Lost desktop icons for TXT PDF HTML

[bilm]

In both desktop and explorer detail view I now have the
default (unknown app) icon for text, pdf and html docs.
The file associations are still correct for each of
them. I have the correct icons for all other file
types.

How do I get these back?

TIA,

bilm

 

[John Wunderlich]

In both desktop and explorer detail view I now have the
default (unknown app) icon for text, pdf and html docs.
The file associations are still correct for each of
them. I have the correct icons for all other file
types.

How do I get these back?

TIA,

bilm

Sometimes this is caused by a corrupted Icon Cache. The cache is easy
to rebuild. Try the instructions here:

"Icons randomly change to different icons"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/132668>

HTH,
John

 

[bilm]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I tried them all but no joy.

I have no idea what the problem could be but if you
think of anything else let me know.

bilm

 

[Mike S]

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I tried them all but no joy.

I have no idea what the problem could be but if you
think of anything else let me know.

bilm

If you open the windows file explorer and right drag a text file to the
desktop, then select "create shortcuts here" from the context menu when
you drop it on the deskopt, what happens? Do you see anything?

 

[bilm]

When I do that, I see is a shadow-like copy of how it appears in
file explorer i.e. the
default windows icon (not icon from the associated app) along
with "shortcut to ...txt".
It drags to the desktop then I choose to create shortcut here and
let up on the right mouse button.
I then see on the desktop the (wrong) icon above the "shorcut to
.....txt".

bilm

 

[Tim Meddick]

Did you not try the .reg repair file, attached to my last post in this
thread?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[bilm]

Hi Tim,

Yes I merged it with my registry. Had to make a small change in
the path. It didn't fix the problem but I appreciate your effort.

It remains unsolved.

bilm

 

[Tim Meddick]

You rebooted ?

Plus, if the reg-file didn't work, you could always edit it using Notepad.

Open the file and check the path to [AcroRd32.dll] is correct (minding that
there are always two \\ backslashes separating the path folders in a [.reg]
file ).


Alternatively, why not just open :

"Control Panel" - "Folder Options" - "File Types" (tab)

....and scroll down to your two file-types (.pdf & .htm) and then clicking
on the "Advanced" button in each to edit them. Change their default icons
by clicking on the "Change Icon" button and browsing for -

(*.pdf) = AcroRd32.dll within folder :

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\%program version%\Reader\"

....where ; %program version% stands for the version of Acrobat you are
using (you'll see when you browse there).

(*.htm & *.html) = iexplore.exe within folder :

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\"

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[bilm]

I have finally got PDF & TXT files to display the right icons
but I haven't managed to fix the HTMLs yet.

I had to go through the registry by hand and make the changes.

The PDF entries (.PDF, Adobe Acrobat,AcroExch.Document,
application/pdf) had a non-existent path for the 'DefaultIcon'
fields. Once I corrected that, the icons came back.

The .txt/textfile entries were all using the default windows
notepad no matter what changes I made via
"Control Panel" - "Folder Options" - "File Types" (tab)
or
right click, properties, change 'Opens with'.
I have my own favorite plain text program so I changed all the
'DefaultIcon' fields accordingly and the correct icons came back.

I've done the same for .HTML,.HTM,htmlfile,HTML Document
but with no luck.

bilm

You rebooted ?

Plus, if the reg-file didn't work, you could always edit it
using Notepad.

Open the file and check the path to [AcroRd32.dll] is correct
(minding that there are always two \\ backslashes separating
the path folders in a [.reg] file ).


Alternatively, why not just open :

"Control Panel" - "Folder Options" - "File Types" (tab)

...and scroll down to your two file-types (.pdf & .htm) and
then clicking on the "Advanced" button in each to edit them.
Change their default icons by clicking on the "Change Icon"
button and browsing for -

(*.pdf) = AcroRd32.dll within folder :

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\%program version%\Reader\"

...where ; %program version% stands for the version of Acrobat
you are using (you'll see when you browse there).

(*.htm & *.html) = iexplore.exe within folder :

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\"

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

Hi Tim,

Yes I merged it with my registry. Had to make a small change
in
the path. It didn't fix the problem but I appreciate your
effort.

It remains unsolved.

bilm

 

[Tim Meddick]

If you are getting familiar with the inner workings of the registry (I was
way too shy to advise you to do so), then, with regards to the HTML icons -
I would open the [.reg] file I sent you, and analyse the settings needed to
rectify the [.htm] or [.html] files.

Because they are not as straightforward as [.pdf] and [.txt] files.

The icon for [.htm] files is not governed by just the "DefaultIcon" key
under :

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut]

....(which should be, strangely enough, set to: "%1" ) but also "Internet
Shortcut" files are governed by a key within the branch :

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\.........]

If you remember, Internet Shortcuts are sort of special, because although
they usually have a standard Internet Explorer "e" icon, they can also have
a "custom" icon given to it by the website they point to.

So, again, I would ask you to look inside the reg-file I provided, and
study the key-names in it.

As you found for yourself, in the end, it is probably a case of
incompletely quoted or plainly wrong icon paths that are to blame.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

I have finally got PDF & TXT files to display the right icons
but I haven't managed to fix the HTMLs yet.

I had to go through the registry by hand and make the changes.

The PDF entries (.PDF, Adobe Acrobat,AcroExch.Document,
application/pdf) had a non-existent path for the 'DefaultIcon'
fields. Once I corrected that, the icons came back.

The .txt/textfile entries were all using the default windows
notepad no matter what changes I made via
"Control Panel" - "Folder Options" - "File Types" (tab)
or
right click, properties, change 'Opens with'.
I have my own favorite plain text program so I changed all the
'DefaultIcon' fields accordingly and the correct icons came back.

I've done the same for .HTML,.HTM,htmlfile,HTML Document
but with no luck.

bilm

You rebooted ?

Plus, if the reg-file didn't work, you could always edit it
using Notepad.

Open the file and check the path to [AcroRd32.dll] is correct
(minding that there are always two \\ backslashes separating
the path folders in a [.reg] file ).


Alternatively, why not just open :

"Control Panel" - "Folder Options" - "File Types" (tab)

...and scroll down to your two file-types (.pdf & .htm) and
then clicking on the "Advanced" button in each to edit them.
Change their default icons by clicking on the "Change Icon"
button and browsing for -

(*.pdf) = AcroRd32.dll within folder :

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\%program version%\Reader\"

...where ; %program version% stands for the version of Acrobat
you are using (you'll see when you browse there).

(*.htm & *.html) = iexplore.exe within folder :

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\"

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

Hi Tim,

Yes I merged it with my registry. Had to make a small change
in
the path. It didn't fix the problem but I appreciate your
effort.

It remains unsolved.

bilm

Did you not try the .reg repair file, attached to my last
post
in this thread?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.




When I do that, I see is a shadow-like copy of how it
appears
in file explorer i.e. the
default windows icon (not icon from the associated app)
along
with "shortcut to ...txt".
It drags to the desktop then I choose to create shortcut
here
and let up on the right mouse button.
I then see on the desktop the (wrong) icon above the
"shorcut
to ....txt".

bilm


On 8/28/2010 5:16 PM, bilm wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I tried them all but no joy.

I have no idea what the problem could be but if you
think of anything else let me know.

bilm

If you open the windows file explorer and right drag a text
file to the desktop, then select "create shortcuts here"
from
the context menu when you drop it on the deskopt, what
happens? Do you see anything?