Windows 10: Deleting zone.identifier files

Using File Explorer, open a window to: C:\
In the top right corner of the window where you can search, copy and paste this (yes, there is a 'star' infront of the 'dot'): *.identifier

Look at all the results and delete them.

I wonder what's causing those files to be created. You must have some 3rd party application that's running in the background that extracts those files from the mp3s and other files that you get.

Go to Task Manager and see all the applications that are running under Details. You might recognize programs that you installed that you dont want. You should uninstall programs that you don't actively use.

 

These files are part of the Internet Explorer download process File Extension .IDENTIFIER Details and should be hidden files - they produce the Blocked Button on "active" files, (executable or Macro files), - Check your hidden files and system files view settings *Wink

I would not not expect to see these files generated for music files but it is possible if IE considers the source as in an unsafe site or on-line location

 

The search and delete worked! Thanks a lot *Smile
I think I might know why those files are there. I've recovered my files in a very circuitous fashion. This was necessary due to the fact that my old HDD wasn't recognized by any computer. After extensive searching and troubleshooting, I found out that this was due to some weird partitioning (my PC thought that there were partitions on the HDD adding up to 657 GB, the HDD is however only 500 GB. It still recognized and read an old partition that wasn't there anymore - or so I thought)

Thanks for your help!

 

Oddly, right clicking my zone.identifier files did not work. I would get some kind of error. Otherwise, I would use the "everything" program to search my entire for all files with this extension and delete them at once. What did work for me was to copy all of the files on the drive with the zone.identifier files to another drive. This left all the zone. identifier files behind. After that, I could still not delete them from the affected drive. Even doing a normal format did not work. So I had to use diskpart to clean the drive and after that all was good. Was able to move the files back to the original drive and no more zone.identifiers.