What are Thumbs.db and how can I prevent them from being created?

Question

I see a lot of Thumbs.db in my picture directory. Evidently they are protected for some reason. What are they and how can I prevent them from being created?

Answer 1

Try this.
Open my Pictures folder
Tools tab
Folder Options
View tab
Put a check next to ..Do Not cache thumbnails
E

Answer 2

The thumbs.db file is generated by the Windows operating system. It is a database file containing the small images displayed when you view a folder in "thumbnail" view (as opposed to tile, icon, list, or detail view). No harm is done by deleting thumbs.db files. There is no need to include them in your system backups. Whether you see these files or not is a function of your File Options settings.

To turn off this feature and save a bit of disk space,
1.Click the Start button
2.Select Control Panel
3.Select Folder Options
4.Click the View tab
5.Check "Do not cache thumbnails"
6.Click the OK button

Now you can search your computer for thumbs.db files and remove them. To do so:
1.Click the Start button
2.Click Search
3.Click "All files and folders"
4.In the "All or part of the file name" box type Thumbs.db
5.Set the "Look in:" pull-down menu to "Local Hard Drives (C:)"
6.Click Search. A list of the files found appears in the right window.
7.Click in the right window where the files are listed and press the control button and the A button to highlight all the files (Ctrl+A).
8.Press the Delete key. It may take a few seconds to delete the files.

Answer 3

Go to the Start Menu and click on the Search option so that we can search the computer for files.
Windows Explorer should startup and there should be a sidebar available for searching. Before we search and remove the Thumbs.db files we’ll go ahead and disable them from being created in the future. Go to Tools->Folder Options->View and the 7th option down should read Do not cache thumbnails. Check that box and hit OK to close the window.
Now we’ll need to perform a search for the Thumbs.db files. In the file name box type Thumbs.db and expand the Advanced Options so that you can check the box that says Search hidden files and folders. It is important that you check that box because this file is always hidden.
After it finishes scanning your hard drive just select all of the files and delete them.

Answer 4

Thumbs.db are hidden files and are automatically created.
If you do not want to see those files, simply open Windows Explorer, go to Tools/Folder Options and in View tab, check the "Do not show hidden files" option

Answer 5

They are a windows file "thumbnails" - in short they're used for the little galleries in windows explorer and folder names etc. When you delete the folder the tumbs.db file will go too.