topic Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem in PCs & Accessories

Program and Favorite list icons

gyron1 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:43:01 GMT

Hello Gents,

I might have had this little problem before but forgot what to do, sorry.

All the icons in my internet favorites list and program list (via the start menu), have lost their proper picture type format and now have 'file' or 'explorer' (in the case of favorites list) type icons.

Don't know what caused this change but how can I correct situation please.

Thank you,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:44:54 GMT

Hello,

I have done an internet search on this and am unable to find a solution - maybe I am asking wrong question!

Although not a serious problem it is annoying me.

Any ideas for solution would be welcome please.

Thanks,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:32:47 GMT

Hi Gyron,

By the sound of things your Iconcache.db file has become corrupted (located at C: /Documents and Settings/Username/Local Settings/Application Data)

To force a rebuild of the data base try deleting Iconcache.bd (to the Recycle Bin) and then log off and back in again. A new file with the same name, but with the current date, should be created in that folder.

If at this stage the icons are not back to normal then try a reboot.

If this fails to resolve the issue can you let us know which XP Service Pack you have?

Edit: In order to view this file (Iconcache.db) you may have to make it visible.

With the Application Data folder open click Tools -> Folder Options -> View tab.

Scroll down to Hidden Files and Folders and check ‘Show hidden files and folders’. Click Apply.

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:54:42 GMT

Hi Rich,

Thank you for responding (once again).

Followed your suggestion but the IconCache was not 'rebuilt' after either option - logoff/logon or reboot (restart).

At this stage I restored the iconcache from the Recycle bin.

My software is MS Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 2.

As you know I use, for the time being, the Norton Software and so have the Windows auto update disabled. I also have and use TuneUp utilities. I don't know if the latter could have done something 'in the background'.

This problem is relatively recent but know exact date - maybe a week.

Kind regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:32:38 GMT

Hi Gyron,

I have just forced a rebuild of iconcache on one of my older machines running XP Pro with SP2 and there was no problem, so I have no idea why your machine is failing to do the same. Norton possibly....?

Have you by any chance run TuneUp 1 Click Maintenance recently, manually or by schedule? This does tend to throw in the odd hiccup. The software does have a Rescue Center which is worth investigation.

EDIT: You could also try a Windows system restore back to a date that you are sure that all was OK....

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:32:47 GMT

Hello Rich,

It's intersting that your machine rebuilds the icon cache while mine refuses.

I have 3 files (Administrator, Default User and 'my name', all of which have their own icon cache - none of them rebuilds when 'deleted'. The only difference between these 3 cache's is that both the Administrator and Default user files are 5738 KB while 'My Nmae' file is only 5008 KB.

I have tried both System Restore and TuneUp Utilities restore to no no avail.

Kind regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:25:24 GMT

Hi Gyron,

I am stumped at the moment, but I will do some research and get back to you...

The current forum problems don’t help as it has taken 5 minutes to open this thread!

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:43:13 GMT

Hi Gyron,

Have a look at this link:

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/repair-icons-windows-xp-using-tweak-ui/

I have no experience with this software but it looks hopeful...

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:14:30 GMT

Hello Rich,

Yes I had trouble getting back to you as well.

When reading your link it suggested that I save my desktop format/layout via the link provided.

At this new link the instructions read;

'Installing the Layout.dll shell extension

To add the shell extension, download layout.zip and save it to a folder.
Unzip the archive and extract the files to your Desktop.
Move the file LAYOUT.DLL to the Windows\System32 folder.
Right-click LAYOUT.REG and choose Merge. Click Yes when asked for confirmation.'

I am not sure of the instructions provided and would appreciate a bit of help please. I saved the zip file to 'my documents' as suggested, but what do they mean 'extract files to your desktop'? Do they mean move or copy zip file to the desktop and open it there?

Also when saving the LAYOUT.DLL to Windows\System32 folder I cannot find a LAYOUT.REG file in System32. Where do you think it is.

Sorry to be a pain!!

Kind regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:59:50 GMT

Hi Gyron,

The procedure you are querying is only necessary if you wish to retain the positions of the icons on your desktop. If you only have a few of them then this is possibly irrelevant as you can always reposition after running the application.

However, in answer to your questions:

Do they mean move or copy zip file to the desktop and open it there?

Right click layout .zip and select ‘Extract files...’ For the location choose ‘Desktop’. This will extract the files in the Zip (archive) file to your Desktop.

You should then see three files – LAYOUT.DLL, LAYOUT.REG and Uninstall.REG.

Either cut or copy and paste the LAYOUT.DLL to the Windows\System32 folder .

Then back to the LAYOUT.REG file (on your desktop) - Right-click LAYOUT.REG and choose Merge. Click Yes when asked for confirmation.

Quite honestly this is a bit over the top, unless of course you desperately need to retain desktop icon positions.

Prior to doing any of the above I suggest that you create a system restore point.

I hope that this helps.

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:26:15 GMT

Hello Rich,

Thank you for reply and lead.

Thank you also for the explanation, I must be a bit dim I am afraid!! Anyway, I agree that the 'Desktop Icon Layout Save' program is a bit OTT but tried it nevertheless - I could not get it to work after desktop icons got scrambled, obviously doing something wrong, never mind.

Re the primary link to repair icons, I ran this but I think it only applies to the desktop icons and mine are OK, it tried to do something but all it suceeded in doing was to scramble the desktop icons as warned! None of the others that have gone wrong have been repaired (icons in IE favorites list and icons in start>programs list) - hey ho!

What is annoying is that I can not get the icon cache to rebuild itself, I am pretty sure that would help. I will try and find some Microsoft link that might give some advice on this.

Thank you anyway for all your help Rich.

Kind regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:24:26 GMT

Hi Gyron,

Sorry to hear that the suggested link had no effect.

Just out of interest can you try repairing an individual icon?

If you right click one of the items in ‘Start –> All Programs' that has an incorrect icon, and then select properties, on the Shortcut tab you will see a ‘Change Icon' tab. Click this.

You may then be presented with alternative icons relevant to the application, but if not click ‘Browse’ and navigate to the location of the program (usually C:\Program Files\Application name), and select the .exe file that has the desired icon.

Select this and click ‘Open’.

You should then be returned to the Change Icon window with the correct icon highlighted. Click OK.

Does this correct the individual icon?

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:20:21 GMT

Hello again Rich,

I tried what you said Start>All Programs; firstly there is no Shortcut Tab as such but going to Properties>Customise there is a 'Change Icon' tab. When opened this gives a standard list of icons none of which apply to the application. However if you click 'Browse' then you open the System32 file. In this System32 file nearly all the apps are represented by an icon with a couple of gear cogs shown!

Sorry couldn't help more.

Does this tell you anything??

Kind regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:02:20 GMT

Hi Gyron,

Maybe we are talking at cross purposes but I have a feeling that you are clicking a folder rather than an executable program? Is it the folder icons that are the problem or individual program shortcut icons?

Assuming that it is the latter, as I know that you have TuneUp Utilities installed, - Click ‘Start’ -> ‘All Programs’ and then right click ‘TuneUp Utilities’ (the icon that would normally launch the program) and select ‘Properties’.

This will open a new window with three tabs, General, Shortcut and Compatibility. Click the Shortcut tab and then click ‘Change Icon’.

The dialogue box at the top, under ‘Look for icons in this file’, will show the current location of the icon which should be C:\ Program Files\TuneUp Utilities 2007\Intergrator.exe (may be slightly different if you have a more recent version).

If this program is not showing the correct icon then click the Browse button and navigate to the above location and click ‘Open’.

You should then be returned to the Change Icon window with the correct icon highlighted. Click OK.

If I have completely misinterpreted the problem then can you please post a screenshot for clarification?

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:04:41 GMT

Hello Rich,

You must be getting fed up with all this, so sorry but thank you.

OK, I don't know whether we are talking at cross purposes, but I hope not.

Following your example regarding TuneUp Utilities (as it happens, that particular example is one of the very few showing the correct icon). Nevertheless it is exactly as you say, Start>Programs>TuneUp Utilities>right click>properties>shortcut cut tab>Change icon, the box shows only one icon the correct one and that being shown. The 'Browse'address is, as you say, TuneUp Utilities 2010\Integrator.exe . Just out of interest, clicking the Browse button opens 'My Documents' page of folders.

Now, I have another 'TuneUp Utilities' icon further up the list of programs (showing the incorrect icon), but this one has an arrow pointing to the side with three options - one saying 'All Functions' with incorrect icon, the second 'TuneUp Utilities' with correct icon, the third showing 'TuneUp Utilities Help' with correct icon. If I right click on the 'TuneUp Utilities' in the main program list I am presented with a page with three tabs, General, Sharing, Customise. It is only in 'Customise' that the 'change icon' option appears. If I click this I am presented with a large selection of icons none of which is correct. The 'Browse' window shows the address 'TuneUp Utilities%\System32\SHELL 32.dll.

The situation I have described in the above paragraph is exactly the same for all programs with side arrows (the majority).

Those (few) programs showing the correct icon do not have side arrows!

I hope the above makes sense. If you do need a screen shot of anything please advise further.

Out of interest, the above does not apply to the IE Favorites list, the vast majority of which only show the 'e' icon.

Kindest regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:06:55 GMT

Hi Gyron,

No, I am not getting fed up with this – I love a challenge

You refer to icons that have arrows pointing to the side (right pointing?) that open executable programs within that folder. Does ‘All Functions’ (I have a feeling that this is ‘Utilities’ in earlier versions of this application) have a further right pointing arrow that opens executable programs? Do these (executable) links have the correct icon?

I have included a screenshot of how it should appear, if this is not what you are seeing on your machine then please post a screenshot?

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:58:10 GMT

Hello Rich,

Thank you for that, still feel as though I am being a bit of a pain!

Anyway;

You refer to icons that have arrows pointing to the side (right pointing?) that open executable programs within that folder. Does ‘All Functions’ (I have a feeling that this is ‘Utilities’ in earlier versions of this application) have a further right pointing arrow that opens executable programs? Do these (executable) links have the correct icon?

Yes, exactly as your screen shot shows, and all the other programs in the list where such a second right pointing arrow applies.

Must ask TuneUp why (and should) I have 2 such TuneUp 'Programs' in the list. As I said earlier, the second 'Program' has the correct icon and no right pointing arrow!

Thanks again,

Kind regards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

Thalamus. — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:17:13 GMT

I have 2 such TuneUp 'Programs' in the list. As I said earlier, the second 'Program' has the correct icon and no right pointing arrow!

Hi Gyron,

would it be possible for you upload an screen shot please.?

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

gyron1 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:27:39 GMT

Hello Thalamus,

Of what exactly please, thanks

Kind regaards,

Gyron

Re: Program and Favorite list icons problem

rich912 — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:32:34 GMT

Hi Gyron,

Must ask TuneUp why (and should) I have 2 such TuneUp 'Programs' in the list. As I said earlier, the second 'Program' has the correct icon and no right pointing arrow!

You have one folder (containing further links) and one individual icon (link) that launches the main application.

Icons that have a right pointing arrow are folders containing further links. These folders have a generic folder icon (as in the screenshot), not an identifiable program icon as with executable links.

Some programs, when installed, place both a folder and a single executable link in the ‘Start’ menu to launch the main application – this is the case with TuneUp Utilities.

It may help if you arrange your Start Menu programs alphabetically – with this layout folders are listed first and then individual program icons (both alphabetically).

To rearrange your start menu alphabetically, right click any folder or program icon in the start -> All Programs menu and select ‘Sort by Name’.

I hope that this helps.