What is "Desktop.ini" file in my favorites folder, what does it do and why can't I see it?

  • Thread starter Thread starter admyc
  • Start date Start date
A

admyc

Hello

I recently had my C drive re-formatted and before this I had various
files etc. copied to another drive for back-up. These included copies
of MSIE's favourites.

I have just recently decided to put these back so as to get my old
favourites back in MSIE.

To do this I went to my back-up Favorites folder on my D drive and
copied, most of the files and folders to "C:\Documents and
Settings\Myname\Favorites".

One of the files I ended up copying was one called "Desktop.ini".
When I tried to copy it the first time I got the message saying it
already exists, do I want to go ahead and I clicked no. I then tried to
find this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites" but I
couldn't see it nor find it there doing a search for it. I then tried
to copy it again and got the same message saying it already exists
there and do I want to go ahead. I decided after looking for it again
to go ahead and copy it there replacing the existing copy (the one
which I couldn't see nor find there). After this copy MSIE (which was
open but off-line) gave the message:

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience...
To see what data this error report contains, click here

When I clicked I got this message:
AppName: iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2800.1106 ModName: shdocvw.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2800.1106 Offset: 000819d1


I was wondering what this is all about. Why can't I see this file
("Desktop.ini") in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites"
although when I try to copy it there the computer says it is there
already?

What is this file and what does it do?

Could it cause some sort of reoccurrence of the problem I had before I
had the C drive re-formatted in the first place (I had it done as had
some mal-ware on it) and could it contain mal-ware or a virus?

When I open "Desktop.ini" in Notepad (the file from the back-up
folder I still have) it is this:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173
[email protected],-12693

Any help most welcome!

Thanks

AM
 
Hello

I recently had my C drive re-formatted and before this I had various
files etc. copied to another drive for back-up. These included copies
of MSIE's favourites.

I have just recently decided to put these back so as to get my old
favourites back in MSIE.

To do this I went to my back-up Favorites folder on my D drive and
copied, most of the files and folders to "C:\Documents and
Settings\Myname\Favorites".

One of the files I ended up copying was one called "Desktop.ini".
When I tried to copy it the first time I got the message saying it
already exists, do I want to go ahead and I clicked no. I then tried to
find this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites" but I
couldn't see it nor find it there doing a search for it. I then tried
to copy it again and got the same message saying it already exists
there and do I want to go ahead. I decided after looking for it again
to go ahead and copy it there replacing the existing copy (the one
which I couldn't see nor find there). After this copy MSIE (which was
open but off-line) gave the message:

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience...
To see what data this error report contains, click here

When I clicked I got this message:
AppName: iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2800.1106 ModName: shdocvw.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2800.1106 Offset: 000819d1


I was wondering what this is all about. Why can't I see this file
("Desktop.ini") in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites"
although when I try to copy it there the computer says it is there
already?

What is this file and what does it do?

Could it cause some sort of reoccurrence of the problem I had before I
had the C drive re-formatted in the first place (I had it done as had
some mal-ware on it) and could it contain mal-ware or a virus?

When I open "Desktop.ini" in Notepad (the file from the back-up
folder I still have) it is this:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173
[email protected],-12693

Any help most welcome!

Thanks

AM
Click to expand...

Desktop.ini tells Windows Explorer how to display the folder.
 
Thanks but why can't I see it?

AM said:
Hello

I recently had my C drive re-formatted and before this I had various
files etc. copied to another drive for back-up. These included copies
of MSIE's favourites.

I have just recently decided to put these back so as to get my old
favourites back in MSIE.

To do this I went to my back-up Favorites folder on my D drive and
copied, most of the files and folders to "C:\Documents and
Settings\Myname\Favorites".

One of the files I ended up copying was one called "Desktop.ini".
When I tried to copy it the first time I got the message saying it
already exists, do I want to go ahead and I clicked no. I then tried to
find this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites" but I
couldn't see it nor find it there doing a search for it. I then tried
to copy it again and got the same message saying it already exists
there and do I want to go ahead. I decided after looking for it again
to go ahead and copy it there replacing the existing copy (the one
which I couldn't see nor find there). After this copy MSIE (which was
open but off-line) gave the message:

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience...
To see what data this error report contains, click here

When I clicked I got this message:
AppName: iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2800.1106 ModName: shdocvw.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2800.1106 Offset: 000819d1


I was wondering what this is all about. Why can't I see this file
("Desktop.ini") in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites"
although when I try to copy it there the computer says it is there
already?

What is this file and what does it do?

Could it cause some sort of reoccurrence of the problem I had before I
had the C drive re-formatted in the first place (I had it done as had
some mal-ware on it) and could it contain mal-ware or a virus?

When I open "Desktop.ini" in Notepad (the file from the back-up
folder I still have) it is this:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173
[email protected],-12693

Any help most welcome!

Thanks

AM
Click to expand...

Desktop.ini tells Windows Explorer how to display the folder.
Click to expand...
 
Desktop.ini has the system attribute set. Windows Explorer won't display
such files unless you go into Folder Options > View and UNcheck "Hide
protected operating system files."


Thanks but why can't I see it?
Click to expand...
AM said:
Hello

I recently had my C drive re-formatted and before this I had various
files etc. copied to another drive for back-up. These included copies
of MSIE's favourites.

I have just recently decided to put these back so as to get my old
favourites back in MSIE.

To do this I went to my back-up Favorites folder on my D drive and
copied, most of the files and folders to "C:\Documents and
Settings\Myname\Favorites".

One of the files I ended up copying was one called "Desktop.ini".
When I tried to copy it the first time I got the message saying it
already exists, do I want to go ahead and I clicked no. I then tried to
find this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites" but I
couldn't see it nor find it there doing a search for it. I then tried
to copy it again and got the same message saying it already exists
there and do I want to go ahead. I decided after looking for it again
to go ahead and copy it there replacing the existing copy (the one
which I couldn't see nor find there). After this copy MSIE (which was
open but off-line) gave the message:

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience...
To see what data this error report contains, click here

When I clicked I got this message:
AppName: iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2800.1106 ModName: shdocvw.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2800.1106 Offset: 000819d1


I was wondering what this is all about. Why can't I see this file
("Desktop.ini") in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites"
although when I try to copy it there the computer says it is there
already?

What is this file and what does it do?

Could it cause some sort of reoccurrence of the problem I had before I
had the C drive re-formatted in the first place (I had it done as had
some mal-ware on it) and could it contain mal-ware or a virus?

When I open "Desktop.ini" in Notepad (the file from the back-up
folder I still have) it is this:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173
[email protected],-12693

Any help most welcome!

Thanks

AM
Click to expand...

Desktop.ini tells Windows Explorer how to display the folder.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for your reply. I can now see that it is indeed there!
Gary said:
Desktop.ini has the system attribute set. Windows Explorer won't display
such files unless you go into Folder Options > View and UNcheck "Hide
protected operating system files."


Thanks but why can't I see it?
Click to expand...
AM said:
Hello

I recently had my C drive re-formatted and before this I had various
files etc. copied to another drive for back-up. These included copies
of MSIE's favourites.

I have just recently decided to put these back so as to get my old
favourites back in MSIE.

To do this I went to my back-up Favorites folder on my D drive and
copied, most of the files and folders to "C:\Documents and
Settings\Myname\Favorites".

One of the files I ended up copying was one called "Desktop.ini".
When I tried to copy it the first time I got the message saying it
already exists, do I want to go ahead and I clicked no. I then tried to
find this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites" but I
couldn't see it nor find it there doing a search for it. I then tried
to copy it again and got the same message saying it already exists
there and do I want to go ahead. I decided after looking for it again
to go ahead and copy it there replacing the existing copy (the one
which I couldn't see nor find there). After this copy MSIE (which was
open but off-line) gave the message:

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience...
To see what data this error report contains, click here

When I clicked I got this message:
AppName: iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2800.1106 ModName: shdocvw.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2800.1106 Offset: 000819d1


I was wondering what this is all about. Why can't I see this file
("Desktop.ini") in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites"
although when I try to copy it there the computer says it is there
already?

What is this file and what does it do?

Could it cause some sort of reoccurrence of the problem I had before I
had the C drive re-formatted in the first place (I had it done as had
some mal-ware on it) and could it contain mal-ware or a virus?

When I open "Desktop.ini" in Notepad (the file from the back-up
folder I still have) it is this:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173
[email protected],-12693

Any help most welcome!

Thanks

AM


Desktop.ini tells Windows Explorer how to display the folder.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You're welcome. Thanks for the feedback.

Thanks for your reply. I can now see that it is indeed there!
Gary said:
Desktop.ini has the system attribute set. Windows Explorer won't display
such files unless you go into Folder Options > View and UNcheck "Hide
protected operating system files."


Thanks but why can't I see it?
Click to expand...
AM
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM wrote:
Hello

I recently had my C drive re-formatted and before this I had various
files etc. copied to another drive for back-up. These included copies
of MSIE's favourites.

I have just recently decided to put these back so as to get my old
favourites back in MSIE.

To do this I went to my back-up Favorites folder on my D drive and
copied, most of the files and folders to "C:\Documents and
Settings\Myname\Favorites".

One of the files I ended up copying was one called "Desktop.ini".
When I tried to copy it the first time I got the message saying it
already exists, do I want to go ahead and I clicked no. I then tried to
find this file in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites" but I
couldn't see it nor find it there doing a search for it. I then tried
to copy it again and got the same message saying it already exists
there and do I want to go ahead. I decided after looking for it again
to go ahead and copy it there replacing the existing copy (the one
which I couldn't see nor find there). After this copy MSIE (which was
open but off-line) gave the message:

Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close.
We are sorry for the inconvenience...
To see what data this error report contains, click here

When I clicked I got this message:
AppName: iexplore.exe AppVer: 6.0.2800.1106 ModName: shdocvw.dll
ModVer: 6.0.2800.1106 Offset: 000819d1


I was wondering what this is all about. Why can't I see this file
("Desktop.ini") in "C:\Documents and Settings\Myname\Favorites"
although when I try to copy it there the computer says it is there
already?

What is this file and what does it do?

Could it cause some sort of reoccurrence of the problem I had before I
had the C drive re-formatted in the first place (I had it done as had
some mal-ware on it) and could it contain mal-ware or a virus?

When I open "Desktop.ini" in Notepad (the file from the back-up
folder I still have) it is this:
[.ShellClassInfo]
IconFile=%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll
IconIndex=-173
[email protected],-12693

Any help most welcome!

Thanks

AM


Desktop.ini tells Windows Explorer how to display the folder.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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