Mystery Desktop Icon

I have a folder icon with (no name) on my desktop. I can't open it (double
click and nothing happens). When I try to delete it, I get the message:
"The items you are about to delete cannot be stored in the Recycle Bin .
.. "

Can anyone tell me what this might be and whether I'll get into problems if
I delete it?

My lack of knowledge always makes me cautious.

An old-timer trying to keep up.

It is likely a Namespace item in the Registry. You will have to look in the
Registry Editor for an errant Namespace entry.

StartRunscanregw
Click Yes when it asks if you want to back up the Registry.

StartRunregedit
Navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSp
ace
Expand the NameSpace key and there will be sub-keys...click one and in the right
pane of the widow you will see what it is. For example, there will be one named:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}, and when you select it, you will see it is
the Recycle Bin desktop item.
Another may be:
{450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}, which is the desktop's My Documents folder.

What you are looking for is another one that does not have a name showing in the
right pane at all, when you select it. That is the sub-key you want to right-click
and click Delete.

Before deleing anything, I suggest you export the entire NameSpace key to a .reg
file (or better, to a .txt file, on the Desktop), so you can open it with Notepad
and post its contents here, if you are unsure. To export the NameSpace key, select
it, then click the Registry menu Export, name the file and save it to the location
you choose.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Old-timer" wrote in message
...
I have a folder icon with (no name) on my desktop. I can't open it (double
click and nothing happens). When I try to delete it, I get the message:
"The items you are about to delete cannot be stored in the Recycle Bin .
. "

Can anyone tell me what this might be and whether I'll get into problems if
I delete it?

My lack of knowledge always makes me cautious.

An old-timer trying to keep up.

Glen, sorry to be so late getting back - but that's another story.
Thanks for the very clear instructions - just what I need. Here is what
I found:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
"Removal Message"="Are you sure you want to remove the Outlook icon from your desktop? After you remove this icon from your desktop you can still access the files in this folder: C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\"
@=""


Should I proceed with your instructions? I have the Outlook and Outlook
Express icons on my desktop

Thanks,
Ed

glee wrote:
It is likely a Namespace item in the Registry. You will have to look in the
Registry Editor for an errant Namespace entry.

StartRunscanregw
Click Yes when it asks if you want to back up the Registry.

StartRunregedit
Navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSp
ace
Expand the NameSpace key and there will be sub-keys...click one and in the right
pane of the widow you will see what it is. For example, there will be one named:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}, and when you select it, you will see it is
the Recycle Bin desktop item.
Another may be:
{450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}, which is the desktop's My Documents folder.

What you are looking for is another one that does not have a name showing in the
right pane at all, when you select it. That is the sub-key you want to right-click
and click Delete.

Before deleing anything, I suggest you export the entire NameSpace key to a .reg
file (or better, to a .txt file, on the Desktop), so you can open it with Notepad
and post its contents here, if you are unsure. To export the NameSpace key, select
it, then click the Registry menu Export, name the file and save it to the location
you choose.

Is the Outlook shortcut on the Desktop an actual shortcut file? Right-click the
Outlook shortcut on the Desktop, click Properties. Does it have a "General" and a
"Shortcut" tab? On the General tab, for the MS-DOS Name, does it show the name with
a .LNK extension at the end? If yes to both of those, the Desktop shortcut is an
actual shortcut, and the "Outlook" item you see in the namespace key in the Registry
may be your culprit.

If so, I would export the Namespace key to a file on your desktop or my Documents
folder, and then delete the particular key for Outlook, per the instructions in this
article:
OL: How to Remove the Outlook Icon from Your Desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321777
If it is not the culprit, you can recreate the Outlook icon using the description
he
How to restore the Outlook icon to the desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=238567
or by importing the Namespace export you saved.

It would also be helpful if you made your export of the Namespace key, then open the
exported file with Notepad, and copy & paste the contents into a reply in this
thread.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Old-timer" wrote in message
...
Glen, sorry to be so late getting back - but that's another story.
Thanks for the very clear instructions - just what I need. Here is what
I found:

REGEDIT4


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameS
pace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
"Removal Message"="Are you sure you want to remove the Outlook icon from your
desktop? After you remove this icon from your desktop you can still access the files
in this folder: C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\"
@=""


Should I proceed with your instructions? I have the Outlook and Outlook
Express icons on my desktop

Thanks,
Ed

glee wrote:
It is likely a Namespace item in the Registry. You will have to look in the
Registry Editor for an errant Namespace entry.

StartRunscanregw
Click Yes when it asks if you want to back up the Registry.

StartRunregedit
Navigate to this key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSp
ace
Expand the NameSpace key and there will be sub-keys...click one and in the right
pane of the widow you will see what it is. For example, there will be one
named:
{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}, and when you select it, you will see it
is
the Recycle Bin desktop item.
Another may be:
{450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}, which is the desktop's My Documents
folder.

What you are looking for is another one that does not have a name showing in the
right pane at all, when you select it. That is the sub-key you want to
right-click
and click Delete.

Before deleing anything, I suggest you export the entire NameSpace key to a .reg
file (or better, to a .txt file, on the Desktop), so you can open it with
Notepad
and post its contents here, if you are unsure. To export the NameSpace key,
select
it, then click the Registry menu Export, name the file and save it to the
location
you choose.

Properties only has a "General" tab and it is completely blank. I
double clicked the Outlook icon and got the Outlook Startup Wizard to
"configure Outlook 2000"

Does this change things?

Ed


glee wrote:
Is the Outlook shortcut on the Desktop an actual shortcut file? Right-click the
Outlook shortcut on the Desktop, click Properties. Does it have a "General" and a
"Shortcut" tab? On the General tab, for the MS-DOS Name, does it show the name with
a .LNK extension at the end? If yes to both of those, the Desktop shortcut is an
actual shortcut, and the "Outlook" item you see in the namespace key in the Registry
may be your culprit.

If so, I would export the Namespace key to a file on your desktop or my Documents
folder, and then delete the particular key for Outlook, per the instructions in this
article:
OL: How to Remove the Outlook Icon from Your Desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321777
If it is not the culprit, you can recreate the Outlook icon using the description
he
How to restore the Outlook icon to the desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=238567
or by importing the Namespace export you saved.

It would also be helpful if you made your export of the Namespace key, then open the
exported file with Notepad, and copy & paste the contents into a reply in this
thread.

Then the Namespace item is the Outlook icon on the desktop, and not your culprit.
Please export the Namespace key to a text file, and paste the contents in a reply
here.
StartRun Regedit, navigate to and select the Namespace key, click the Registry
menu Export, choose a location and name for the file, and change the type from .reg
file to .txt file. Then open the export with Notepad, and paste the contents here.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Old-timer" wrote in message
...
Properties only has a "General" tab and it is completely blank. I
double clicked the Outlook icon and got the Outlook Startup Wizard to
"configure Outlook 2000"

Does this change things?

Ed


glee wrote:
Is the Outlook shortcut on the Desktop an actual shortcut file? Right-click the
Outlook shortcut on the Desktop, click Properties. Does it have a "General" and
a
"Shortcut" tab? On the General tab, for the MS-DOS Name, does it show the name
with
a .LNK extension at the end? If yes to both of those, the Desktop shortcut is
an
actual shortcut, and the "Outlook" item you see in the namespace key in the
Registry
may be your culprit.

If so, I would export the Namespace key to a file on your desktop or my
Documents
folder, and then delete the particular key for Outlook, per the instructions in
this
article:
OL: How to Remove the Outlook Icon from Your Desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=321777
If it is not the culprit, you can recreate the Outlook icon using the
description
he
How to restore the Outlook icon to the desktop:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=238567
or by importing the Namespace export you saved.

It would also be helpful if you made your export of the Namespace key, then open
the
exported file with Notepad, and copy & paste the contents into a reply in this
thread.

Glen:
Unless I've misunderstood, I thought I pasted this in my previous reply,
which makes me think you want a different one. Let me know.
Ed

glee wrote:
Then the Namespace item is the Outlook icon on the desktop, and not your culprit.
Please export the Namespace key to a text file, and paste the contents in a reply
here.
StartRun Regedit, navigate to and select the Namespace key, click the Registry
menu Export, choose a location and name for the file, and change the type from .reg
file to .txt file. Then open the export with Notepad, and paste the contents here.

All you copied and pasted in the previous reply was the sub-key named
{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}. I want to see the entire Namespace key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSp
ace
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

"Old-timer" wrote in message
...
Glen:
Unless I've misunderstood, I thought I pasted this in my previous reply,
which makes me think you want a different one. Let me know.
Ed

glee wrote:
Then the Namespace item is the Outlook icon on the desktop, and not your
culprit.
Please export the Namespace key to a text file, and paste the contents in a
reply
here.
StartRun Regedit, navigate to and select the Namespace key, click the Registry
menu Export, choose a location and name for the file, and change the type from
..reg
file to .txt file. Then open the export with Notepad, and paste the contents
here.

Glen - This is the entire key:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]
@="Recycle Bin"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{4B876A40-4EE8-11D1-811E-00C04FB98EEC}]
@="Set Up The Microsoft Network"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}]
@="My Documents"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
"Removal Message"="Are you sure you want to remove the Outlook icon from
your desktop? After you remove this icon from your desktop you can still
access the files in this folder: C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft
Office\\Office\\"
@=""

Looks Greek to me :-)
What does it tell you?

Ed

glee wrote:

All you copied and pasted in the previous reply was the sub-key named
{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}. I want to see the entire Namespace key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSp
ace

It tells me that your Desktop should show icons for the following four items:
- Recycle Bin
- Set Up The Microsoft Network
- My Documents
- Outlook
(as well as whatever shortcut icons you have created there, and hopefully also 'My
Computer').

Do all four of those icons appear on your Desktop?
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"Old-timer" wrote in message
...
Glen - This is the entire key:

REGEDIT4


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameS
pace]


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameS
pace\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}]
@="Recycle Bin"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameS
pace\{4B876A40-4EE8-11D1-811E-00C04FB98EEC}]
@="Set Up The Microsoft Network"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameS
pace\{450d8fba-ad25-11d0-98a8-0800361b1103}]
@="My Documents"


[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameS
pace\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
"Removal Message"="Are you sure you want to remove the Outlook icon from
your desktop? After you remove this icon from your desktop you can still
access the files in this folder: C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft
Office\\Office\\"
@=""

Looks Greek to me :-)
What does it tell you?

Ed

glee wrote:

All you copied and pasted in the previous reply was the sub-key named
{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}. I want to see the entire Namespace key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\explorer\Desktop\NameSp
ace