Desktop Icons not displaying correctly.

Question

Most of the icons on my desktop are not displaying.  Quick Tunes, Control Panel and a few others display but the rest all the generic shortcut display panel.   All happened after a backup to a free standing hard drive that generated an unusual 'not enough memory' error.   Thanks for any help.   djp

Answer 1

Hello,

1. Open Windows Explorer (any folder/drive).

2. As the IconCache is a hidden file, you need to enable “Show hidden files” option to see the same. To do this, head over toTools > Folder Options, switch to View tab, and finally enableShow Hidden files, folders, and drives option.

3. Now navigate to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local folder and then delete IconCache.db file. Here username is your user profile name.

4. Reboot your computer to rebuild the icon cache.

5. All icons should be displayed correct now.

In addition, Below are some steps that you are able to proceed with in efforts to obtaining a resolution for this issue that you are experiencing.  I hope this information proves beneficial in obtaining resolution for your inquiry.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/132668

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2396571

In addition, create an alternate user account and verify if you are experiencing the Icon issue under another user account. 

-Scan your computer for Viral/Malicious content using several scanshttp://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

-Load into Safe Mode and verify if the Icons are still corrupted and not populating successfully.

If you would please follow up at your convenience, I would greatly appreicate it.

Thank you,

---

Aaron

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

Answer 2

had the same issue with icon office 2013, deleting cache icon didn't wok, adding keys to registry either. And it was not a file association problem (since clicking on the weird icon launch the software with the right icon)

You get that problem if you (or ccleaner...) deleted some weird files in C:\Windows\Installer (hidden file)

If you don't find on C:\Windows\Installer a bunch of files between bracket, and  in one of them containing the wordicon.exe don't look further that's your problem.

• find in a friend computer in C:\Windows\Installer the folder containing  wordicon.exe
• copy it folder (with all  other icon on it). (the folder name will look like {90150000-0011-0000-1000-0000000FF1CE} 

copy it into your computer in C:\Windows\Installer

• run task manager, terminate the process explorer.exe
• in task manager/ click on "new task" write explorer.exe
• click ok

Answer 3

Hello,

1. Open Windows Explorer (any folder/drive).

2. As the IconCache is a hidden file, you need to enable “Show hidden files” option to see the same. To do this, head over toTools > Folder Options, switch to View tab, and finally enableShow Hidden files, folders, and drives option.

3. Now navigate to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local folder and then delete IconCache.db file. Here username is your user profile name.

4. Reboot your computer to rebuild the icon cache.

5. All icons should be displayed correct now.

In addition, Below are some steps that you are able to proceed with in efforts to obtaining a resolution for this issue that you are experiencing.  I hope this information proves beneficial in obtaining resolution for your inquiry.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/132668

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2396571

In addition, create an alternate user account and verify if you are experiencing the Icon issue under another user account. 

-Scan your computer for Viral/Malicious content using several scanshttp://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htm

-Load into Safe Mode and verify if the Icons are still corrupted and not populating successfully.

If you would please follow up at your convenience, I would greatly appreicate it.

Thank you,

---

Aaron

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think

This has worked for me. Thanks