Windows Screensaver 3D FlowerBox will not delete from XP SP2 (Weird)

[Tiger-Heli]

This seems odd, I wanted to get rid of some of the default windows screensavers as I never plan to use them.

[krick]

Windows XP has comething called Windows File Protection that restores certain files if they are deleted, renamed, or modified.

http://support.microsoft.com/Default.aspx?kbid=222193

Some of the nastier viruses going around trick windows into "protecting" their files so that they get restored after the anti-virus programs remove them.

You might be able to remove extra screen savers via add/remove windows components.

[Tiger-Heli]

Thanks, Krick!

I think I tried the "Hidden Components thing before" and windows still didn't list the screensavers.  I'll try it again, though.

BTW, according to the PCTG at www.tweakguides.com, you can turn off protection by changing this registry key to 1.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
SFCDisable=0

However, it doesn't recommend doing this, and I don't know what happens if you turn it off, delete the file and then re-enable SFP - I guess I'll find out, though!!!

[Tiger-Heli]

No luck -

Hidden components didn't list the screensaver, and the file still re-appeared after the registry change was made.

However, I re-read the KB article and checked the link and the file is included in Winroot\System32\dllcache.

Question - If I delete it from dllcache and from System32, Windows is supposed to prompt me to insert the WinCD.

[Tiger-Heli]

It worked!!!!

Deleted from the DLLcache folder.  Deleted from the system32 folder.  Windows pops up a message that it needed to replace it.  I told it to cancel.  Windows says it will be less stable now (there's an oxymoron).  Screensaver is no more!!!

Thanks for all the tips, Krick!!!