WordPad got a new icon, and I don't like it

After an express install/uninstall of the Eraser program, WordPad began acting out.

Its association by default with .rtf files was partially broken. I would save a WordPad document in .rtf (as usual), and it would appear with Word's icon instead of WordPad's icon. It would also open under Word. However, .rtf docs previously created with WordPad would continue to open under WordPad. But, their icons had been replaced with a new type of text icon I've never seen before.

I checked the file associations under Control Panel, and, sure enough, .rtf files were associated to Word (I don't know how this changed). I reverted them back to WordPad, and now .rtf docs open again under WordPad. But their Properties box has both icons :



I fixed the file association in both of my user accounts, since I understand this is account-specific. I tried a tool published by Brink (I think) to reset the icon database (I can't find it again), without result.

It's possible my switching users without logging off, while doing "something", might have contributed. In case it's relevant, strange things happened recently on my desktop : I would try to delete a shortcut, file or folder, it would stay there and I would get a message saying it can't be deleted because it's no more there. It would disappear after reboot.

Thanks !

Solved.

Thanks to a tiny piece of portable freeware named File Types Man by Nirsoft. Hinted at by Ho-to Geek. Who remarks, by the way :

In Windows XP, you could change the icon associated with a file type in Windows Explorer. In Windows 7, you have to do some registry hacking to change a file type’s icon.

• Download File Types Man.
• Unzip it wherever you like.
• Double-click FileTypesMan.exe.
• Edit / Find / <your file extension> (.rtf, in my case).
• Verify that the wrong icon is the one you see on the first column starting from left.
• Double-click the line pertaining to your file type (or right-click, Edit Selected File Type).
• Default Icon / Browse (the relevant button is labeled [...] instead of Browse).
• Select an Icon from the List below (in my case, the correct icon was there, but you can also Look for Icons in this File).
• OK, OK.
• View / Refresh.
• Verify that you now have the correct icon on the far-left column.
• Verify that you now have the correct icons on your computer.

That's it. Easy as pie. No need to reboot, even.
At least, that's how it worked for me.

Fantastic job, by the way, Microsoft : taking out of Windows 7 an elementary function such as this, needed to correct icon problems which seem to occur regularly ! So that a 7-year old piece of freeware developed by a lone, devoted individual is needed to correct your work.

And thank you, Nir Sofer (no sarcasm intended, this time).

Why, yes. Here is the Properties box of the same file I showed before, with the original (correct) WordPad icon in all three places :



By the way, I noticed that my post has been moved from the Installation & Setup section (I think) to the Software section. It seems to me that this is not a specific WordPad issue, so readers having similar icon problems might be tempted to search first in a more generic sub-forum. Just a suggestion... :)

Layback Bear said:

That appears to be a default icon.

Absolutely : that's what I was trying to do. Restore the default icon that some evil force had snatched away from me.

Layback Bear said:

I'm wondering if this tutorial would of servered your needs.
By Brink:
Desktop Icons - Change or Restore Default Icon

Thanks, but I understand this is limited to a few system icons belonging on the desktop. WordPad is not included, apparently.