If the old file does not exist, then it is not possible for LTspice to load up a nonexistent file.
If it still starts up with the old file, then the old file exists. ?Contrary to popular belief, LTspice doesn't do magic; it doesn't come configured with a time portal. ?If you had this problem earlier too, that mysteriously went away, I think you need to consider the possibility that you should not be as certain as you are about the nonexistence of the file.
This is easy enough to verify, by editing the standard.dio file to remove all but one entry. ?If LTspice doesn't immediately see the difference the next time it starts, then you haven't successfully edited LTspice's file;?i.e., the old file still exists.