Quick Launch icons disappearing

  • Thread starter Thread starter Not4U2Know
  • Start date Start date
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Not4U2Know

Lately, I've noticed two weird things regarding my Quick Launch toolbar. I'm
using XP Pro SP3.

1. Sometimes the icons are visible but clicking on them produces no action.
I have to go to the Start>Programs menu and launch the program from there.
Rebooting solves that problem.

2. Most annoying problem now: icons completely disappear from Quick Launch.
Hovering over the Quick Launch bar, however, shows the shadow of an icon and
a tooltip stating what it's for but clicking on it does nothing. This is
quite annoying. Again, a restart of my computer fixes this too.

Are these known issues, and if so, how can I fix them, please?
 
Hi,

Suggestions: Go to: Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Show Hidden
File and Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

Delete Icon Cache. It is located here:

IconCache.db
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data

To clear and reset icon cache:

Right click the Desktop/Properties/Appearance/Advanced. Use the item
drop box and choose Icon. Change the pixel number by one. Ok your way
out.

Increase Icon Cache (Line 121)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Correct/Repair the Icon View (Line 4)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Prevent Auto Folder/Icon Refresh (Line 157)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Tip:

Add Icon Cache Size to Folder Options/View (Line 166)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Other options would be: Note: Do not reboot or logoff. Right click the
Notification Area/Task Manager/Processes. Highlight Explorer.exe, End
Process.

Leave the Task Manager open. Once the process has ended, choose File/New
Task and type in: Explorer.exe.

Restore Taskbar and Desktop to Default Functionality (Line 164)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner
 
Kelly said:
Hi,

Suggestions: Go to: Windows Explorer/Tools/Folder Options/View/Show Hidden
File and Uncheck Hide Protected Operating System Files.

Delete Icon Cache. It is located here:

IconCache.db
C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data

To clear and reset icon cache:

Right click the Desktop/Properties/Appearance/Advanced. Use the item
drop box and choose Icon. Change the pixel number by one. Ok your way
out.

Increase Icon Cache (Line 121)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Correct/Repair the Icon View (Line 4)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Prevent Auto Folder/Icon Refresh (Line 157)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Tip:

Add Icon Cache Size to Folder Options/View (Line 166)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Other options would be: Note: Do not reboot or logoff. Right click the
Notification Area/Task Manager/Processes. Highlight Explorer.exe, End
Process.

Leave the Task Manager open. Once the process has ended, choose File/New
Task and type in: Explorer.exe.

Restore Taskbar and Desktop to Default Functionality (Line 164)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner
Click to expand...

Thanks, Kelly, that's an awesome reply.

However, there's no iconcache.db file at that location, I've checked and
double-checked, all files/system folders are unhidden, and I did a search as
well, using all subfolders, system files, hidden files, no results. Is there
a mistake in the path, perhaps, or a different name? If the file doesn't
exist, could that be part of the problem?

Increasing the pixel size (from 32 to 33, in my case) did not resolve
anything either.

So I'll check out kellys-korner-xp.com and try those over the long
(Canadian) weekend and will let you know. As I mentioned earlier, restarting
my system always resolves the issue, but obviously that is not a good
solution.

Many thanks. Film at 11. :)
 
Further update, Kelly:

After attempting those changes, I got a fatal error in Explorer, which
effectly shut down my entire taskbar (including Start button, Quick Launch,
and System Tray), removed my wallpaper, reorganized my desktop icons all to
the left hand side, and crashed my computer. :(
 
Additional new problem:

I had to reboot, and after rebooting, it appears that the wallpaper .jpg
that I was using has now been corrupted, and can no longer be used, even
though it appears as one of the files available in
Properties>Desktop>Background.

In addition, the files in that drop-down are coming not from C:\WINDOWS
where they should be (the .bmp files), but from another directory on my
computer that has other pictures in it.

How can I remedy this, now?
 
Not4U2Know said:
Lately, I've noticed two weird things regarding my Quick Launch toolbar. I'm
using XP Pro SP3.

1. Sometimes the icons are visible but clicking on them produces no action.
I have to go to the Start>Programs menu and launch the program from there.
Rebooting solves that problem.

2. Most annoying problem now: icons completely disappear from Quick Launch.
Hovering over the Quick Launch bar, however, shows the shadow of an icon and
a tooltip stating what it's for but clicking on it does nothing. This is
quite annoying. Again, a restart of my computer fixes this too.

Are these known issues, and if so, how can I fix them, please?
Click to expand...

That reads like a problem with the QL toolbar (folder), not with the
icons. Also try these:

-1- Try the LNK Association fix here:

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

-2- Line164. Restore Taskbar to Default Functionality
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

-3- Try some of the fixes in this program:

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
 
Hi, I have exactly the same problem on an XP Pro SP3 machine too.
Have you had any success with solving the problem ? So far the
solutions mentioned above haven't managed to solve mine.
 
The only solution I've found is to deactivate the quick launch bar and
install the Free Launch Bar instead.
The free launch bar uses the links in the quick launch directory,
since I did this I've had no problems at all
 
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