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Windows 7 problem with icons, taskbar and Start Orb

Anonymous
2011-07-24T18:23:55+00:00

After the last update on Windows 7 the default set of icons seem to be corrupted and no longer appear anywhere on the computer [just icon names show], the Start Orb doesn't respond when clicked and the Taskbar has the spaces where the icon shortcuts would be and is clickable, but it appears empty because it simply doesn't show the pictures anymore. And when I tried to change the icon on an individual folder on the desktop, explorer.exe "stopped working" then restarts itself but still shows no icons.

I already tried restarting explorer.exe from the task manager. I already tried sfc /scannow to fix the iconcache. I tried booting in safe mode and restarting. Nothing works. I even tried restored it to an earlier point in time but it doesn't help.

And I'm not sure about trying to reinstall Windows 7 because I originally had Vista but got Windows 7 from an upgrade disc that came with the purchase of the laptop.

The most likely culprit might a program that changed the theme of Windows 7. After I uninstalled it, only some of the things it changed were gone. Things like the icons and the logon screen were still there. Now the icons are gone but the logon screen still shows as that one.

I can work my way around a computer, but this is over my head.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. @CmdrKeene 90,626 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-07-27T14:26:57+00:00

    What kind of computer and model is it?  I'll see if I can help ya out.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-27T04:51:04+00:00

    It had no date that was available far enough. And I've actually tried to do a System Restore before, and it removed files that were made after the date, but the icons still had the same problem. I was hoping to find the recovery built in, to restore it to factory settings, but I wasn't able to find the key at boot up yet.

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  3. @CmdrKeene 90,626 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-07-27T03:04:27+00:00

    Most newer laptops have the recovery built in, by pressing F11, F12, Delete, or another key at boot up.  But they all do it differently so I can't say for sure.

    When you tried System Restore instead, did it fail or was there just no date available that was far enough back?

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-07-27T01:45:24+00:00

    I'm not sure that it's allowing me to do that. When I try to use the recovery options within the laptop [pressing F8 before the splash screen] It doesn't recognize it as the right CD. Haha, this is pretty frustrating.

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  5. @CmdrKeene 90,626 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-07-24T18:47:58+00:00

    It sounds like you've taken some great troubleshooting steps.  It sounds like your assumption about the theme program may be likely.  With the SFC failing, I'd recommend a repair install.  You should be able to boot to the upgrade CD you received and then reinstall Windows (on top of itself).  It won't lose any of your data as long as you don't choose to erase the disk, but you should probably back up files you must have before you begin just to be safe.

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