Microsoft Icons...?

Hey all,

Not sure if this is the place to post it, and if it's not I apologize, but I have an interesting issue that has popped up since my last round of Win7 updates.

This problem is in no way affecting any of my programs from working, but it is a bit unusual. Since my last bout of updates, it seems all the icons for many of my Microsoft programs have all reverted to the "default icon" icon...? This is for programs like Office, SharePoint Designer, my Microsoft Lifecam software, Powerpoint, etc. in my Start Menu, in My Computer, in Explorer....even the icons for file types associated with Microsoft programs have disappeared. If I double-click on a *.doc file, for example, it'll still open in MS Word no problem, but the icon is the default icon.

I haven't changed any of the file-type or icon settings anywhere. Any ideas what could've caused this or how to solve it...?

Screenies of what I'm talking about:

http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/5114/startmenu.png

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/8021/filesa.png

Thanks for any help! Oh, I should mention it's Win7 Ultimate on a Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz with 2gbs of RAM just to give you some context, not that any of that is really required for this, but to be on the safe side...

Just one of our excellent tutorials, edited by one of our Administrators, Brink, that may help you solve the problem. Depending on your particular circumstances, however, the answer may lie in alternative solutions. But I wish you the best.



http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html?ltr=I

I truly hope that it helps.

On behalf of everyone here at 7 forum, A Very Happy and Healthy New Year.

At first I did not understand what you were asking because you kept saying that your applications were using the default icon. The screen shots help immensely. What you are seeing is NOT the default icon but NO icon. If you were seeing the default icon you would have what you want.

I have seen this problem before and sometimes it is an extremely easy fix and other times it is harder. Let’s hope yours is easy.

You can download a program from NirSoft - freeware utilities: password recovery, system utilities, desktop utilities that will help you fix all your file types and point them back to the correct icons. Download “FileTypesMan v1.56”.

The other time this happens when the icon file is missing because the folder that holds the icon has been deleted. For the most part the icons come from the application itself or a DLL for that application, however many applications don’t do that anymore and store the icon in the windows install folder. A good example of this is Adobe Reader v9.2 the icon for this application is stored at: C:\Windows\Installer\{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-A92000000001} If you delete this folder your PDF icon(s) will be gone and look like your screen shots. It is possible you may have deleted these folders by mistake or a cleaning software deleted them thinking they are just left over folders from an install. The easiest way to fix this is to access another computer with the same software copy these folders from that computer to the broken computer and reboot. If that does not work or you do not have access to another computer, reinstalling the applications typically fix the problem.

Sorry for the bold in my other post. The system did that not me. <weird>

WindowsStar said:

Sorry for the bold in my other post. The system did that not me. <weird>

Click to expand...

All that matters is that we are all trying to help. Thanks for your suggestion, and mentioning the bold lettering. Thanks for helping. Happy New Year.

Well, first off, thanks for the prompt, kind, and helpful responses! I had posted here once before and nobody had said a thing! Luckily I had solved that problem though

I haven't touched the Windows/Installer folder WindowsStar, so I don't think that's the case, although when I looked in it, it was empty except for one file...? I do periodically run a program called CCleaner which you may have heard of which may have something to do with it, but I haven't changed any settings in CCleaner of late and it has never done anything like this before.

I'll try Rich's guide suggestion first and if that doesn't fly, I'll try out that Utility. I'll keep you posted!

EDIT: I dloaded that Nirsoft Utility and looked at the icon associations....they are pointing to the Windows/Installer directory.....so that IS what did it. If memory serves, I don't have any computers at home that have Office '07 installed, I'd converted them all to OpenOffice some time ago, so I can't just copy over the directory.

DOUBLE EDIT: I also just remembered I don't have my Office '07 CD here (I am home from university for the break and my CD is back at my dorm) so I will just have to deal with this minor inconvenience for now and fix it when I get back in a few days.

Sorry for the double-post, but it seems my issue has gotten drastically worse....I have NO idea what cleared out my Windows/Installer folder, but it wasn't me.....which means that I now cannot uninstall ANYTHING. MAJOR piss-off....Also seems to mean I cannot INSTALL anything either. I went to try to update to the latest version of VirtualBox and the installer stops saying it cannot find such and such a file...

Is there any way I can fix this...? A System Restore...? I'm at a loss short of formatting...which I really do not want to have to do :shock:...

Darkstrike said:

Sorry for the double-post, but it seems my issue has gotten drastically worse....I have NO idea what cleared out my Windows/Installer folder, but it wasn't me.....which means that I now cannot uninstall ANYTHING. MAJOR piss-off....Also seems to mean I cannot INSTALL anything either. I went to try to update to the latest version of VirtualBox and the installer stops saying it cannot find such and such a file...

Is there any way I can fix this...? A System Restore...? I'm at a loss short of formatting...which I really do not want to have to do :shock:...

Click to expand...

Get working again. Go back a few days with system restore. That will work.

When you are up and running again, make a sytem image and put it in a safe place, so you could always go back to that point in time. You may want to update the image once a month or so.

Well, I just remembered what it was I did that probably fouled things up....also, I have system restore set to a low amount of space to save HDD space, and I don't think it goes back far enough....major bummer

I had changed the ownership of the Windows folder from whatever it's default is (if somebody also wouldn't mind tell me what it's default owner is, I'll prob just put it back) to the Administrators group, thinking it wouldn't mess anything up as my user is an Admin account. This was to edit Explorer.exe to change the Start Orb on the taskbar to match the visual theme I have going on....could this ownership change have done it...?

If my Sys. Restore doesn't go back far enough, is there any other method I could try, or am I S.O.L.? :shock:

Darkstrike said:

Well, I just remembered what it was I did that probably fouled things up....also, I have system restore set to a low amount of space to save HDD space, and I don't think it goes back far enough....major bummer

I had changed the ownership of the Windows folder from whatever it's default is (if somebody also wouldn't mind tell me what it's default owner is, I'll prob just put it back) to the Administrators group, thinking it wouldn't mess anything up as my user is an Admin account. This was to edit Explorer.exe to change the Start Orb on the taskbar to match the visual theme I have going on....could this ownership change have done it...?

If my Sys. Restore doesn't go back far enough, is there any other method I could try, or am I S.O.L.? :shock:

Click to expand...

Go to system image There should be a full HD back up, once a week.

Forgive my Noobosity, but where would I find System Image? Is it in Accessories/System Tools/ under the Start Menu by System Restore? Because if it's supposed to be, I do not see it there

Darkstrike said:

Forgive my Noobosity, but where would I find System Image? Is it in Accessories/System Tools/ under the Start Menu by System Restore? Because if it's supposed to be, I do not see it there

Click to expand...

If you want my help I want to see a happy face. Its new years

Maybe this will give you a Go to control panel back up and restore. In the left panel you will see it Good luck

Well, I checked it out, I apparently don't have Windows Backup set up, which is not a good sign. I will give you a for all the great help you've given me though, thanks a lot mate!

Looks like I don't have an easy fix though...I checked back in some of my logs and I changed the Windows directory ownership on Dec. 28th, my System Restore only goes back to Dec. 29th, and I have no Backup Image unfortunately. Seems whenever I try to uninstall anything or reinstall anything that I already have installed, it just gives me errors now.

Did you try the original solution that I gave you with the tutorial?

I will try more drastic steps now.
In and adminst. account type cmd
in cmd typs sfc /scannow. What are the results. If there are errors do the procedure 3 times.

I have a lot of methods to get you going. Just relax, try to enjoy the wonderful first day of the year and

We will get you going.

Haha, sorry if I am coming off as a stressed out mess....I'm really not all THAT upset, it's more of a very bothersome annoyance than the end of the world, but improper installs and uninstalls aren't the most pleasant of issues

As for your original idea and tutorial, I did try it with that Batch file, no go unfortunately. I'll try the Command Prompt trick now...

*a few seconds later*
Odd.....tried three times, says "Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service." ...?

OH, hold up, it worked that time....uno momento...

Ok, first scan completed, said it found some corrupt files, but that it was unable to fix some of them....it provided a log if you need to see that.

EDIT: I should mention that my Windows directory and everything in is is still set to the Administrator group as owner at the moment.....a friend told me that it's set to TrustedInstaller by default...should I change it back?

Darkstrike said:

Ok, first scan completed, said it found some corrupt files, but that it was unable to fix some of them....it provided a log if you need to see that.

Click to expand...

If there are errors try this: Click on repair install

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R

Post the log while then do the above.

Gee I turned blue. LOL.

Also tell me your problem staus, what is not working. We do not want to try big remedies for small problems. Might make things worse.

Well.....I will have to wait some time to try this, as my Win7 disc is back in my dorm room about an hour's drive from here. I will have to try it when I get back there in 2-3 days....

Thanks a lot though! I will be entering a teaching practicum the second I get back, so I may not be able to post right away and try this for a few days later.