Desktop icons are frozen as IE icon

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Guest

I am using Windows XP and IE 7. I have installed several programs on a new
computer. Each application shortcut appears with the IE icon. How can I
get the icons to change to their normal icon? I have done the right click,
Properties, Change icon, selected any available icon, and clicked apply. I
see the IE icon blink, but remains. Thanks for some response.
 
Hi,
First...
Try the procedure in this MSKB article to reset the icon cache:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=926715

Next...
Try creating a new shortcut. Find the executable (probably in C:\Program
Files\name of program, etc) Right-click, drag to desktop, choose "Create
shortcut."

Next...
An antimalware/antispyware program may blocking the change.
Some of these programs are:
Spybot (Advanced Mode) Tools> IE Tweaks
Spybot- Teatimer
Ad-aware Pro
Norton AV 2006 (Web Browsing > Spyware protection)
McAfee AV or Antispyware
Spyware Blaster
Spysweeper
Zone Alarm- free and pro.

See if you can change the icon from a Safe Mode startup.
315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]
 
Thanks Don. I tried the MSKB article suggestions. But the icons did not
change. I tried to create a new shortcut, but even the ico file in the
program folder shows as an IE icon--not the circle e, but the icon with the
red and blue that look like a skyline. On the desktop the program icons are
all the big IE 7 e. However, if I look in Windows Explorer, the desktop
shortcuts are the correct true ones. I have changed the screen resolution
several times and the font size to extra large, but that doesn't seem to make
any difference. It is not a BIG thing, but it is irritating. Thanks for
your thoughts. Mary

Don Varnau said:
Hi,
First...
Try the procedure in this MSKB article to reset the icon cache:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=926715

Next...
Try creating a new shortcut. Find the executable (probably in C:\Program
Files\name of program, etc) Right-click, drag to desktop, choose "Create
shortcut."

Next...
An antimalware/antispyware program may blocking the change.
Some of these programs are:
Spybot (Advanced Mode) Tools> IE Tweaks
Spybot- Teatimer
Ad-aware Pro
Norton AV 2006 (Web Browsing > Spyware protection)
McAfee AV or Antispyware
Spyware Blaster
Spysweeper
Zone Alarm- free and pro.

See if you can change the icon from a Safe Mode startup.
315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Mary A Walthall said:
I am using Windows XP and IE 7. I have installed several programs on a new
computer. Each application shortcut appears with the IE icon. How can I
get the icons to change to their normal icon? I have done the right click,
Properties, Change icon, selected any available icon, and clicked apply. I
see the IE icon blink, but remains. Thanks for some response.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi Mary
You could try downloading TweakUI and use the Icon Repair facility.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Regards
Bill


Mary A Walthall said:
Thanks Don. I tried the MSKB article suggestions. But the icons did not
change. I tried to create a new shortcut, but even the ico file in the
program folder shows as an IE icon--not the circle e, but the icon with
the
red and blue that look like a skyline. On the desktop the program icons
are
all the big IE 7 e. However, if I look in Windows Explorer, the desktop
shortcuts are the correct true ones. I have changed the screen
resolution
several times and the font size to extra large, but that doesn't seem to
make
any difference. It is not a BIG thing, but it is irritating. Thanks for
your thoughts. Mary

Don Varnau said:
Hi,
First...
Try the procedure in this MSKB article to reset the icon cache:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=926715

Next...
Try creating a new shortcut. Find the executable (probably in C:\Program
Files\name of program, etc) Right-click, drag to desktop, choose "Create
shortcut."

Next...
An antimalware/antispyware program may blocking the change.
Some of these programs are:
Spybot (Advanced Mode) Tools> IE Tweaks
Spybot- Teatimer
Ad-aware Pro
Norton AV 2006 (Web Browsing > Spyware protection)
McAfee AV or Antispyware
Spyware Blaster
Spysweeper
Zone Alarm- free and pro.

See if you can change the icon from a Safe Mode startup.
315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

message
I am using Windows XP and IE 7. I have installed several programs on a new
computer. Each application shortcut appears with the IE icon. How
can I
get the icons to change to their normal icon? I have done the right click,
Properties, Change icon, selected any available icon, and clicked
apply. I
see the IE icon blink, but remains. Thanks for some response.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks, Bill. I used TweakUI and the Icon Repair utility causes the correct
icons to display for possibly 5 seconds. Then they all immediately flip back
to the IE7 big e. Any further thoughts? Could screen resolution or screen
settings have any effect on icon display? Mary

Bill P said:
Hi Mary
You could try downloading TweakUI and use the Icon Repair facility.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Regards
Bill


Mary A Walthall said:
Thanks Don. I tried the MSKB article suggestions. But the icons did not
change. I tried to create a new shortcut, but even the ico file in the
program folder shows as an IE icon--not the circle e, but the icon with
the
red and blue that look like a skyline. On the desktop the program icons
are
all the big IE 7 e. However, if I look in Windows Explorer, the desktop
shortcuts are the correct true ones. I have changed the screen
resolution
several times and the font size to extra large, but that doesn't seem to
make
any difference. It is not a BIG thing, but it is irritating. Thanks for
your thoughts. Mary

Don Varnau said:
Hi,
First...
Try the procedure in this MSKB article to reset the icon cache:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=926715

Next...
Try creating a new shortcut. Find the executable (probably in C:\Program
Files\name of program, etc) Right-click, drag to desktop, choose "Create
shortcut."

Next...
An antimalware/antispyware program may blocking the change.
Some of these programs are:
Spybot (Advanced Mode) Tools> IE Tweaks
Spybot- Teatimer
Ad-aware Pro
Norton AV 2006 (Web Browsing > Spyware protection)
McAfee AV or Antispyware
Spyware Blaster
Spysweeper
Zone Alarm- free and pro.

See if you can change the icon from a Safe Mode startup.
315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

message
I am using Windows XP and IE 7. I have installed several programs on a
new
computer. Each application shortcut appears with the IE icon. How
can I
get the icons to change to their normal icon? I have done the right
click,
Properties, Change icon, selected any available icon, and clicked
apply.
I
see the IE icon blink, but remains. Thanks for some response.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Hi,
IE7 has caused some icon weirdness if large icons were selected. Check that
at Display Properties> Appearance> Effects> Use large icons.

Did you try this?
See if you can change the icon from a Safe Mode startup.
315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Don
[MS MVP- IE]
 
Yeah for you, Don!!!! That was it! As soon as I read your response, I knew
you were correct. I did change to "large icons." That explains why the
tech's icons were showing correctly and mine were not! Thank you so much for
your thought and time. Mary

Don Varnau said:
Hi,
IE7 has caused some icon weirdness if large icons were selected. Check that
at Display Properties> Appearance> Effects> Use large icons.

Did you try this?
See if you can change the icon from a Safe Mode startup.
315222 - A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=315222

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Mary A Walthall said:
Thanks, Bill. I used TweakUI and the Icon Repair utility causes the correct
icons to display for possibly 5 seconds. Then they all immediately flip back
to the IE7 big e. Any further thoughts? Could screen resolution or screen
settings have any effect on icon display? Mary
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You're welcome. Glad we got it resolved.

Don

Mary A Walthall said:
Yeah for you, Don!!!! That was it! As soon as I read your response, I knew
you were correct. I did change to "large icons." That explains why the
tech's icons were showing correctly and mine were not! Thank you so much for
your thought and time. Mary
Click to expand...
 
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