Desktop icon not deleting

[banjoman]

I had a couple of downloads fail. The icon for the download is on the desktop screen, and I can't find a way to delete it. I tried changing the name, changing the extension, going into windows/desktop and doing the same, but nothing works to remove these icons.

Any suggestions?

[Calvin K]

Hey if you can open hijackthis then go to config/ misc tools / then go to delete on reboot and enter the files name. Let us know how that went.

[Solomon]

Try running REGEDIT and doing a search for the exact name of the icon. Delete the registry key in which that icon name appears in. You better backup the registry before you modify it.

Do it carefully.

[SalVatore]

Three things you may be able to do. One is keep it from loading during startup the other is to delete in the desktop folder or in ms-dos.

You need to go to Folder Options -> View and enable view all files and filename extensions, then go to Windows\Desktop to find the file.

[Lillebror]

Have you rebooted or logged off since you tried to delete the file? I have noticed that sometimes it takes a reboot to get the deleted file to go away.

[banjoman]

Hey There, thanks for the reply unforunately this did not work, rebooted and followed instructions but file is still there! Anything else? Thanks

[SalVatore]

Goto Start Menu > Run

Type regedit and press the enter key.

In the registry editor window that opens, click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE in the left pane.

Follow it to -

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\

below NameSpace, you'll see long CLSID strings like {xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx}

Clicking on any of them will reveal it's name in the right pane.

Just select the one you need to remove and press the DELETE key.
Close the registry editor window.
Right click on desktop and select "refresh".

[Devasis]

Download Delete Doctor

Various deletion methods are offered with this tool.

[Veest X]

After playing w/ the registry and a whole bunch of these tips, this bad dude Delete Doctor from this post killed the ghost icon. Nothing else would do it. But be careful, it also nailed a coulpe other fils on my desktop too. But hey, GOOD JOB!!! Thanks.

PS the only reason I joined this site was to respond to this link. It works

Veest X