Desktop Icons Deleted, But Won't Disappear

A

Adam Rinkleff

New Member
I deleted some files off my desktop. The data was deleted, but the icons are still there. They now contain "0 bytes". I've tried deleting them, and I get an error message saying that the file cannot be found. I've tried refreshing my desktop. I've tried restarting. I've tried deleting in safe mode. I can't rename them, and I can't move them, because they "can't be found." :rolleyes:
 

My Computer

System One

You could try CCleaner. It has settings for removing dead start menu and desktop shortcuts. It's a freebie and very good to have anyway.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G 2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
MilesAhead said:
You could try CCleaner. It has settings for removing dead start menu and desktop shortcuts. It's a freebie and very good to have anyway.
Click to expand...

No, that didn't do anything. I don't have "dead shortcuts" on my deskstop. I had actual files on my desktop, and when I deleted them, their icon remained behind.
 

My Computer

System One

No, that's not it either. That guy had files reappearing, my icons simply won't delete, the file itself is already deleted which is actually the problem, because windows can't find a file to delete.
 

My Computer

System One

If there are only a few files, try copying a file, like maybe a text file with one line of text in it, to a target that's the same. Then if they are not zero length, you may be able to delete. If that' doesn't work I'm out of ideas.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G 2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
MilesAhead said:
If there are only a few files, try copying a file, like maybe a text file with one line of text in it, to a target that's the same. Then if they are not zero length, you may be able to delete. If that' doesn't work I'm out of ideas.
Click to expand...

That works! Using a .txt file and "saving as" with the same name and ending as the files which won't delete. :D
 

My Computer

System One

Glad you got it. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G 2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
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