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Incorrect icon shown for a file type in Vista

March 31st, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Recently I received a query wherein the user had incorrectly associated .zip file type with Adobe Reader. Later they got the association problem straightened out by running the .zip association fix from the File association fixes for Windows Vista page. The problem is that the .zip file type is still showing the Adobe Reader icon, although the association settings are correct.

FORCING A SHELL ICON REFRESH

Usually, the icon should be refreshed upon restarting the system. If that does not happen, you can force a shell icon refresh by performing a task that triggers the calling of SHChangeNotify API. For example, you can use the Default Programs applet and set Internet Explorer as your default browser, in order to refresh the shell icons. Follow these steps:

1. Click Start, Default Programs

2. Click Set your default programs

3. Select your web browser, email client or any other item in the list.

4. Click the Set this program as default button.

5. Click OK.

Check if the icon for .zip file type is fixed.

MORE INFORMATION

Whenever the file association settings are changed or new association is created via the registry or script, the system might not be aware of the change unless the SHChangeNotify API is called specifying the SHCNE_ASSOCCHANGED event, or until the system is restarted.

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There Are 2 Responses So Far. »

  1. Pingback by How to rebuild the icon cache in Windows Vista - The Winhelponline.com Blog on 8 April 2008:

    [...] 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 [...]

  2. Pingback by Change the default icon for unknown file types in Windows Vista - The Winhelponline Blog on 1 May 2008:

    [...] Tip: In case the icons don’t automatically refresh even after a reboot, you can force a shell icon refresh. [...]

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