What's the purpose of desktop.ini?

rboppy · 16 Jul 2016

It has no effect on my desktop whether it's there or deleted.

Brink · 16 Jul 2016

Hello rboppy, :)

Here's some more information about desktop.ini files to help.

How to Customize Folders with Desktop.ini (Windows)

What Are These desktop.ini Files I Keep Seeing?

rboppy · 17 Jul 2016

Thanks Brink, although neither link came close to describing the desktop.ini that is on my desktop:

Code:

[.ShellClassInfo]
LocalizedResourceName=@%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,-21769
IconResource=%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll,-183

TairikuOkami · 17 Jul 2016

If you ever find out, let me know. It always appears on the desktop after windows updates get installed.

You could try this, some people say it works, say some it does not:

reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer" /v "UseDesktopIniCache" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "UseDesktopIniCache" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer" /v "UseDesktopIniCache" /t REG_DWORD /d "0" /f

Edwin · 17 Jul 2016

@rboppy:

You must be showing "Super Hidden" System Files.
Check Folder Options.

What's the purpose of desktop.ini?-000020.png

rboppy · 17 Jul 2016

That's correct Edwin, always have, but like TairikuOkami pointed out every update brings back the desktop.ini, don't think that happened with W7. What other files are considered "Super Hidden".

Edwin · 17 Jul 2016

rboppy said:

That's correct Edwin, always have, but like TairikuOkami pointed out every update brings back the desktop.ini, don't think that happened with W7. What other files are considered "Super Hidden".

If you delete them, they will be recreated any time you perform any kind of desktop composition.
Better to keep them hidden as it's dangerous to accidentally manipulate Hidden System files.

swarfega · 17 Jul 2016

You can always use the hidden attribute in properties and itl disappear.

rboppy · 17 Jul 2016

swarfega said:

You can always use the hidden attribute in properties and itl disappear.

Thanks for that, I'll try it the next time it shows up.

Edwin · 17 Jul 2016

swarfega said:

You can always use the hidden attribute in properties and itl disappear.

rboppy said:

Thanks for that, I'll try it the next time it shows up.

You won't be able to change the defaulted 'Hidden' attribute for items that are already hidden.