The Computer Oracle

Hide desktop.ini for the desktop view only; still show hidden and system files

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Chapters
00:00 Question
00:43 Accepted answer (Score 13)
01:01 Answer 2 (Score 13)
01:37 Answer 3 (Score 10)
02:14 Answer 4 (Score 0)
03:06 Thank you

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Full question
https://superuser.com/questions/257528/h...

Question links:
[Windows Explorer]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Exp...

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Content licensed under CC BY-SA
https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/lice...

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Tags
#windows #desktop #desktopini

#avk47


ANSWER 1

Score 14


I found a solution on this site.

Use RegEdit to edit a DWORD registry key (or create a new key if it doesn't exist).

Go to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\

and create or edit key: UseDesktopIniCache and set it to 0 (zero).

Delete any desktop.ini files on the desktop and they will never reappear.



ACCEPTED ANSWER

Score 13


It turns out that deleting Desktop.ini was the best solution. It does not regenerate frequently enough to be annoying.



ANSWER 3

Score 10


This is a little cheesy, but works for me:

1) Right-click on the desktop and un-select 'align icons to grid' (and also 'auto arrange icons' if you have that on).

2) Drag the desktop.ini files off the edge of your screen. While they are selected, you will still see a sliver of highlight, but once you click off them you will not see them at all.

The only problem is if you ever turn auto-arrange or auto-align back on, they will pop back into view.



ANSWER 4

Score 0


You could try this (worked with older Windows): Go to your user folder, and then folder "desktop". You will now see your desktop as a regular folder. Then, go to top menu, folder options, "View" tab (the one in the middle of that pop-up), and configure it as wished. In this case, forcing not showing system neither hidden files in this specific folder. (Don't hit "apply to all folders" button.)

Provided you had previously set to show system and hidden files for all folders (actually clicking in the mentioned "apply to all folders" button) in, for example, the main disk folder (that is, C:) so that all folders would show those files... Doing this after my first explained step (sorry for the mess) should keep that configuration only for the desktop folder.



ANSWER 5

Score 0


To recap:

  1. Open Windows Explorer.

  2. Click Organize, Folder and Search Options.

  3. Click the View tab.

  4. Click to UNHIDE protected system files.

  5. Click Apply to all folders.

  6. Navigate to your profile's desktop.

  7. Repeat steps 2 & 3.

  8. Click to HIDE protected system files.

  9. DO NOT click Apply to all...

This will let you see ALL the protected files and folders EXCEPT the desktop.ini files on your actual desktop.