Need a registry guru – 4226 days old

[Alakazam]

I've deleted some old programs on my spare machine running Win 98. I've got a folder on my desktop and one in the control panel without any markings as to what they were. When I right click, I only get three options,

• open with
• create shortcut
• properties

The folder will not open with any program, I can't make a shortcut to it to see what it was, and I get a pop-up box saying "the properties for this item are not available"

I can highlight it with a left click but it will not delete with the shift/delete combo, and it doesn't show up in explorer either on the desktop or in the control panel. That about sums it up, it doesn't seem to causing any problems, I just want to get rid of em. Any suggestions?

[tim]

There is a program called TweakUI that will allow you to remove/hide folders that are on the desktop.

I have put it here I for you. Extract all the files from the ZIP file into a temporary directory then right click on the .INF file and select 'Install'. You will now find a TweakUI icon on the control panel. There is a desktop tab where you can select what is shown there. There is another one for the control panel, so you can get rid of broken Control Panel icons.

[KaraK]

tim sounds like he might have a plan but Id probably try scandisk to make sure your FS isnt just being an arses

[Alakazam]

Tnx Tim, I'm already running TweakUI but the folders have no name on them and they are not showing up in Tweak where they should be. I'll try scandisk and regclean tomorrow to see what happens.

[ImaginAsian]

Not sure I understand your problem, zammy...but with regards to the control panel one...try do a search for all files with *.cpl in your system folder.

That should bring up all the control panel extensions from which you can determine which one is the strange folder.

[Dramen]

For Desktop
Check this key in the registry, this is for your desktop entries, they all begin with a long alphanumerical name. Click on the name and in the right pane you will see what it belongs to, usually My Documents, Recycle Bin. If you see one that has no name or that you don't recognize you can delete it. For safty just tell regedit to back up that key before you delete it. You can name the key anything you want, just name it something that makes sense to you.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Deskt op\NameSpace



For control panel
Open explorer and go to the \windows\system folder and tell explorer to arrange files by extension so it will be easy to find all the .cpl files. Then right click on a .cpl file and on the property page click on the version tab and you will be able to find out what that particular control panel object references. Rename the bogus file with the extention .cpl.bak, this way if you decide you want it back its easy to locate and you simply rename it back to .cpl

[Alakazam]

Well, I ran regclean and a full scandisk today with no results.
Dramen you're up next.
IA, I have 1 folder on the desktop and 1 in control panel with no name for them, they won't delete or clear out no matter what I try so far. I will give Dramens' suggestions a go tomorrow.

[KaraK]

just out of curiosity what do y ou get if you bring up the properties for the thing ?

[Alakazam]

Dramen, you da man! The registry hack did the trick for the desktop folder, when I get home from Fla. in a couple of days, I'll try the Control Panel fix. Thanks again.

[Dramen]

Thats great zammmy Have a good time in florida.

[Alakazam]

OK, the troubled folder without a name is not in the control panel but shows up in "My Computer". Right clicking on the folder brings up the box you see in the picture. If I try to delete the folder, nothing happens. There is no "Properties" dialog box available. In Explorer, it shows up in my computer but nothing doin there either. It's listed as a system folder in the description but there is no vacant folder shown when I navigate to the system folder under Windows.

[James]

An option in "My Computer". Have You tried to cut it?

[Alakazam]

Hello James, it won't cut , delete, or make a shortcut to anything. It just sits there not doing any harm, I just want to get rid of the damn thing! Maybe I just shouldn't worry about it but I'm a goofball when things aren't right and just like to know why.

[Dramen]

Zammy
Could you upload a pic of your right click dialogue. I just want to look at it for an idea.

You said that the folder is now off the desktop, after you did the registry delete, right?


Do this for all 3 registry keys. Look in the right hand pane and you should see a reference to all your shell folders. If you see one that has no name thats the one to delete. Make sure you back up the registry key for safty.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders


HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shel l Folders

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Folders

[Alakazam]

OK Dramen, yes the folder is gone from the desktop after the registry delete. In the pic I posted above, the dialog box for right click is in the pic. I checked all the registry keys you mentioned, but there is no entry without a name. Next?

[Dramen]

Check this too.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\New

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\OtherF older

If you could show this pic it might help me.
Gonna get this sucker!!!

[Alakazam]

Here's the pic of the currentshellfolder & usershellfolder, I don't have an entry for shellfolders\new or other folder

[Alakazam]

And here is the pix of currentusershell and localshellfolder

[Dramen]

Wow what timing, I have been working on this just now. LOL

Here is another way:
Open explorer and click on View, the Folder Options and then File Types. They should all have an Icon to the left and some sort of description next to the Icon. If you find and Icon with no description, click on that one. If there is nothing in the "actions" box and nothing where it says, default extention for content type, you may have found your cuprit.

Note: their is an Icon that has Folder next to it never delete that one. But like I mentioned it will most likely have no description.

I' hope this one works for you.

[TheHeretic]

have you checked to see if its in the DIR listing under DOS? Although I dont know how you delete nothing in DOS just curious if its something that windows is creating or if its there in the underlying foundations as well.


TheHeretic

[KaraK]

if its in "My Computer" ita almost certainly a windoze cock-up since that doesnt exist under DOS...

[Alakazam]

Nothing in the file types either, everything has a description to go with it. I really appreciate all the help for this seemingly useless annoyance to me.