Windows 10 Desktop.ini [viewstate]

“I unchecked ‘hide protected operating system files’ and ‘check show hidden files’. I found that in my desktop, I only have one destop.ini file. I've checked my friend’s pc, there are two desktop.ini on the desktop (two files with the same name in one place). So, I want to ask, what is the function of this file? And is anyone there can help me to bring back the missing desktop.ini file? Thank You.”
  1. Remove Desktop Ini Windows 10

I would like to stop the 'desktop.ini' file being created on the 'Desktop' of my windows 10 machine. I have asked this question sepcifically about Windows 10: There is a question about the same issue on Windows 8 here, the solutions proposed there (and elsewhere) for Windows 7 and 8 don't seem to work. Desktop.ini files determine how a directory is displayed by Windows, such as the icon used by that directory. Format Keys (properties) The basic element contained in an INI file is the key or property. Every key has a name and a value, delimited by an equals sign (=). The name appears to the left of the equals sign.

-from How-To Geek Forum

Just as the question shows, there are 2 desktop.ini files in Windows system. If you right-click their properties, you will figure out one belongs to the current logged-in user account, while the other comes from public folder that applies to all user accounts. However, some users can’t find out the desktop.ini file in their computer, how to fix it? In this tutorial, you will see something about desktop.ini and how to fix desktop.ini missing error.

Part 1. What is the Function of Desktop.ini File?

Desktop.ini file is a common Windows operating system configuration file that determines how the folder is displayed along with its other Properties like icons used for that folder, its localized name. Generally, as they are with system, hidden and read-only attributes in every folder, you would not see them, but they still exist.

Desktop.ini files appear in various folders and hold the view settings for that folder. Expressly, once the layout or settings for a folder are influenced, a desktop.ini file will automatically generate to save those diversifications.

Part 2. Common Desktop.ini Error Messages

Below are some common desktop.ini errors that may appear on your PC:

'Desktop.ini error.'

'Desktop.ini is missing.'

'Desktop.ini not found.'

'Desktop.ini failed to load.'

'Failed to register desktop.ini.'

'Runtime Error: desktop.ini.'

'Error loading desktop.ini.'

Part 3. How to Fix Desktop.ini File is Missing Error in Windows System?

Actually there are quite a few ways to return desktop.ini missing error in Windows system. For example, try to conduct a full malware scan, to check out recycle bin, or to repair registry or to perform a clean Windows installation. Here I list the common and workable ways as below.

Way 1. Run Windows System File Checker(SFC)

Windows System File Checker(SFC) is a utility in Microsoft Windows that allow users to scan and restore corruptions in Windows system files. You can use it like this:

  • Tap on the Start button and type “command” in the search box. Do not hit “Enter” yet.
  • When holding “Ctrl + Shift” key on your keyboard, hit “Enter”. You’ll be prompted with a permission dialog box.
  • Click “Yes” and then a black screen will open with a blinking cursor.
  • Type “sfc/scannow” and tap on “Enter” again. System File Checker will start scanning for desktop.ini and other system file issues.
  • Then you should wait until the verification completed and follow the on-screen commands.

Way 2. Fix Desktop.ini Error with Windows Boot Genius

Windows Boot Genius is an easy-to-handle program that enables you to repair any Windows system boot issues. Let’s see user guide as below:

  • Download Windows Boot Genius from developer official link and then install and launch it. If User Account Control appear, just click Yes to continue.
  • Insert a blank USB to the device and burn a bootable USB by clicking Burn button.

  • Choose “Windows Rescue” tab on the top of the window and then click “Boot File Recovery” to repair missing or corrupted desktop.ini file. Finally, close the application.

Part 4. Can I Delete Desktop.ini File in Windows?

How to get rid of desktop.ini in Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP? To be honest, once you delete these unwanted desktop.ini files, you will remove their customizations setting at the same time. Even through it is not harmful to your system, Windows may create it again after deleting manually. What’s more, it is a system file, not a malware, keep it in your computer is okay. Consequently, the final and better suggestion is not to delete it but to hide such system file instead.

Part 5. How to Hide Desktop.ini File in Windows OS?

If you hold the viewpoint that this desktop.ini file is useless to you after fixing the error, then one of the best choice is to disable it. Windows system gives every user to hide files by using these steps:

Method 1. Hide Desktop.ini with File Explorer

Windows 10 desktop.ini viewstate error
  • Press “Windows + E” to open up Windows File Explorer. Or you can search “file explorer” and then click the “File Explorer” app to open it.
  • Click on “View” menu in the top of the screen.


  • Check if the “Hidden items” is ticked.


  • If yes, then close the window, if not, then tick it and close the screen.

Method 2. Hide Desktop.ini with Folder Options

  • Open Windows Explorer on the desktop.
  • In the Windows Explorer screen, click “Tools” -> “Folder Options”. Then pull down the scroll bar.
  • Be sure that “Don’t show hidden files and folders, and drives” option is on.


  • Check the menu “Hide protected operating system files(recommended)” is selected.
  • Click “OK” and turn off the window. Navigate to your desktop, you are about to see the desktop.ini files are no longer visible.

Done! That’s all. Let me know in comments section below if you have any other uncertainty regarding the desktop.ini missing in Windows system. Last but not least, if you are curious about other Windows errors and the fixes, check out this link to know more about it. Thanks for your reading.

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It can be quite annoying to suddenly see your computer displaying a Black Desktop Background, instead of its usual colourful desktop background. Let us take a look at some of the ways to fix Black Desktop Background in Windows 10.

Fix Black Desktop Background in Windows 10

The Desktop Wallpaper is such a standard feature in Windows computers that it is difficult to think of a Windows PC without a Desktop Wallpaper or background image of some kind.

However, sometimes a Windows computer can suddenly start displaying a Black Desktop Background. This usually happens while you are trying to change Desktop Background image or trying to change the Desktop Background to Slideshow mode.

Luckily, the occurrence of Black Desktop Background in Windows 10 is quite rare and it can be fixed using any of the following methods.

  1. Enable Show Windows Background
  2. Switch Desktop Background Type
  3. Replace Black Desktop Background with Picture
  4. Unselect High Contrast Black
  5. Check Ease of Access Settings
  6. Check Power Plan Settings
  7. Remove Corrupted TranscodedWallpaper File

1. Enable Show Windows Background Option

Follow the steps below to make sure that, Show Windows Background option is enabled on your computer.

1. Click on Windows 10 Start button and then click on the Settings Icon.

2. On the Settings screen, click on Ease of Access.

3. On the next screen, click on Other Options in the side menu and then make sure that Show Windows Background option is enabled.

4. Next, Restart your computer and see if its usual Desktop Background has come back.

2. Switch Desktop Background Type

Sometimes the simple act of switching to a different background type can fix the problem of Black Desktop background in Windows 10.

1. Click on the Windows 10 Start button > click on the Settings icon.

2. On the settings screen, click on Personalization.

3. On the personalization screen, click on Background in the left pane and then change the Background type from Color/Picture to Slideshow.

3. Replace Black Desktop Background With Picture

A quick way to get rid of black desktop background in Windows 10 is to replace the Black Desktop Background on your PC with any image stored in Pictures, Desktop or any Folder on your Computer.

1. Right-click on Windows 10 Start button and click on File Explorer.

2. Navigate to Pictures or any other Folder where an image that you want to save as Desktop Background is located. Right-click on the image and then click on Set as Desktop Background option in the Context Menu (See image below).

4. Unselect High Contrast Black

1. Right-click in any empty space on your desktop and click on Personalize.

2. On the personalize screen, click on Colors in the left pane, scroll down and click on High Contrast Settings in the right pane.

3. On the next screen, change High Contrast Black to None.

5. Check Ease Of Access Settings

The problem of a Black Background in Window 10 can also be due to accidental change in Ease of Access Settings.

1. Open the Control Panel on your computer.

2. On the Control Panel Screen, make sure that you are in Category View and then click on Ease of Access (See image below).

3. Click on Ease of Access Center > Make the computer easier to see.

4. On the next screen, scroll down to the very bottom of the page and uncheck the option for Remove background images and click on Apply.

After this set a Wallpaper of your choice as the Background Image on your computer by going to Settings > Personalization > Background.

6. Check Power Plan Settings

The problem of Black Desktop Background in Windows 10 can also be due to Power Settings in Control Panel.

1. Open the Control Panel on your computer.

2. On the Control Panel Screen, make sure that you are in “Category” view and then click on System and Security option.

3. On the System and Security Screen, click on Power Options.

4. Click on Change Plan Settings link located next to the current Power Plan on your computer (See image below).

5. Click on Change Advanced Power Settings link.

6. On the next screen, expand the item for Desktop background settings and make sure that Slide Show is set to Available (See image below).

If Slide Show option was disabled, enable the option for Slide Show and then set a Wallpaper of your choice by going to Settings > Personalization >Background.

7. Corrupt TranscodedWallpaper File

In case none of the above methods are working, it is likely that TranscodedWallpaper File on your computer is corrupted.

1. Right-click on Windows 10 Start button and click on File Explorer.

2. Navigate to C: Users/User Account/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Themes Folder and Rename TranscodedWallpaper File to TranscodedWallpaper.old.

Remove Desktop Ini Windows 10

Note: Enable Show Hidden Files option, in case you are unable to see AppData Folder

3. While you are still in Themes Folder, open Settings.ini File using Notepad, delete contents of this file (if any) and save this file.

After following these steps, setup a new Desktop Background on your computer by going to Settings > Personalization >Background. You should be able to see your New Desktop Background on your computer.