Suddenly all my desktop icons display as a generic icon.

[Jackson]

Using XP(CME) sp2

I opened up a dos checker game which I have run before and it locked
up. I rebooted and all my icons have suddenly become generic. I shut
down and rebooted two more times but the usual desktop icons seem to
be gone.

I don't particularly care what the icons look like, but something has
to be out of kilter when they all go generic.

Any ideas? I have never used system restore, would this be a good
time to try it.

The dos checker game runs great on my laptop XPHE, but has always been
iffy on my desktop (XPCME), maybe because it has a 64 bit CPU. It
frequently hangs up but this is the first time the icons have gone
native. I'm guessing that there is a cause and effect here.

Any ideas appreciated.

 

[Richard Jones]

Using XP(CME) sp2

I opened up a dos checker game which I have run before and it locked
up. I rebooted and all my icons have suddenly become generic. I shut
down and rebooted two more times but the usual desktop icons seem to
be gone.

Download and install a copy of MS Powertoys (tweakui)
Run it (it's a new control panel item), choose the Repair tab and do a
'Rebuild Icons Repair now'.
Should sort your problems without a system restore.

 

[Jackson]

Download and install a copy of MS Powertoys (tweakui)
Run it (it's a new control panel item), choose the Repair tab and do a
'Rebuild Icons Repair now'.
Should sort your problems without a system restore.

Thanks. Which version do I need? I have a dell 64-bit with XP (CME)
and sp2. I found downloads for ver 1.33 and 2.10.00. Also something
about a download for an Itanium based system (whatever that is - I'm
assuming I don't have that).

I have downloaded 2.10 but will hold off installing and running until
you agree that's the right one.

Thanks Richard

 

[Richard Jones]

Thanks. Which version do I need? I have a dell 64-bit with XP (CME)
and sp2. I found downloads for ver 1.33 and 2.10.00. Also something
about a download for an Itanium based system (whatever that is - I'm
assuming I don't have that).

I have downloaded 2.10 but will hold off installing and running until
you agree that's the right one.

Thanks Richard

I have the 2.10 version and worked okay for me on XP. Not a 64bit version
though. I'm sure you'll be fine.

 

[Jackson]

I have the 2.10 version and worked okay for me on XP. Not a 64bit version
though. I'm sure you'll be fine.

It seems to be installed okay. I haven't run it yet. I was surprised
when it put a Tweakui icon on the desktop. I thought it made an entry
in the control panel.

As strange as it seems all my original icons came back on their own.
They seem to have a life of their own. What's really weird is that
the FireFox icon at rare times appears fuzzy, like it has lost focus
or something. But lately I have not seen that fuzzy icon on the
desktop, but it did show up in miniature form in the task bar.