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My earlier post Incorrect icon shown for a file type in Vista (March 31, 2008) tells you how to refresh the shell icons in Vista. In case the solution posted in that link does not help, you may want to clear the icon cache database. The icon cache can be cleared by deleting the hidden file named IconCache.db in the following location:
Note: %userprofile% represents the path to user profile folder.
Rebuilding the Icon Cache Database
1. Close all folder windows that are currently open.
2. Launch Task Manager using the CTRL+SHIFT+ESC key sequence, or by running taskmgr.exe.
3. In the Process tab, right-click on the Explorer.exe process and select End Process.
4. Click the End process button when asked for confirmation.
5. From the File menu of Task Manager, select New Task (Run…)
6. Type CMD.EXE, and click OK
7. In the Command Prompt window, type the commands one by one and press ENTER after each command:
CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local
DEL IconCache.db /a
EXIT
8. In Task Manager, click File, select New Task (Run…)
9. Type EXPLORER.EXE, and click OK.
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Following up on my earlier post: I was able to restore Acrobat’s icons by reinstalling (I chose Repair during the install since I had the latest version).
This method didn’t work for me, nor did this one: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/change-file-type-icon-windows-7-and-vista/
I had to use the File Type Doctor in Creative Element Power Tools (http://www.creativelement.com/powertools/) and reset each missing icon. The only one I couldn’t fix this way was Acrobat (I changed the icon, but it still doesn’t show up in Explorer). I’m going to try reinstalling it.
The problem in each case is that Windows was looking for a nonexistant icon file, like
C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{90110409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0150048383C9}\wordicon.exe
That file does not exist on my computer. I moved my apps from an old PC using Laplink, and maybe these installer files weren’t migrated, or maybe I deleted them thinking they were temporary files.
Thanks for the tip.
@Neocult
FYI the posted solution also “updated” the new icon that I had embedded in a new version of my application, on the taskbar in 7.
Thank you so much…I have been trying to fix this for 3 hours now!
Thank you!
This worked great!
Best regards,
Bob Cohn
I don’t know wheather it’s related or not. But is there an icon cache for the taskbar items too? I used an experimental firefox addon and since then my taskbar item is changed to an ugly one. Reinstallation of firefox did not fix the problem. So I think there is an icon cache in windows 7 for the taskbar too.
Maybe you know something about.
Very useful post. Clear and concise. Thank you!