Unwanted 'System' files

[Marshall]

Whenever I create a new directory I get a file
called 'Thumbs.db' in it that Win XP Home thinks is a
system file. It's NOT. Its a file associtated with a
program that I stopped using quite some time ago. I don't
know why Win XP thinks its a system file but it does and I
can't seem to get rid of it. If I delete it the OS simply
restores to the directory.

I have found two entries in the Registry that are
associated with the file. They are:

My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Search
Assistant\ACMru\5603
Name = 004
Value = Thumbs.db


and

My Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-725345543-1078145449-
854245398-1004\Software\Microsoft\Search
Assistant\ACMru\5603
Name = 004
Value = thumbs.db



Does anyone know if they can be simply deleted and if so
will that stop the problem?

Also what precautions should I take before I change the
registry? All I have done so far is surch it for the file
name.

Thanks in advance.

Marshall

 

[davetest]

Whenever I create a new directory I get a file
called 'Thumbs.db' in it that Win XP Home thinks is a
system file. It's NOT. Its a file associtated with a
program that I stopped using quite some time ago. I don't
know why Win XP thinks its a system file but it does and I
can't seem to get rid of it. If I delete it the OS simply
restores to the directory.

I have found two entries in the Registry that are
associated with the file. They are:

My Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Search
Assistant\ACMru\5603
Name = 004
Value = Thumbs.db


and

My Computer\HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-725345543-1078145449-
854245398-1004\Software\Microsoft\Search
Assistant\ACMru\5603
Name = 004
Value = thumbs.db



Does anyone know if they can be simply deleted and if so
will that stop the problem?

Also what precautions should I take before I change the
registry? All I have done so far is surch it for the file
name.

Thanks in advance.

Marshall

This usually creates itself when you are using thumbnail view *and*
"do not cache thumbnails" is *not* selected in control panel/
folder options/view.

Dave

 

[Marshall]

That looks like it did it. Thank you very much

Marshall Deixler

 

[Alex Nichol]

Whenever I create a new directory I get a file
called 'Thumbs.db' in it that Win XP Home thinks is a
system file. It's NOT. Its a file associtated with a
program that I stopped using quite some time ago. I don't
know why Win XP thinks its a system file but it does and I
can't seem to get rid of it. If I delete it the OS simply
restores to the directory.

Thumbs.db as far as the system is concerned is a system file, used to
cache thumbnail images of files that you have generated by viewing a
folder in 'Thumbnail' view. If it has a folder down as being cached
(which will probably have been set by closing a folder that contained
such a file - that is by way of a guess though) and the file is
deleted, it will be regenerated.

If you do not use thumbnail view and wish to avoid having such files, go
to Folder Options - View and check 'Do not cache Thumbnails' - but if
you do use that mode, opening the folder will be substantially slowed
down while new ones are generated each time on the fly