Undeletable and reappearing folder on desktop

A couple weeks ago, I reformatted my computer and transffered a bunch of files to my roomate's computer. I saved them all to a folder on his desktop, we'll call this folder "Folder A".

After I moved all of the files back to my computer, I tried to delete "Folder A" from my roomate's desktop. It actually deletes and goes into the recycle bin. I can empty the recycle bin and the folder appears to be gone.

But when I re-start, it reappears on the desktop everytime. There are no files in the folder. I've tried moving the folder to another location and restarting it. To no avail. If I move it to a different location and then restart, "Folder A" will reappear on the desktop and in the new location I moved it to. Thankfully the moved folder will delete.

In the Properties of the folder, the "Read Only" box is always checked after the restart too.

He's running XP Home Edition.

I searched this forum and googled the problem and couldnt find anything to help me, so any help would be apprecaited. Thanks

 

A program is recreating the folder.

Check what's loaded in Startup in msconfig to find the parent program.

Start, run and type in msconfig then Startup tab.


It could be almost anything, so I can't tell you what it is without knowing what is in the startup list.

 

HEres a screen shot of the Startup Tab. If you need to see the "Location" of these files, Ill go make another screen shot.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/sooner518/screen.jpg

Anything look overtly suspicious?

Thanks for the help

 

There's nothing that I can immedidately point to.

If it's created on startup, then the parent program must be loading with Windows.

Does this folder have a name? Is it, or does it contain a tilde ~ ?

If so, there is a known bug in Outlook Express which can cause this detailed HERE

Also, msconfig doesn't always list everything.

Try AutoRuns.

Does this folder reappear in Safe Mode, or just normal startup?

 

No tildes in the folder name. The name of the folder is "Steve's Stuff DO NOT DELETE". clever huh. i got exactly what I asked for.

Anyhow, I dont think he uses Outlook for anything so i dont think thats the problem.

I cant get his computer to boot in safe mode for some reason. all the Norton crap hes got installed on there wouldnt let me when I tried the F-8 method on startup.

I ran the Auto Run program. Im attaching the log. It's pretty long, so I dont know if you want to comb through all of it

 

Norton Go Back shouldn't stop you booting to Safe Mode.

I can't read the AutoRuns log because of the formatting, it's all over the place and Word Wrap in notepad doesn't help.

If the folder's name is Steve's Stuff, why doesn't Steve know what it is?

After all, he must of named it?

 

is there another way for me to post the log without it being all jumbled? it didnt appear to give me any other options for making a log.

I am Steve. I created the folder to put all my files in on my roomate's computer.

 

A small screenshot of autoruns would be easier.

Mate I'm confused. If you created the folder, how did you do it?

 

I just right-clicked on the desktop and selected "New...Folder" on my roomate's computer. I named it "Steve's Stuff DO NOT DELETE"

Then I transferred all of the files from my computer to my roomate's and put those files into this folder.

Then I reformatted my hard drive.

Then I transferred all of my files from my roomate's computer back to my computer, leaving the folder titled "Steve's Stuff DO NOT DELETE" completely empty.

The folder "Steve's Stuff DO NOT DELETE" is the folder that keeps reappearing.

My roomate's computer is the one having the problem, not mine.


I can get you a screen shot, but there are way too many results from AutoRun to include in one screen shot. It would seriously take probabaly 20 screen shots to include all of the results that AutoRuns gives me.

Is there a specific tab I should screen shot from the Auto Run program?

 

If you just created the folder by right-clicking and then New Folder, you should be able to delete it without it coming back.

This is rather strange, and I can't understand why it's happening.

For AutoRuns, in View, don't have anything checked or selected so it only lists startup programs.

However, now that I know how the folder was created, I don't think AutoRuns will reveal anything.

If you just transferred the files using copy and paste, and you didn't use a dedicated program, then there should be no reason why it doesn't stay deleted.

How did you transfer the files exactly?

 

I have a couple ideas to try, tho they may not work.
1) Try renaming the file, and then deleting it.
2) Unplug from the net, turn off Nortons, boot into safe mode, and then try deleting.

If neither of these ideas work, go here and find a program that may help you remove the folder.

Good luck. I'm very curious as to how this will turn out.

Eric

 

Couple more ideas: Go to your recycle bin properties, and change it from "delete to recycle bin" to "Delete from hard drive: do not put items in recycle bin".

Also, in the log you posted, about a third of the way down, it had Windows Desktop Update....what is that? I have no idea if it's related or not, I'm just sleuthing to find an answer for this problem of yours.

PS When you get this figured out, you may want to help your friend cut down on some of the startup items, processes and services that are running...I'm thinking he'll notice a vast improvement in his system performance if he tweaks it a bit. That seems like one bloated system!

 

I transferred some of the files by just going through the network neighborhood and cutting and pasting, however for alot of the files, I used AOL Instant Messenger.


I've also tried renaming the folder, but when I restart, it comes back with the original folder name. I've also tried moving the folder somewhere else, but to no avail.

The Windows Desktop Update, I have no idea what it is. My roomate apparently just has alot of random clutter on his box. He's got some really nice specs, but he obviously has alot of crap that isn't helping his performance any. I'd clean up a bunch of that crap, but I'm not just gonna go messing with his stuff without his permission, especially if I don't know exactly what I'm doing

The rest of the things you suggested, I'll try and give them a shot sometime tomorrow when I can get on his computer.

 

The only thing I can think of is Norton SystemWorks, but it still doesn't fully explain your situation.

I don't use it, but try disabling it then deleting the file, or look for a setting in SystemWorks to see if the folder is protected in some way.

I'm clutching at straws here without having the PC in front of me, but as I said before, this is very strange.

 

Do you have Windose Restore enabled? If so try disabling it then delete the folder & reboot. Sometimes Windose Restore will reload things like worms, viruses & other parts of program files that are logged there. Also maybe try one of the many File Shredders out there to get rid of the folder.

As Insomniac stated.. I too am grasping at straws.

 

LOL! We're just trying to find the one that broke the camels back! Or the last straw....or the short straw..... Sorry.

 

Before I could try any of these methods, my roomate came to me today and told me he believes he has fixed it by uninstalling AOL Instant Messenger and re-installing it. He said he has re-booted 5 or 6 times and the folder hasn't come back once.

I don't know why that would do anything, but it has apparently worked. Thanks for the replies though. If it comes back, Ill let you know

 

I don't know why that would work either?

The folder was independently created by right-clicking, but anyway, I hope it works out.

On a side note, tell your friend to trim back some of the startup programs.

 

You could give this little utility a try:

http://www.fileshredder.org/