Windows 10 unusual changes to program icons???

[Box Brownie]

Hi all

I have been copying my image files to another external drive and whilst idling away a moment or two noticed something odd???

On my desktop I suddenly noticed in the lower KHD corner of the desktop icons either a small 'Tick' or a small 'X'........................a moment or two later all the these tick or X were all now what appears to be like two people from the waist up. A sort of Windows 'meeting' look to them

Every single program shortcut and many .pdf files I link to but not .doc or .jpegs !

I have not knowingly made any changes that might have triggered this change.

TIA for any insights

PS edit ~ I have 'sussed out' that is about "sharing" status but I never mad an active change and have yet to work out why it has happened and how to unshare it???

PPS I have now disconnected the external drive...............and noticed one or two 'shares' had gone. Sweeping the cursor over the icons all(?) the shares disappeared

 

[Plain Nev]

I think you're just sharing your files with the external hard drive, that's all. But the terminology that Microsoft use is a bit alarming.

 

[Box Brownie]

Hi Neville @Plain Nev

Thanks for reply...

It is odd, having reconnected the SSD drive (I have never seen it before with other external drives SSD or HDD. This one is a Sandisk X6 SSD) it hasn't happened again

I now see what I could not recall because it is 'second nature' (so to speak) the little arrow indicating the icon is a shortcut. As mentioned, I saw a tick or a X at first then the sharing people.

It certainly seems like the OS had got its knickers in a twist!!!!

 

[Plain Nev]

Microsoft are always pushing for you to share your files. Often these things will change with a new update. It's not as if they consult us users, so a little paranoia is understandable. They constantly think they have to reinvent the wheel.