Solved Icons without labels on desktop

Skootch · May 10, 2009

I followed a tip stating that you could remove the labels from icons on your Desktop by turning on the NumLock, holding down Alt and typing 0160 on the numbers keypad. I did this for several shortcuts and it worked fine. I also did it on two files, which also worked. Now I want to delete the 2 files and can't. I also can't rename them. I have moved the documents that were in them to new files, so the ones I can't delete are empty now.

How do I either rename the files or delete them? My goal is to get rid of the two files.

I'm using Vista Ultimate 64.

Brink · May 11, 2009

Hello Skootch,

You will need to do OPTION TWO in the tutorial below to unhide the text first, before you will be able to rename or delete them.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/143538-desktop-icon-text-hide-show.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Skootch · May 12, 2009

Thank you very much for your response. I appreciate it.

I was able to get as far as the ren command. Originally I used 0160 to get rid of the label. The instructs show 255. I have Arial set as the icon font in Appearance Settings. Does the character code make a difference in this issue? Which code should I be using in the command, 0160 or 255?

There were 10 icons labels I changed, 2 of which were the folders I'm trying to delete. I have done the 0160 0160 0160, etc. adding one each time, and I get "The system cannot find the file specified."

I did a "dir" command and see that there are two items like this: [ ], one is wider apart than the other, and there is nothing between the brackets. There is another item with several spaces at the beginning and ending with ".lnk".

Brink · May 12, 2009

Skootch,

You will need to use the same 0160 character code that you used before to rename it back with. It will not matter about the font though.

In the worst case scenario, see if temporarily creating another administrator account, log in to it, then delete the C:\Users\(user name)\Desktop folder for your original account with this problem can delete them. Vista should automatically recreate your desktop folder after logging in the that account again. If not, then type shell:desktop in the Start Menu search line and press enter and logoff and logon. You may need to logoff and on a couple of times before it is restored though.

Skootch · May 12, 2009

Brink,

I just couldn't delete the files with the 0160 method, so I used your instructs to delete the C:\Users\(user name)\Desktop folder, after I put all my Desktop icons in a new folder in my Documents folder. I didn't know if the tray icons would be affected so I put them all in a new folder in Documents as well. After doing a Restart, the 2 unlabeled folders were gone, and I have the Desktop icons back on the new Desktop, and the tray icons back in place also.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your help. I really appreciate it.

Brink · May 12, 2009

You're welcome Skootch. I'm happy to hear that you got rid of them now.

Solved Icons without labels on desktop

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