Renew Icons In 'ALL PROGRAMS" List

  • Thread starter Thread starter Danno
  • Start date Start date
D

Danno

Hello,

I have Windows XP Pro. When I click the 'start' button, the 'all programs'
button appears. When I click the 'all programs' button, the list appears.
On that list, the only programs that still have the proper icons are of
course any that are produced by Microsoft. All others have decayed back to
the same silly folder icon. Is there anyone out there who would know how to
get these icons renewed to the icon provided by the software provider?

Thanks for your help.

Danno
 
Delete IconCache.db

IconCache.db. Is a hidden file located in...

%homepath%\Local Settings\Application Data

After deleting IconCache.db, it will be automatically recreated.

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302347

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
Thanks Wes, but it did not seem to make any difference. I deleted the
IconCache.db folder, but the icons in the start menu were still degraded,
even after reboot. That was a big file too, 2.5 megs. So since deleting it
didn't make the improvement I expected, I restored the IconCache.db folder
back to where I found it (Local Settings\Application Data). Please note that
I did not see '%homepath%' anywhere in the path to this file. Is there
something I'm misunderstanding? It sure would be nice to see these icons
again, since they make it so much easier to spot the file I'm looking for.
I guess that's the whole idea of icons.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Danno


Wesley Vogel said:
Delete IconCache.db

IconCache.db. Is a hidden file located in...

%homepath%\Local Settings\Application Data

After deleting IconCache.db, it will be automatically recreated.

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302347

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Danno said:
Hello,

I have Windows XP Pro. When I click the 'start' button, the 'all
programs' button appears. When I click the 'all programs' button, the
list appears. On that list, the only programs that still have the proper
icons are of course any that are produced by Microsoft. All others have
decayed back to the same silly folder icon. Is there anyone out there
who would know how to get these icons renewed to the icon provided by the
software provider?

Thanks for your help.

Danno
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Danno,

%homepath% is the path to a user's home directory.

Paste:

%homepath%

into the Start | Run box, click OK and see what opens.

If your drive is C:
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
will open.

Pasting
%homepath%\Local Settings\Application Data
into Start | Run will open
C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name Here
if your drive is C:

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Danno said:
Thanks Wes, but it did not seem to make any difference. I deleted the
IconCache.db folder, but the icons in the start menu were still degraded,
even after reboot. That was a big file too, 2.5 megs. So since deleting
it didn't make the improvement I expected, I restored the IconCache.db
folder back to where I found it (Local Settings\Application Data). Please
note that I did not see '%homepath%' anywhere in the path to this file.
Is there something I'm misunderstanding? It sure would be nice to see
these icons again, since they make it so much easier to spot the file I'm
looking for. I guess that's the whole idea of icons.

Thanks for your suggestion.

Danno


Wesley Vogel said:
Delete IconCache.db

IconCache.db. Is a hidden file located in...

%homepath%\Local Settings\Application Data

After deleting IconCache.db, it will be automatically recreated.

HOW TO: Search For Hidden Or System Files In Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302347

To display Hidden files and folders...

Start | Settings | Control Panel | Folder Options | View tab
Check:
Display the contents of system folders
Show hidden files and folders
UNCheck:
Hide protected operating system files
Apply | OK

[[Hidden files and folders will appear dimmed to indicate they are not
typical items.]]


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Danno said:
Hello,

I have Windows XP Pro. When I click the 'start' button, the 'all
programs' button appears. When I click the 'all programs' button, the
list appears. On that list, the only programs that still have the proper
icons are of course any that are produced by Microsoft. All others have
decayed back to the same silly folder icon. Is there anyone out there
who would know how to get these icons renewed to the icon provided by
the software provider?

Thanks for your help.

Danno
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Danno said:
Hello,

I have Windows XP Pro. When I click the 'start' button, the 'all programs'
button appears. When I click the 'all programs' button, the list appears.
On that list, the only programs that still have the proper icons are of
course any that are produced by Microsoft. All others have decayed back to
the same silly folder icon. Is there anyone out there who would know how to
get these icons renewed to the icon provided by the software provider?

Thanks for your help.

Danno
Click to expand...

Hi Danno
You will notice that all the icons that are the Windows (Datafile type) are those where an arrow exists to the right of the heading.
Obviously when you click on that arrow a number of options comes up, which allow you to either open one or another application.
As an example, Google Earth has 4 options, one of which is Uninstall and another to open G E its self.
If you merely want to use the main (datafile type) icon just to open Google Earth then click the arrow to open the 4 options and then drag the G E exe icon over the main (data file type) icon. You will then see the G E icon displayed.
 
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