alt key>tools>folder options
view tab
uncheck "hide protected operating system files" and select "show hidden files, folders, or drives"
Click ok
Anything odd show up?
If there is a desktop.ini, delete it. (ps, NEVER EVER delete it from your actual desktop folder or in Users or documents and settings folders unless you want to lose your entire login
PPS: On a sidenote.. desktop.ini is like css for your folder. Open it and play with settings if you like customizing
PPPS: most issues with files being taken over by the computer ghost as with the poster's issues is caused by this file or file permissions associated to it.