Wrong icons displayed...

arfy · 04-10-2005, 03:23 AM

I am having a problem where some files and applications are displaying the wrong icons. This sometimes occurs on the desktop, the taskbar, windows explorer, and the start menu.

One example - in windows explorer, in a folder full of .jpg images, some images display the correct jepg icon, but others display other strangely incorrect icons. I find it odd that files of the same type can display different icons.

Another example - I just installed iTunes. It has appeared on my desktop with the correct iTunes logo, however in the start menu and in the task bar it is displaying an Adobe Photoshop icon. I went into properties to check the source of the icon. A strange text string appeared, so i entered a new string which is the location of the iTunes exe file. Oddly enough, when i apply this change, the Photoshop icon (which should be an iTunes icon) now is replaced with a Macromedia Flash icon

Does anyone know what the problem is here?

Thanks very much

johnwill · 04-10-2005, 01:57 PM

Windows maintains a cached copy of all the icons on the system to avoid having to reload the icons every time they are displayed. If this icon cache becomes corrupt then the wrong icons may be shown. To clear the icons cache make sure you can view hidden files and then open your Windows directory in Explorer and delete the file called "ShellIconCache". When you restart Windows the icon cache file will be automatically recreated.

arfy · 04-10-2005, 05:31 PM

Thanks for your suggestion johnwill, but I tried this and it doesn't make any difference

johnwill · 04-10-2005, 05:41 PM

Try downloading TweakUI and using the ICON Repair.

arfy · 04-10-2005, 08:36 PM

Yay, that worked, thanks very much johnwill!

johnwill · 04-11-2005, 12:02 PM

Glad we restored your faith in TSF.

04-10-2005, 03:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
arfy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7 OS: Win 2000 pro	Wrong icons displayed... I am having a problem where some files and applications are displaying the wrong icons. This sometimes occurs on the desktop, the taskbar, windows explorer, and the start menu. One example - in windows explorer, in a folder full of .jpg images, some images display the correct jepg icon, but others display other strangely incorrect icons. I find it odd that files of the same type can display different icons. Another example - I just installed iTunes. It has appeared on my desktop with the correct iTunes logo, however in the start menu and in the task bar it is displaying an Adobe Photoshop icon. I went into properties to check the source of the icon. A strange text string appeared, so i entered a new string which is the location of the iTunes exe file. Oddly enough, when i apply this change, the Photoshop icon (which should be an iTunes icon) now is replaced with a Macromedia Flash icon Does anyone know what the problem is here? Thanks very much

04-10-2005, 01:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,468 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Windows maintains a cached copy of all the icons on the system to avoid having to reload the icons every time they are displayed. If this icon cache becomes corrupt then the wrong icons may be shown. To clear the icons cache make sure you can view hidden files and then open your Windows directory in Explorer and delete the file called "ShellIconCache". When you restart Windows the icon cache file will be automatically recreated. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-10-2005, 05:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,468 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Try downloading TweakUI and using the ICON Repair. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-11-2005, 12:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,468 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	Glad we restored your faith in TSF. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-10-2005, 05:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
arfy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7 OS: Win 2000 pro	Thanks for your suggestion johnwill, but I tried this and it doesn't make any difference

04-10-2005, 08:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
arfy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 7 OS: Win 2000 pro	Yay, that worked, thanks very much johnwill!