Windows 7: Recycle Bin Image gone but functional

On my desktop, the IMAGE for the recycle bin has disappeared! The text for the icon is showing as normal and I can drag items to the space above the words "Recycle Bin" and then right-click that space to empty it, but no image of it.



So I decided to create a shortcut to the recycle bin on my desktop (through 'create shortcut' button). The icon then appeared BUT only on the shortcut, not the orginal.

Hello Janice, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if either restoring the default Recycle Bin icon, or changing the Recycle Bin icon to another icon and restoring the default icon afterwards may toggle it and have the icon display again.

Desktop Icons - Change or Restore Default Icon

Hope this helps,
Shawn

That worked! Thank you!!

ACTUALLY I spoke too soon. I was able to get the icon on the desktop but when I drag something in it, it disappears again. So I emptied it but it doe not reappear.

Also, why are there two recycle bins to choose from Recycle Bin (empty) and Recycle Bin (full)?

Go here: Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Personalization and on the left side there is "Change Desktop Icon". Try to fix it there.

I tried to change it that way, and the same thing happened.

Well, we're almost there then.


The Recycle Bin uses two icons. One icon for when it's full, and another icon for when it's empty. Try changing the icon for both of these to another icon, apply, then restore the default icon for both of them to see if it may help.

If not, then rebuild the icon cache to see if it may.

Can you explain further what you want me to do and how to do it? I don't understand what to do....

It's the same as you did above in the tutorial below, but just change the icons for both Recycle Bins (Empty & Full), apply the change, then restore them back to default. That's all.

Desktop Icons - Change or Restore Default Icon

Thanks. I changed the Full one to a padlock and the empty one to a flower. Since it is empty, the flower appeared on the desk top. Then I dragged something into it hoping to see the padlock but no luck...or I should say no icon. Then I set the default and the regular 'empty' recycle bin appeared. I dragged something into it and the icon disappeared again (rather than show the full recyle bin). I went ahead and emptied it hoping to at least see the empty icon but it stayed the same...no icon.