Solved "Administrative Tools" folder created on desktop every time I close Event Viewer

[WaltR]

Good evening. I've got something weird going on I'd like to ask for help with. Every time I close the Event Viewer or Task Scheduler I get a new "Administrative Tools" folder on the desktop. As far as I know, no other programs cause it, at least none of the ones I tested. I'm not exactly sure when it started but I know it hasn't always done it. I've already got Administrative Tools folders in my Start Menu. Anyone know what could be causing it? Thanks.

 

[richc46]

Walt
Sounds like a change in your settings. To be sure
Run a full anti virus scan
Download and run a full scan with Malwarebytes to be sure we are not talkling about a virus
If all are negative, go back with System Restore to a week before the problem began.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

 

[WaltR]

Thank you rich.

I tried your suggestions, no luck. I'm not really keen on restoring much further back just to correct this annoyance. Does anyone have any ideas about what "setting" might have been changed that would produce this kind of behavior? It only does it when I close the Event Viewer or Task Scheduler. I went over all the settings and options in those two and try changing them but nothing worked.

 

[richc46]

Sounds like its a problem with the registry. I can tell you the way that I think it can be fixed, but back up your registry first and make a system restore point. We do not want major problems that a registry error can cause.

 

[Brink]

Hello Walt,

Double check the 4 registry locations below to see if you have a {D20EA4E1-3957-11d2-A40B-0C5020524153} DWORD value. If you, then delete them, and restart the computer when finished. This is the GUID number for Administrative Tools.


HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\NewStartPanel

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\HideDesktopIcons\ClassicStartMenu


Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[WaltR]

Hey all, thanks for the replies. Came back to report my solution and I see we were starting to think along the same lines. I found the registry key that's responsible for creating that folder on my Desktop. It was:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

There was an "Administrative Tools" value which I deleted (after exporting it of course).That stopped the folder from being created, which may be as good as it's gonna get. Not the most elegant solution but effective. :D

 

[richc46]

Thank you for reporting back, we are glad that you found a solution that worked for you.

 

[Brink]

That's great news Walt. Thank you indeed for posting back to confirm your solution.