what does it mean when your desktop icons have a blue box with a >> in it on the left corner of icon
It means they are shortcuts to the files, not the actual files. To sum up if you delete one of these you only loose the shortcut, the original file remains in it's original location.
If you right click one, then select properties, next click on the tap that says Open File Location, that will take you to the actual file.
margia, You're probably using Norton 360. The link below explains those icon overlays and how to deal with them. A check in a green box means the file’s backup is current, while a chevron (») character in a blue box indicates a file that’s been changed since its last backup. Files excluded from the backup set display a slash in a gray box.
If you don’t need the backup indicators feature you can turn it off by clicking Settings in the Norton 360 main window, disabling the Backup Status Indicators check box and clicking Close.
Green Tick or Blue Arrows Icon Overlay Displayed for Files in Windows Explorer
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/g...The link below has a picture of icons with the ovelay.
http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topi...
Tufenuf
Why is anyone still using Norton? I got rid of THAT system HOG years ago and I am very glad I did. I use Webroot Antivirus with Spysweeper. It uses resources more intelligently and stops MOST problems BEFORE they get a foothold and need to be removed and it does a better job removing junk. When I had Norton I had to (two different times) download a separate program from them to actually remove a problem that it found but could not remove, and one time even that was not available. I had to 'fight' it by closing many things in task manager, many repeatedly, until I had it under control. Then I downloaded Spysweeper (at the time they did not have antivirus protection, it was a supplementary scanner) and it found and deleted it without problem. As soon as Webroot added antivirus protection, I could not dump Norton fast enough. You have to be a little bit crazy to keep you from going insane.
If all else fails, read instructions.
Thank you Thank you!!!! you have totally answered my question, with a link to boot!!
margia, Glad we could help and Thanks for posting back. Tufenuf
"I use Webroot Antivirus with Spysweeper." I would rather use Avast Free and spywareblaster....avast has the BEST real-time protection of all the AV's I know....Oh, did I say free? You BETCHA!
Some HELP in posting on Computing.net plus free progs and instructions Cheers