Windows 10: Disable desktop.ini Creation In Folders When Moving Pictures There

Hello, there's this annoying setting that causes Windows 10 to automatically create a desktop.ini file into a folder when I move only pictures in there. I was able to disable this in Windows 8.1 somehow, but it doesn't seem to work in Windows 10. (Here's the link: Nevermore Be Bothered by Desktop.ini | A High-Tech Blech! )

And no, somebody might suggest to turn on the Hide System Files setting. I don't want that solution. I only want that file to never be created when moving pictures into a folder.

Anyone know how to do that?

Thanks

:)

 

windows 10 - messed up Folders locations

attrib -h -s desktop.ini

Now you should be able to see it in File Explorer & move it to your Pictures folder.

then you want to open a command prompt in your Pictures folder and reset the hidden & system attributes.

attrib +h +s desktop.ini

Keith

 

Changing Downloads Location after Bone-Headed Move

Looks like our replies crossed.

The folder name is coming from hidden Desktop.ini file. Set Folder Options to show hidden files, and protected OS files.

Open your user profile folder, and move desktop.ini to your Downloads folder.

Revert back the Folder Options settings.

 

Err ... umm ... It's highly possible that your wish may go unfulfilled. The desktop.ini file actually plays a real role in the Windows file system as explained in this article from The How-To Geek: What Are These desktop.ini Files I Keep Seeing?. Understanding what it does and how it does it, it seems pretty likely that while you can hide this thing (as you noted in your post) you may not be able to banish it completely.
HTH,
--Ed--

 

Hi thanks for the reply. As a matter of fact it worked! But this is more complex than I thought it could be. Let me clarify the bug that I'm still experiencing.

So that setting according to the link I first posted worked! But my only issue is that when I move pictures to a different folder, I actually use the Search function within File Explorer and after finding my results, I move those pictures (from the Search) to the folder I want. In this case, that's when the desktop.ini file gets created. This did not happen in Windows 8.1.

I want to know what I did in Windows 8.1's settings that prevented this from happening.

Any suggestions?

 

Sorry, but I'm not aware of any such settings. Maybe one of the old forum hands, such as Dalchina, TechnoMage, Bree, or Brink might have a better idea. I guess I didn't understand your original question, so sorry to have waded in where I can't be of any real help.
--Ed--

 

The "desktop.ini" files are for remembering your view options for particular folders. When you delete these, the folders go back to default view. For instance, I leave a shortcut to my MS Office Start Menu folder on my Desktop, and I choose "Tile View" so that I can quickly click on what MS Office app I need to use. But I don't use Tile View for other folders, I prefer "detail view" for folders with files stored. Deleting the desktop.ini removes your folder prefs for only that folder.

At this point, I suffer with the desktop.ini's being visible, unless, is there a way to set the attributes for these files to be "hidden"?

Actually, I just checked those folders where I have Tile View, the desktop.ini does not appear, but only on folders on my desktop. I think I have a 3rd party app that hides them somehow, but I'm not sure which one does this.

 

desktop.ini files are initially created as hidden. Your 3rd party software is probably setting them as unhidden.

For your Tile Views, if what you're saying is the case, then most likely your default setting for folders with general items is set as Tile View.


You see, in my case, I don't know if the developers at Microsoft messed up this setting when converting Windows 8.1 to Windows 10, because following what I did in that link I posted should apply this setting even to the Searches that you make within File Explorer. I hope they read over this post and fix that little bug.

 

I checked the attributes, the files were already set to "H", maybe I should add the System attribute.

Are the folders you are working with in your Library or desktop? Try creating two new folders on the desktop, set for whatever view you prefer, then drag some images back and forth, see if desktop.ini is showing there.

For folders in my Libraries, it seems like the desktop.ini shows up in the root, but not in subfolders of folders I have in my library. (I have folders from other drives linked to my libraries, but they all act like this).

 

Yea try the System attribute, if you see that there.

And no, the folders are not in the Library.

But check this out, like I stated above, if I move pictures into those folders straight from another folder, they go in the new folder without desktop.ini getting created. But if I open File Explorer, do a search for pictures, and from that search result, move the pictures into the desktop folder, then that's when the desktop.ini file gets created. This is the problem that I'm facing.

 

Ah! the Search might be creating it then, you have Windows Search service running, or the Indexing turned on in Programs and Features?

 

Yes, I believe that the Search feature is somehow letting that file get created. I don't remember if I did anything special back in Windows 8.1, but even with Indexing turned on back in that operating system, the desktop.ini wasn't getting created. There's probably some option in the Indexing feature that forcefully lets the desktop.ini file get created. You wouldn't happen to know what I can do about this?

Yes, I have the Windows Search service enabled. I don't want to disable this because I use this for the searches when I make them within File Explorer.

I don't see the option of Indexing in Programs and Features. But I'm assuming that you want to see if this feature is enabled. Yes, it is enabled. (If you search for Indexing Options, I have that enabled to index all the files on my hard drives).

So what do you think I can do from here? thanks

 

I just tried turning Indexing back on, and after that, I could no longer search. I had to shut it off again.

 

This happened to me before:

The reason why it didn't work right now is because your computer began the process of Indexing your files. A Search will only give you results of what has been indexed only. Indexing takes several hours, at least. After the indexing completes, then it will show you your search results immediately without searching.

I used to keep my search indexer off. Then I tried turning on the Indexer to see how I like it. I definitely prefer having file indexing turned on compared to having it off. Much more convenient. I would recommend you to try it out for a few days or whatnot and see how you like it. Your search results are much more faster, and the indexer is always on. Whenever you create new files, they would get indexed immediately.