Hidden

In a photo folder Thumbs.db 94.5KB
Archive

In My Pictures Thumbs.db 242KB
Archive

In a photo folder _PICAT 73bytes
Hidden/Archive

In My Documents Desktop.ini 76bytes
Hidden (greyed out)



As a Newbie I would be most grateful if one of you guys could answer
the following;



1. Why are these files appearing?

2. How are they appearing?

3. Is it safe to delete them?