Blank folder on Desktop! 1

[beesbeesbees]

I recently screwed up the registry on Win98SE & restored an old version.
This put a shortcut on the desktop to a program which I had deleted since the registry was backed up.
I could not delete the icon (no association) so I went through the registry removing all references to this program hoping this would make it disappear - the icon went but was replaced by a blank folder which I now can't delete!
When I right-click on it all I get is the option to create shortcut, which it can't do - says disk might be full (there's almost 5 gig free).
If I double-click the folder I get a msg saying there is not enough free memory to run, & then I get the same msg for anything else I try & run from the desktop (only happens after I've tried to open the folder). I can still run pgms from task bar though.
Can anyone help me remove this folder?

 

[vickero007]

Boot to DOS and try to delete it from there.

-Volkoff007

 

[drvvarma]

why cannot you try to restore the registry so that you can check this
scanreg/restore
I think you ca ntry this,
the previously registry file from cab files
try this

 

[beesbeesbees]

Volkoff007,

I booted to DOS to look for it, but the problem is there is nothing to find. I think it must be a dodgy registry entry but I don't know where to look!

drvvarma,

I don't want to retore an old registry as I've now made loads of changes to get the PC working almost OK again after my mess-up.

 

[HKinNYC]

You're looking for the Desktop folder for Win98, can't say where it is, since I haven't used 98 for so long, sorry about that, maybe someone else can give you the specific path.

But once you know the path, you get there via DOS (via boot disk) and delete it from there.

 

[vickero007]

What's the name of the folder? When you right-click it and choose properties, what's the location?

-Volkoff007

 

[BuckeyeComputers]

98 desktop is located at c:\windows\desktop...
something that might work instead of scanreg /restore is scanreg /fix.. had problem with an ME system with a file i couldnt delete and ended up putting the harddrive as a slave in an XP machine and runing chkdsk..which eradicated the file..

 

[Marcs41]

Check your system for a virus, see thread748-437610

[sub]If 'something' 'somewhere' gives 'some' error, excpect random guesses or no replies at all. Please specify details.
Free Tip: The F1 Key does NOT destroy your PC! - Marc[/sub]

 

[beesbeesbees]

marcs41,
It's not a virus - I check weekly using NAV2003, & run Zone Alarm Pro, SpyBot & PestPatrol (& TDS3 till recently!)& I've run an online check

volkoff007,
This folder is an enigma - as I said it has nothing associated with it - right-click gives you nothing except the option to create a shortcut which Windows can't do.

It doesn't appear in the desktop folder under Windows or DOS.

What I can't understand is why when you try & open it, nothing else will run from the desktop afterwards yet pgms work fine from menus, taskbar etc.

It also appears under all 3 user profiles which are set up on this PC, which is why I thought it had something to do with that deleted program (Eminem desksite btw) coz that had created the icon under all profiles.

It's not really a problem unless someone tries to open the folder.

Thanks for your help so far.

 

[vickero007]

So there is no name on that folder either huh?
I read on a message board that someone installed that program and NAV alerted them something bad happened.

-Volkoff007

 

[BuckeyeComputers]

have you tried running a simple scandisk from dos?

 

[mainegeek]

What happens when you click on it and then press your Delete key?

 

[beesbeesbees]

Buckeye Computers,

I've run a scandisk from DOS - but it's still there!

mainegeek,

Nothing happens when I click on it & press delete (just a 'bip' from the PC).
If I try & drag it to Recycle Bin or Incinerator it just comes up with a 'No Entry' sign.

Does it think it's some kind of System folder, do you think?

 

[HKinNYC]

Do a CONTROL-ALT-DELETE and close down everything except, Explorer & Systray and than try to delete the folder.

or

Have your restarted your computer in Safe Mode and delete it than?

or

From DOS, do a deltree *.* and you'll be given the option to say &quot;<Y>ES&quot; or &quot;<N>O&quot; to each folder. Do this from <c:\windows\desktop> as BuckeyeComputers indicated.

I'm sure you're doing it the right way, but we have to be sure when you go to DOS, it's not the DOS shell within Windows, but from a bootdisk correct?

Question, when you say blank Folder, do you mean a Folder without a foldername? Can you rename it?

Have you enable Show Hidden Files and Folders? If not, do so and open the folder again to see if there are any exisiting files. If so, delete them and than the folder.

Let us know if any of these work.

 

[beesbeesbees]

HKinNYC,

Thanks for your reply. I've tried the 3 things you suggested but the folder is still there.

When I say I've done it from DOS, I mean booting to the command prompt from Win98 start-up (i.e., holding down Ctrl while booting) - is that right?

I do mean a Folder without a foldername & no I can't do anything with it (delete, re-name, open, create shortcut...)
& I do have Show Hidden Files and Folders enabled.

It's not really doing any harm there - it's just really annoying & if I try to do anything with it I can't run anything else from the desktop without a re-boot.

 

[BeenThereDoneThat]

beesbeesbees:

Try this and see if it helps.

Run regedit and navigate to:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MicrosoftWindows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace

Under namespace in the left-hand column there will be several GUIDs. Click on each one and look in the data in the right-hand pane to see what it is (My Documents..etc)

If you find one that does not have any data associated with it, that's probably the rogue entry. Make sure it is highlighted in the left pane and delete only that one.

Now go back to your desktop and click on it (to give it focus) and press F5 to refresh it and see if the folder is now gone.

This is my best guess --- Hope it helps.

 

[beesbeesbees]

Thanks a lot, BeenThereDoneThat - that did the trick!

I thought it must be a registry entry, just wasn't sure where to look.

Thanks again.