ShelllconCache not defragmented

[Dean]

I ran the Defrag utility on my Windows 2000 Professional
environment, and I notice that the log indicates that a
file called \WINNT\ShelllconCache did not defragment. It
has 17 fragments with a size of 1,250KB. What is this
file? Can I just delete it?

 

[BT]

This is your icon cache and will be recreated by Windows if you delete it.

 

[Carrie Garth \(MVP\)]

Hi Dean,

The ShellIconCache contains a copy of the icons for desktop objects. And according
to the following Microsoft Knowledge Base Article the ShellIconCache file is
permanently excluded from being defragmented. For more information see the following
Microsoft Knowledge Base Article:

KB227350 - Files Excluded by the Disk Defragmenter Tool
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=227350

The file can be deleted, and will be recreated. I am not sure you will gain anything
by doing this and then running the defragmenter. See the following Microsoft
Knowledge Base Article for detailed instructions on how to delete the file.

KB216165 - Changes to Desktop Objects Are Not Displayed Properly
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=216165

For more information on effectively using the Disk Defragmenter tool in Windows 2000,
troubleshooting, and links to additional information see the following Microsoft
Knowledge Base Article:

KB318759 - HOW TO: Use the Disk Defragmenter Tool in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=318759

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

The built-in defragmenter has this file permanently exluded from being
defragmented. At one time, it was thought that defragmenting this file
caused problems. Turns out that the problem wasn't with defragmenting this
file but with Active Desktop. 3rd party defragmenters will defragment this
file but the built-in defragmenter still has it hard coded to exclude.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Disclaimer: I work for Raxco Software, the maker of PerfectDisk - a
commercial defrag utility, as a systems engineer in the support department.