XP File Manager creates multiple desktop folders

Hello,
I have a Lenovo T61 laptop. Recently it's slowed down. What's strange is when I open file manager and begin moving through directories the machine suddenly replicates many folders named "desktop." Each one seems to have a little information, or no information. If I exit file manager and re-enter everything is back to normal for a minute or two and then it starts again. Has anyone experienced this, or can anyone provide any help?
Thank you!
Chris

 

After reading your description, I remembered that I Have seen that before,
but at the moment I can't remember how or when that happened.

Not sure, but it might be a display error - maybe having to do with the graphics driver.

Have you made any hardware changes?

I think it may have happened to me when I installed a second combo drive and the jumper settings were Incorrect.

 

Greetings, cjbutton.

Are these mysterious files actually folders, or are they desktop.ini files? You might try hiding system files and folders to check.

Open Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options. Make sure "Don't show hidden files, folders, or drives" and "Hide protected operating system files" are checked, and OK out.

 

Chris - you don't say what operating system you are using, but terms like 'file manager' and 'directory' sound more like Linux than Windows. So what are you using?

 

I think the reference is to the Root Desktop icon in the folders display panel.

If that is the case then, judging from my experience with XP,
showing or not showing system and hidden files should not have any effect.

I have seen that type of error before and for as long as I can remember, I have had my XP folder options
set to "Show hidden files and folders" and Not "Hide protected operating system files".
So, at least in my case, that was not the cause.

 

You may very well be right, mjnc - just throwing out possibilities.

@ cjbutton: do the same symptoms present while in Safe Mode? That might determine if it's a graphics driver (or any other 3rd-party program) problem or not.

 

Also, take a look at this article about duplicate desktop icons.