Phantom desktop icon

[Steve]

Does anyone know how to get rid of a desktop icon that my computer
insists doesn't exist?
A friend sent me some information in a file. I could only open it by
dragging and dropping it on my Open Office shortcut icon. It opened
looking like a spreadsheet. Soon after, I noticed what appeared to a
second copy of the same. Dragging to recycle bin does nothing. Right
clicking and choosing delete only leads to a message that the file
doesn't exist. I can't move it anywhere else because "it doesn't exist".
Restarting the computer didn't change things. So it sits there on the
desktop taunting me and I can't make it go away.

Steve

 

[johnbee]

< "Steve" wrote in message
Does anyone know how to get rid of a desktop icon that my computer
insists doesn't exist?
A friend sent me some information in a file. I could only open it by
dragging and dropping it on my Open Office shortcut icon. It opened
looking like a spreadsheet. Soon after, I noticed what appeared to a
second copy of the same. Dragging to recycle bin does nothing. Right
clicking and choosing delete only leads to a message that the file
doesn't exist. I can't move it anywhere else because "it doesn't exist".
Restarting the computer didn't change things. So it sits there on the
desktop taunting me and I can't make it go away.

Steve >

Sounds a wierdo. Open up Windows Explorer (actually I have a 'Computer'
icon on my desktop and I double click it. I think that starts Windows
Explorer. See if you can find the Users folder, (at the top level on the
C: drive on my PC).
Open the Users folder and see the list of folders, one for each user. Open
the folder which is for you.

You will see a list of folders and files. One of them had better be a
folder named Desktop or we're stuffed.

Open that, and you will see a list, perhaps mostly shortcut pointers, of
just about everything on the desktop. The recycle bin is not included but
that is a bit special. This wierd thing should be there and you should be
able to get rid of it and it won't be on the actual desktop any more.

 

[Steve]

< "Steve" wrote in message

Does anyone know how to get rid of a desktop icon that my computer
insists doesn't exist?
A friend sent me some information in a file. I could only open it by
dragging and dropping it on my Open Office shortcut icon. It opened
looking like a spreadsheet. Soon after, I noticed what appeared to a
second copy of the same. Dragging to recycle bin does nothing. Right
clicking and choosing delete only leads to a message that the file
doesn't exist. I can't move it anywhere else because "it doesn't exist".
Restarting the computer didn't change things. So it sits there on the
desktop taunting me and I can't make it go away.

Steve >

Sounds a wierdo. Open up Windows Explorer (actually I have a 'Computer'
icon on my desktop and I double click it. I think that starts Windows
Explorer. See if you can find the Users folder, (at the top level on the
C: drive on my PC).
Open the Users folder and see the list of folders, one for each user.
Open the folder which is for you.

You will see a list of folders and files. One of them had better be a
folder named Desktop or we're stuffed.

Open that, and you will see a list, perhaps mostly shortcut pointers, of
just about everything on the desktop. The recycle bin is not included
but that is a bit special. This wierd thing should be there and you
should be able to get rid of it and it won't be on the actual desktop
any more.

Well, are you sure there is such a thing as Windows Explorer in Windows
7? I haven't seen it.
I go to "computer" from the start button. Then:
Computer > C: > Users > Steve > Desktop and yes, there is the trouble
maker right there. It behaves exactly the same way from there. To be
more specific this time. I right click it, choose delete, it asks if I
really want to move this file to the Recycle Bin, I click yes. Then this
message pops up: "This is no longer located in C:/users/steve/desktop.
Verify the item's location and try again." It provides a Try Again
button, but of course, I could click that all day and the same message
just stays right there. So, if it's not there, how can it be that I can
see it and can click on it?
By the way, on the desktop, I can also move it around to different
locations. I can also drag and drop it in the Recycle Bin, but then it
just pops back to where I dragged it from.

 

[Char Jackson]

I go to "computer" from the start button. Then:
Computer > C: > Users > Steve > Desktop and yes, there is the trouble
maker right there. It behaves exactly the same way from there. To be
more specific this time. I right click it, choose delete, it asks if I
really want to move this file to the Recycle Bin, I click yes. Then this
message pops up: "This is no longer located in C:/users/steve/desktop.
Verify the item's location and try again." It provides a Try Again
button, but of course, I could click that all day and the same message
just stays right there. So, if it's not there, how can it be that I can
see it and can click on it?
By the way, on the desktop, I can also move it around to different
locations. I can also drag and drop it in the Recycle Bin, but then it
just pops back to where I dragged it from.

Is it like this person's issue? If so, they resolved it with a program
called Unlocker
<http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100721103501AA685Fv>

or a program called Delete Dr
<http://www.diskcleaners.com/#deletedr>

 

[Dave \Crash\ Dummy]

Well, are you sure there is such a thing as Windows Explorer in Windows
7? I haven't seen it.

Yes, it is there. It is on the Start menu at
Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer.
It is physically located at c:\windows\explorer.exe.

I go to "computer" from the start button. Then:
Computer > C: > Users > Steve > Desktop and yes, there is the trouble
maker right there. It behaves exactly the same way from there. To be
more specific this time. I right click it, choose delete, it asks if I
really want to move this file to the Recycle Bin, I click yes. Then this
message pops up: "This is no longer located in C:/users/steve/desktop.
Verify the item's location and try again." It provides a Try Again
button, but of course, I could click that all day and the same message
just stays right there. So, if it's not there, how can it be that I can
see it and can click on it?
By the way, on the desktop, I can also move it around to different
locations. I can also drag and drop it in the Recycle Bin, but then it
just pops back to where I dragged it from.

If you know the file name, use Explorer search to find it.

 

[John Aldred]

Does anyone know how to get rid of a desktop icon that my computer
insists doesn't exist?
A friend sent me some information in a file. I could only open it by
dragging and dropping it on my Open Office shortcut icon. It opened
looking like a spreadsheet. Soon after, I noticed what appeared to a
second copy of the same. Dragging to recycle bin does nothing. Right
clicking and choosing delete only leads to a message that the file
doesn't exist. I can't move it anywhere else because "it doesn't exist".
Restarting the computer didn't change things. So it sits there on the
desktop taunting me and I can't make it go away.

What happens if you right click on this icon and select Properties.
Do any of the tabs there reveal anything of interest about it?

If you drag and drop it on to your Open Office shortcut does it still work?

The only thing I can think of doing is running Check Disk on your system
drive.

If you go to Computer and right click on Local Disk C: and then select
Properties and go to the Tools tab, you should see "Error checking" and a
"Check Now" button. Just select the option to "Automatically fix file system
errors"

Windows will tell you that it can't run the check while the disk is in use ,
but it will offer to do it the next time you boot the system. Click on
"Schedule Disk Check" and restart the system.

This is essentially the same thing as running chkdsk /F from a Command
Prompt.

I have no idea if this will fix it but it is worth a try.

 

[Roy Smith]

Well, are you sure there is such a thing as Windows Explorer in Windows
7? I haven't seen it.
I go to "computer" from the start button. Then:
Computer > C: > Users > Steve > Desktop and yes, there is the trouble
maker right there. It behaves exactly the same way from there. To be
more specific this time. I right click it, choose delete, it asks if I
really want to move this file to the Recycle Bin, I click yes. Then this
message pops up: "This is no longer located in C:/users/steve/desktop.
Verify the item's location and try again." It provides a Try Again
button, but of course, I could click that all day and the same message
just stays right there. So, if it's not there, how can it be that I can
see it and can click on it?
By the way, on the desktop, I can also move it around to different
locations. I can also drag and drop it in the Recycle Bin, but then it
just pops back to where I dragged it from.

Have you scanned your system for viruses or malware lately? Sounds like
the file your friend send you may have been infected.


--

Roy Smith
Windows 7 Professional
Postbox 2.0.2
Sunday, November 07, 2010 6:32:10 PM

 

[Bob]

Use this freeware to shred the icon.

http://download.cnet.com/FileMenu-Tools/3000-2094_4-10810545.html

 

[Steve]

Steve wrote:.................. ...........................
..............

Yes, it is there. It is on the Start menu at
Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer.
It is physically located at c:\windows\explorer.exe.

Well, that just uncovered another weird thing.
I went to all programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer, but when I click on
Windows Explorer the window that opens up says Libraries and there seems
to be nothing useful there. I tried it 4 times with the same result
every time.
I'm only home for lunch so I'll read the other advice and try things
this evening.

 

[Char Jackson]

Well, that just uncovered another weird thing.
I went to all programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer, but when I click on
Windows Explorer the window that opens up says Libraries and there seems
to be nothing useful there. I tried it 4 times with the same result
every time.

Why does that seem weird? If you haven't added anything to your
Libraries then there won't be much there, if anything. Also, by trying
it 4 times, were you expecting the behavior to change?

On my own system, I removed the Libraries function completely, but
even if you don't do that you can still specify where Explorer will
open by default. Regardless of which folder opens by default, though,
the whole point of the program is that you can navigate anywhere
within your file structure.

 

[johnbee]

"Steve" wrote in message

Steve wrote:.................. ...........................
..............

Yes, it is there. It is on the Start menu at
Programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer.
It is physically located at c:\windows\explorer.exe.

*******************
Well, that just uncovered another weird thing.
I went to all programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer, but when I click on
Windows Explorer the window that opens up says Libraries and there seems
to be nothing useful there. I tried it 4 times with the same result
every time.
I'm only home for lunch so I'll read the other advice and try things
this evening.
**********************

If you do not like its standard behaviour, you could put a shortcut to
Windows Explorer, say on the desktop. (that is find it, right click it,
choose create shortcut - it says not here buddy do you want it on the
desktop, you choose yep.) Once it is on the desktop right click it (this
all sounds like a rigmarole because I am rubbish at giving short snappy help
but is is dead easy to do,) and choose properties,

You will see that in a box captioned Target, it says
'C:\Windows\Explorer.exe'. If you click on that it will turn blue. Tap the
right arrow, and then add a space and the two characters C: (what you have
added is a command line option I think)

Then hit the return button. If you start Explorer by clicking that shortcut
it will open at the top level of drive C. You can see that actually you
can have it open anywhere you like by putting something other than C:

If you are feeling a bit flash, you might also notice that you can designate
any key you like as a way to start it, so you can tap a key instead of that
chore of moving the cursor and double clicking.

The reason that the original is set up to look at your libraries is because
the OS assumes that you are looking for one of your own files (otherwise you
would have clicked Computer) and your own files will nearly always be in
your library, if you always do what the bloke who designed Win7 wants.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Well, are you sure there is such a thing as Windows Explorer in Windows
7? I haven't seen it.

I got a good belly laugh out of that, but to be fair, Microsoft does do
some odd things with names.

It is also called Explorer, Computer, and (on older systems) My
Computer.

Type Explorer in the Start menu's search box.

 

[Steve]

Have you scanned your system for viruses or malware lately? Sounds like
the file your friend send you may have been infected.

I do both fairly often, but not since the e-mail with that file came in.
I did scan the phantom icon but nothing there, of course. I'll scan my
computer this evening, if the other suggestions don't help.

 

[Steve]

I got a good belly laugh out of that, but to be fair, Microsoft does do
some odd things with names.

It is also called Explorer, Computer, and (on older systems) My
Computer.

Type Explorer in the Start menu's search box.

Everyone needs a good laugh once in a while, it's good for you!
So Windows 7 calls it "Computer". Sure, I look in there quite often. But
they also list "Explorer". If I type it in the search box, it leads me
to the Library. I end up in Library no matter how I get to Windows
Explorer. All the other versions of Windows I ever used, Explorer was
useful and let me see everything in the computer.
If Windows explorer is simply the Library, why on earth do they call it
Windows Explorer??? Odd things with names, indeed.

 

[Steve]

What happens if you right click on this icon and select Properties.
Do any of the tabs there reveal anything of interest about it?

That's one of the first things I did. I didn't find anything that told
me anything. See what you think:
General
Type of file: file
Description: (shows the file name)
Location: (desktop)
Size: 0 bytes
Size on disk: 0 bytes
(next lines are blank)
Security
(unavailable or can't be displayed)
Details
(similar to what it shows under General plus... Attributes: A)
Previous Versions
(none)

Where I put words in (parentheses), it means it's my words or I
shortened it.

If you drag and drop it on to your Open Office shortcut does it still work?

No, the Open Office logo opens in the middle of the screen, then goes
away. The original file DID open but this Phantom icon appeared in
addition to the original and it does nothing.

The only thing I can think of doing is running Check Disk on your system
drive.

If you go to Computer and right click on Local Disk C: and then select
Properties and go to the Tools tab, you should see "Error checking" and a
"Check Now" button. Just select the option to "Automatically fix file system
errors"

Windows will tell you that it can't run the check while the disk is in use ,
but it will offer to do it the next time you boot the system. Click on
"Schedule Disk Check" and restart the system.

This is essentially the same thing as running chkdsk /F from a Command
Prompt.

I have no idea if this will fix it but it is worth a try.

I read this while I was home for lunch and started the process before I
went back to work. When I got home, there was a moment when I thought it
had worked. I had the bad icon in the upper right corner of the screen
and nothing was there. Soon, I discovered the bad icon blended in the
middle of the pack of the other icons along the left side of my screen.
Odd, because a folder icon that was alone near the center of the screen
stayed right where I left it.

 

[Steve]

"Steve" wrote in message


*******************
Well, that just uncovered another weird thing.
I went to all programs>Accessories>Windows Explorer, but when I click on
Windows Explorer the window that opens up says Libraries and there seems
to be nothing useful there. I tried it 4 times with the same result
every time.
I'm only home for lunch so I'll read the other advice and try things
this evening.
**********************

If you do not like its standard behaviour, you could put a shortcut to
Windows Explorer, say on the desktop. (that is find it, right click it,
choose create shortcut - it says not here buddy do you want it on the
desktop, you choose yep.) Once it is on the desktop right click it (this
all sounds like a rigmarole because I am rubbish at giving short snappy
help but is is dead easy to do,) and choose properties,

You will see that in a box captioned Target, it says
'C:\Windows\Explorer.exe'. If you click on that it will turn blue. Tap
the right arrow, and then add a space and the two characters C: (what
you have added is a command line option I think)

Then hit the return button. If you start Explorer by clicking that
shortcut it will open at the top level of drive C. You can see that
actually you can have it open anywhere you like by putting something
other than C:

If you are feeling a bit flash, you might also notice that you can
designate any key you like as a way to start it, so you can tap a key
instead of that chore of moving the cursor and double clicking.

The reason that the original is set up to look at your libraries is
because the OS assumes that you are looking for one of your own files
(otherwise you would have clicked Computer) and your own files will
nearly always be in your library, if you always do what the bloke who
designed Win7 wants.

I don't want a shortcut to Explorer because Explorer seems to be only
the Library, which I have no use for. I think I see what you are saying
though. Change explorer to look at the entire C drive. Will that do
anything different than just going to computer>C: ?
Gene seems to be saying clicking "Computer" is the same as what Explorer
is/was.

 

[Char Jackson]

Everyone needs a good laugh once in a while, it's good for you!
So Windows 7 calls it "Computer". Sure, I look in there quite often. But
they also list "Explorer". If I type it in the search box, it leads me
to the Library. I end up in Library no matter how I get to Windows
Explorer. All the other versions of Windows I ever used, Explorer was
useful and let me see everything in the computer.
If Windows explorer is simply the Library, why on earth do they call it
Windows Explorer??? Odd things with names, indeed.

You're obviously very confused. Explorer, (AKA Windows Explorer), is a
program that lets you "explore" the file structure of your Windows
installation and related file structure, among other things.

Whether you access it by double clicking the Computer icon, (My
Computer in previous Windows versions), the Documents icon, (or My
Documents), the Explorer menu item in your Start menu, simply typing
explorer.exe in the Search box, or however you choose to start it,
it's all the same program.

Libraries and Documents and the rest of the folders on your hard
drives are all accessible via Explorer, regardless of how you chose to
launch the Explorer program. None of them are a dead end, you can get
to anywhere from anywhere.

 

[Char Jackson]

I don't want a shortcut to Explorer because Explorer seems to be only
the Library, which I have no use for.

Not at all, as I explained in another post just now.

I think I see what you are saying
though. Change explorer to look at the entire C drive. Will that do
anything different than just going to computer>C: ?

It only changes the initial folder location. In other words, it saves
you a couple of clicks. If you almost always go to the same place, it
may make sense to create a shortcut to that place to save the extra
clicks it normally takes to get you there.

Gene seems to be saying clicking "Computer" is the same as what Explorer
is/was.

Of course it's the same program. That should have been obvious...

 

[Char Jackson]

I do both fairly often, but not since the e-mail with that file came in.
I did scan the phantom icon but nothing there, of course. I'll scan my
computer this evening, if the other suggestions don't help.

Did either of the programs I suggested help at all? Unlocker and/or
Delete Dr?

 

[Steve]

I was tempted to jump right in and try it but, first, I notice Windows 7
is not listed under operating systems and, second, I can't quite see how
adding more to the right click menu will help.
I'm willing to try if you really think it will do something. It might be
nice to have regardless, if it works well with Windows 7.