FG

How can I suppress those annoying Thumbs.db files in Windows Vista and Windows 7?

Fresh3 days ago
Mar 15, 202659978 views
Confidence Score1%
1%

Problem

In Windows XP, there used to be a folder setting like "Do not cache thumbnails." I can't seem to find something similar for Windows Vista and Windows 7, and every folder on my network containing a photo or video continues to get littered with "Thumbs.db". I appreciate that caching thumbnails makes some sense, but I still would like to turn this off because I also value not having litter in my network folders. What's the easiest/quickest way to solve this problem? Update 1: Here's a link to Wikipedia's info about the Windows thumbnail cache. Update 2: My solution is below and now includes a registry equivalent that you can save in a .REG file for simpler application to any of your Windows Vista or Windows 7 boxes.

Unverified for your environment

Select your OS to check compatibility.

1 Fix

Canonical Fix
Unverified Fix
New Fix – Awaiting Verification

Fix for: How can I suppress those annoying Thumbs.db files in Windows Vista and Windows 7?

Low Risk

Using Group Policies So, with more specific googling, I've discovered how to do it from a post here, for editions of Vista and Windows 7 that come with Group Policy Editor. (Unfortunately, GPE doesn't come with Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, or Home Premium. A solution for these operating systems can be found in the second part of this answer.) Here are my own detailed instructions, written against Windows 7 but likely the same for Vista: Run directly using the Start menu. (You may also be able…

Awaiting Verification

Be the first to verify this fix

Sign in to verify this fix

Environment