There are two FILES which appear in multiple folders:

Desktop.ini and Thumbs.db

I don't recognize these as anything I have worked with directly and hope it's just a glitch from all the updates I've downloaded; backing up the REGISTRY; copying all my pics for backup, etc.....

other info:
Computer is running smoothly
Avast! quarantined a virus last night
scans today by -- Avast!, Superantispyware, Malwarebyes DETECT no threats.

What (if anything) should I do about them, I have no idea how long they MAY have been in place
TIAoh, duh, nevermind.....i had 'show hidden icons' turned on.....

Guess I'm being paranoid now

I'm just really glad this forum is here!Both of those files are normal. Desktop.ini stores info about the folder such as custom background, custom tooltip, directory-local file types, and a special icon. Thumbs.db is a Windows database used to remember view settings (list/details/icons/tiles/thumbnails/filmstrip view) and where/if you dragged stuff somewhere in the WINDOW besides the defualt location lineup. So these files are no threat and no glitch. My guess is that you recently enabled viewing hidden/system files.

-Fleexy