How to restore Win7 computer icons

[ratronic]

I messed up the other day and installed an icon changing program and then uninstalled it. Now the icons when I click on computer from the start menu look like the attached. I tryed restoring the default icons from the desktop, but that didn't work. Is there any way to get all the default icons back that originally came with Win7(including the ones when you click computer)?

 

[7echno7im]

What app did you use? Usually it has a restore feature.

Or just run a system restore to before you changed them.

 

[ratronic]

Unfortunatley I was just messing around and uninstalled the icon program before I restored the icons and since then have saved and restored the backup image of Win7. I plan to do a clean install of win7 when it's released, I am just wondering if there was anything I could do in the mean time without having to reinstall the Win7 RC?

 

[7echno7im]

Unfortunatley I was just messing around and uninstalled the icon program before I restored the icons and since then have saved and restored the backup image of Win7. I plan to do a clean install of win7 when it's released, I am just wondering if there was anything I could do in the mean time without having to reinstall the Win7 RC?

Do a system restore, not a reinstall, roll back the changes to before you installed it.

 

[7echno7im]

Click
Start> type "System"
Choose System Restore
Choose the restore point to before you installed the app.
(next time create one before doing anything crazy like repacking the icon dll

 

[Orbital Shark]

Hi ratronic, welcome to the forums.

Your could right-click the affected drive & select 'Restore previous version' so see if it has a shadow copy of the previous icons.

 

[7echno7im]

Hi ratronic, welcome to the forums.

Your could right-click the affected drive & select 'Restore previous version' so see if it has a shadow copy of the previous icons.

aren't the icons located in %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll? You are right, he could navigate to that file and see if there is a shadow copy. good call.

 

[ratronic]

Thanks 7echno7im and Orbital Shark, but I have no previous restore points because I have reinstalled to many previous images from Vista and Win7 back and forth and the Win7 image I made was after my screw up with the icon program. That's what I get for screwing around and not being carefull - thanks

 

[SIW2]

See if Winbubble can restore the defaults for you.

Download - UnlockForUs

 

[Antman]

Open the start menu and press
CTRL+SHIFT+right mouse button
on an empty space of the menu.

Select EXIT EXPLORER.

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
opens Task Manager

File, New Task (Run)
type CMD
Press ENTER

type
attrib -h %userprofile%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db
Press ENTER

type
del %userprofile%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db
Press ENTER

Return to Task Manager
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC- opens Task Manager
File, New Task (Run)
type EXPLORER
Press ENTER

This will only correct those icons which the icon program did not alter the registry entry for. A common methodology for icon programs is to insert a call to a new registry section, so this method can be effective. When the app is uninstalled, it does not reset the previous value (does not eliminate the call or "hook" to borrow a term).

Some icon apps are poorly written and actually alter the pre-defined values. In this case, another step is necessary.

You can also try Brink's approach.

 

[Generator]

Open the start menu and press
CTRL+SHIFT+right mouse button
on an empty space of the menu.

Select EXIT EXPLORER.

CTRL+SHIFT+ESC
opens Task Manager

File, New Task (Run)
type CMD
Press ENTER

type
attrib -h %userprofile%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db
Press ENTER

type
del %userprofile%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db
Press ENTER

Return to Task Manager
CTRL+SHIFT+ESC- opens Task Manager
File, New Task (Run)
type EXPLORER
Press ENTER

This will only correct those icons which the icon program did not alter the registry entry for. A common methodology for icon programs is to insert a call to a new registry section, so this method can be effective. When the app is uninstalled, it does not reset the previous value (does not eliminate the call or "hook" to borrow a term).

Some icon apps are poorly written and actually alter the pre-defined values. In this case, another step is necessary.

You can also try Brink's approach.

Me and Mr GRiM figured out yesterday that the Thumbnail Cache also plays a big part of caching the icons in Win7, This can be cleared via running 'Disk Cleanup' and selecting 'Thumbnail Cache'.