Re: Vanishing icons on Desktop and in Recycle Bin

Hi Cheryl,

In line and snipped. I probably am making this more complicated and
including more info than I need to, but I see no other way. So there. ;-)
I mean that I am making a comprehensive reply.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:mason204.2kxavw@xxxxxxxxxxxx,
mason204 <mason204.2kxavw@xxxxxxxxxxxx> hunted and pecked:
Thank you Wes, for your comprehensive reply. My problem still isn't
resolved but my replies are noted under your suggestions below...

If you have a c:\recycler folder how can you boot to DOS? The
Recycler
folder is used only on NTFS partitions. On FAT32 the RECYCLED folder
is
used. DOS can not exist on NTFS.

***You're right. I had to boot from a CD and use the utility NTFS4DOS
in order to see my c:recycler folder. Only by bypassing windows at
startup does the directory appear.***

You do not need to boot to CD or NTFS4DOS. Use the command prompt
(cmd.exe).

Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK

Or if you want to use only 8.3 names, use command.com
Start | Run | Type: command | Click OK

Better off using cmd.exe though. You can use both 8.3 and long names with
cmd.exe.

Command.com will generate this error:
Too many parameters -
for long names.

Or this error: Invalid directory

Some more info, some you may already know.
Recycle Bin RECYCLER
%systemdrive%\RECYCLER\Your SID # is YOUR Recycle Bin.

***Funny thing, I couldn't see a SID #. Again, by going into NTFS4DOS
(which is the only way I can see the c:\recycler directory), I did see
c:\recycler\s-1-5-~1 and s-1-5-~2 directories. Inside each one was a
desktop.ini file but no other files were visible.

INFO2 can be shown. Later on in this epic saga.

Paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

c:\recycler\s-1-5-~1

Paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

c:\recycler\s-1-5-~2

Both of those SID # folders should open, even using the 8.3 names.

The Run command (Start | Run) does not care if the folders are HIDDEN or
not, it should open them anyway.

My SID # is S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003
c:\recycler\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003 is my Recycle
Bin.
S-1-5-~1 is the 8.3 name for the long SID# above.

c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1 pasted into the Run command will open...
c:\recycler\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003

Try this.

Open a command prompt....
Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |

In the command prompt, type or paste: cd c:\recycler

Hit ENTER.

The command cd c:\recycler should Change Directory to c:\recycler.

Then type or paste: DIR /S /a:dhs

Hit ENTER.

The command DIR /S /a:dhs should display all directories (folders) with
HIDDEN and SYSTEM attributes. The /S switch displays files in specified
directory and all subdirectories. The /A switch displays files with
specified attributes. The attributes specified here are D Directories, H
Hidden and S System.

You can use this command DIR /S /a:dhs /x to display the 8.3 names.

The /X switch displays the short names generated for non-8dot3 file and
folders.

Type: dir /? for dir HELP.

Example...
------------
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel>
C:\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel>cd c:\recycler

C:\RECYCLER>
C:\RECYCLER>
C:\RECYCLER>DIR /S /a:dhs
Volume in drive C is Local Disk
Volume Serial Number is 901E-9F82

Directory of C:\RECYCLER

07-Nov-05 09:18 PM <DIR> .
07-Nov-05 09:18 PM <DIR> ..
24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR>
S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-
1003
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003

24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> .
24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> ..
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Total Files Listed:
0 File(s) 0 bytes
5 Dir(s) 2,205,016,064 bytes free

C:\RECYCLER>
C:\RECYCLER>
C:\RECYCLER>DIR /S /a:dhs /x
Volume in drive C is Local Disk
Volume Serial Number is 901E-9F82

Directory of C:\RECYCLER

07-Nov-05 09:18 PM <DIR> .
07-Nov-05 09:18 PM <DIR> ..
24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> S-1-5-~1
S-1-5-21-1708537768-158043666
7-1202660629-1003
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003

24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> .
24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> ..
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Total Files Listed:
0 File(s) 0 bytes
5 Dir(s) 2,205,016,064 bytes free

C:\RECYCLER>
------------
Would not having a SID# cause the problem? Perhaps it's there and only
visible in Windows? If that's the case, I can't access anything in
Windows to verify this. Does that make sense?***

You have an SID #.

This registry key lists all of the SIDs.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\
CurrentVersion\ProfileList

To tell which user has which SID, click on each SID, look at
ProfileImagePath, the Data has the user name at the end of the path. I.e.
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Wesley P. Vogel

For example:
S-1-5-18 is systemprofile
S-1-5-19 is NT Authority/ LocalService
S-1-5-20 is NT Authority/NetworkService
S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-500 is my machine's Administrator,
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Administrator

Open the Registry Editor...
Start | Run | Type: regedit | Click OK |
Navigate to >>
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\
CurrentVersion\ProfileList

* Click the [+] to expand ProfileList
* The long versions of s-1-5-~1 and s-1-5-~2 should be listed.
* Click on s-1-5-~1 and look in the right hand pane for ProfileImagePath
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Whatever Name Here
* Click on s-1-5-~2 and look in the right hand pane for ProfileImagePath
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Whatever Name Here

c:\recycler\s-1-5-~1 and s-1-5-~2 directories.

Both recycler and s-1-5-~1 and s-1-5-~2 are HIDDEN and SYSTEM folders.

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
and
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide extensions for known file types
and
Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
Click Apply | Click OK

When you uncheck: Hide protected operating system files,
you will get this message...

Warning
----------
You have chosen to display protected operating system files (files labeled
System and Hidden) in Windows Explorer.These files are required to start and
run Windows. Deleting or editing them can make your computer inoperable.Are
you sure you want to display these files?
----------

Click YES.

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]

%systemdrive%\RECYCLER
With at least one folder with the SID #
for every user on the machine.

If there is only one user, then there is only one
SID # folder. That SID # folder is the Recycle Bin.

Security identifiers (SIDs) are numeric values that identify a user or
group.

When you delete a file, the complete path and file name is stored in a
hidden file called Info2.

If I paste this into the Run command (Start | Run ) and click OK
C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003\info2
the Open With applet comes up.
Select Notepad and click OK or just double click on Notepad from the
list.
INFO2 opens.

If I paste this into the Run command (Start | Run ) and click OK
c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1\info2
the Open With applet comes up.
Select Notepad and click OK or just double click on Notepad from the
list.
My INFO2 opens.

Or you can do this in a command prompt...
start C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003\info2
the Open With applet comes up.
Select Notepad and click OK or just double click on Notepad from the
list.
INFO2 opens.

This also works in a command prompt...
start c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1\info2

Permissions on the C:\Recycled directory may be too restrictive.

RESOLUTION
Administrators should have ownership of the Recycled directory. To
take
ownership of the directory, perform the following:

1. Log on as Administrator.
2. Using Windows Explorer, locate the directory and select
Properties/Ownership.
3. Use the option to Take Ownership of the directory.
4. Restore default permissions to the directory with the permissions
option.

Default permissions:
Administrators Full Control
Creator/Owner Full Control
Everyone Change
System Full Control
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/168570

***I'd love to take a look at the ownership of the recycler directory
and change the settings if necessary. However, I can't see the
directory in Windows.***

To display Hidden files and folders above should help.

cd c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1

DIR /S /a:hs

Will show the Desktop.ini file in c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1.

Example.
----------------
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>cd c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1

C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1>DIR /S /a:hs
Volume in drive C is Local Disk
Volume Serial Number is 901E-9F82

Directory of C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1

24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> .
24-Jan-07 10:19 AM <DIR> ..
24-Jan-07 10:19 AM 65 desktop.ini
1 File(s) 65 bytes

Total Files Listed:
1 File(s) 65 bytes
2 Dir(s) 2,204,884,992 bytes free

C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1>cd c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1

C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1>
----------------

attrib /S info2 will find all info2 files.

cd c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1

DIR /S /a:ha

Will list the info2 file in c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1.

Example.
----------------
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\>attrib /S info2
A H C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-21-1708537768-1580436667-1202660629-1003\INFO2

C:\>cd c:\recycler\S-1-5-~1

C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1>DIR /S /a:ha
Volume in drive C is Local Disk
Volume Serial Number is 901E-9F82

Directory of C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1

24-Jan-07 10:19 AM 20 INFO2
1 File(s) 20 bytes

Total Files Listed:
1 File(s) 20 bytes
0 Dir(s) 2,204,635,136 bytes free

C:\RECYCLER\S-1-5-~1>
----------------

I may have drifted a bit here. But I am having fun. :-)


Cheryl.

--
mason204

.

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