Folders on desktop not showing what's inside

Depending on what type of changes you may have made, you might try running a sfc /scannow command first to undo and fix any changes made to system files.

If this doesn't help, and it hasn't been to long ago, you might consider doing a system restore using a restore point dated before you had this issue.

I must admit that I'm at a loss as well.

I remember such a situation when, for some reason, windows explorer, had problems getting enough priority and/or memory for it to function correctly. If I remember correctly, all icons started out simple, default and after more than 30 minutes, the normal icons came on one by one, wih mem usage very high but not 100%. I'll look through my logs to see if i can find it...

bru said:

Thanks MvdB but that's not really what is happening in my situation.

The folders show the preview just fine and with no delays but then they might disappear. But not every one. I've kind of traced it to when there is some activity within the folder. For instance I might open the folder and click on something inside and then the preview will disappear. But only for that folder. All other folders will show the preview fine including folders elsewhere (not just the desktop).

If I had to sum it up I'd say the function to show previews in folders is working but for whatever reason it gets disabled in the desktop folders typically after some activity with the folder.

Have you tried a forced resetting of the icon cache....

Icon Cache - Rebuild

3. Reset Desktop icon cache
===================
a. Click Start, and open Computer.
b. On the Tool bar, click Organize and choose Folder and Search Options.
c. Click the View tab, and check to select the Show hidden files and folders option, and click OK.
d. Then, enter the following directory:
*
C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Local
*
e. Find the IconCache.db file, and rename it as IconCache.db.old.
f. Close the window, and restart the computer.
*

MvdB said:

Have you tried a forced resetting of the icon cache....

Icon Cache - Rebuild

3. Reset Desktop icon cache
===================
a. Click Start, and open Computer.
b. On the Tool bar, click Organize and choose Folder and Search Options.
c. Click the View tab, and check to select the Show hidden files and folders option, and click OK.
d. Then, enter the following directory:
*
C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Local
*
e. Find the IconCache.db file, and rename it as IconCache.db.old.
f. Close the window, and restart the computer.
*

Would this just address the "built in" desktop icons such as computer, control panel, recycle bin etc.?

I created the folder icons I am having trouble with.

Looking for options I ran Disk Cleanup. I see 71MB in Thumbnails available to be deleted. What will this do? Will it potentially mess things up further?

edit: It just happened again and this time I had not touched the folder. I had enabled "show hidden, files, folders and drives" and did what I needed and then hid them again. But since I was in folder options it must have had some effect. I'd say it was a gremlin but with computers I'm pretty sure there is always a cause.

edit2: OK more info for anyone who can even follow this thread anymore . When I again went to "folder and search options" in Computer and enabled "show hidden..." the preview for my desktop folder called Computer Maintenance disappeared. But only that folder lost its previews. When I switched to "don't show hidden..." the preview DID NOT come back.

Decided to create a new folder on the desktop. Moved the contents from Computer Maintenance into it and it DID NOT show the preview. So is it related to the contents? No because if I create a new desktop folder and put anything in it it does not show the preview UNTIL I do what I have done with the other dekstop folders. Go to Explorer, select Desktop, right click the folder and then restore the default icon. I then have to go to the desktop, select the same folder and restore the default icon. And even stranger if I remove the contents it still shows a preview. Any clues in this rambling post?

did you try the task in the quotes , the rebuild? If yes... then I'm going to have to do some more research. Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this... some issues just take some time...