Icon Cache seems to be not working in Windows 7

[kado897]

The SSD will only come into play if your User/Appdata folder is still on it.

 

[UsernameIssues]

The SSD will only come into play if your User/Appdata folder is still on it.

Where do the icons come from that get pushed into the database?

I have the Control Panel set to show as a menu in the Start Menu. That is where I see the largest delay in painting the icons. But this only happens once per restart and that is as expected. It also happens in less than a second or two. Nothing near 5 seconds.

Subsequent openings of that same Control Panel menu do not show the icons being "built" - if that is the correct term.

Most of the icons for the Control Panel are inside exes or dlls that would be on the SSD - right? I'm really asking - I've never worked with an SSD or read about setting them up. I'm operating on assumptions here.

 

[kevindd992002]

......
Thanks, I'll try that. But the thing is that even with the default size, I should have no proplems. How do I "analyze" the icon cache database? Is Windows really deleting that cache everytime it is restarted?

You are correct, things should work just fine (and fast via SSD) using the default size. That is why I'm curious to see if you have any improvement. If you see an improvement, then we have our fix and are left with the "why did that fix it" question.

I don't know how to "analyze" the icon cache database. I looked at the database file size, increased the max setting, restarted and checked the file size again. There was no change in the size of the file, so it seems that the size is related to the number of icons being stored and not the size limit. Maybe if I installed a bunch of programs into the VM that I'm playing with, the size of that icon data base file would grow.

Where is the location of the cache database?

The SSD will only come into play if your User/Appdata folder is still on it.

That folder and all other system files are in my SSD.

The SSD will only come into play if your User/Appdata folder is still on it.

Where do the icons come from that get pushed into the database?

I have the Control Panel set to show as a menu in the Start Menu. That is where I see the largest delay in painting the icons. But this only happens once per restart and that is as expected. It also happens in less than a second or two. Nothing near 5 seconds.

Subsequent openings of that same Control Panel menu do not show the icons being "built" - if that is the correct term.

Most of the icons for the Control Panel are inside exes or dlls that would be on the SSD - right? I'm really asking - I've never worked with an SSD or read about setting them up. I'm operating on assumptions here.

Oh you mean you experience the same problem as mine? I also notice the "paint delay" in my start ONCE ONLY every after restart. You say that's normal?

 

[kado897]

The icon cache is in c:\users\[your name]\AppData\Local. It is a hidden file called IconCache.db

 

[kevindd992002]

The icon cache is in c:\users\[your name]\AppData\Local. It is a hidden file called IconCache.db

Weird why is the "date modified" on my iconcache.db file july 24 7:51am when it is already july 24 11:48pm in my place (gmt +8) ? So that means no thumbnails were written on that file since 7:51?

 

[kevindd992002]

I'll await the results from your fresh run of SFC.

Here ya go.

 

[karlsnooks]

In my opinion, you are presently chasing butterflies. Fun but bringing us any closer to a resolution.

Please make a fresh run of sfc /scannow and attach sfcdetails.txt
See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html
for details.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[karlsnooks]

ah ha, you were posting results at same time as I was posting.
Will now take a look.
thanks,
karl

 

[kevindd992002]

ah ha, you were posting results at same time as I was posting.
Will now take a look.
thanks,
karl

Thanks.

 

[karlsnooks]

sfc gives you a clean bill of health.

this leaves us with:
1. some wonder program is causing the problem,
2. too many programs running in background and/or at startup time,
3. malware.

The least effort for you is to follow the procedure I give, more work for me but easy for you.

Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button


UPLOAD, as an attachment, the startup.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums
=======================================
=======================================

If you get ready to take a break, then let a full scan by MalwareBytes run.
A safe link for MalwareBytes is given in my signature.

 

[kevindd992002]

sfc gives you a clean bill of health.

this leaves us with:
1. some wonder program is causing the problem,
2. too many programs running in background and/or at startup time,
3. malware.

The least effort for you is to follow the procedure I give, more work for me but easy for you.

Install CCleaner:
CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Windows tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept Startup.txt as file name | SAVE button

list of SCHEDULED TASKS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button | Scheduled Tasks tab |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
enter Scheduled Tasks as File name | Save button

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS

CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side) |
accept install.txt as File name | Save button


UPLOAD, as an attachment, the startup.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the Scheduled Tasks.txt file
UPLOAD, as an attachment, the install.txt file.

HOW TO UPLOAD
Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums
=======================================
=======================================

If you get ready to take a break, then let a full scan by MalwareBytes run.
A safe link for MalwareBytes is given in my signature.

I will do this tomorrow, sorry Have to sleep (12:03 AM in our place) for work tomorrow morning.

Have one concern though. Is the behavior of "slow painting of icons" after every restart, normal?

 

[UsernameIssues]

....
Oh you mean you experience the same problem as mine? I also notice the "paint delay" in my start ONCE ONLY every after restart. You say that's normal?

Yes, the paint delay is normal - it has been that way on every system and every Windows OS that I've ever used. Some are faster than others, but I don't think that I've seen 5 seconds worth. That is pretty slow.

The icon database file gets loaded onto RAM each time the OS starts. If an icon is needed, Explorer will first look in the icon database file in RAM, if the icon is not there, then Explorer has to go get the icon from the exe or dll on the hard drive or SSD. I think that these other icons are also cached in RAM for subsequent paints.

The caveat to all of the above is - this is just what I've read elsewhere. I've not dug into it myself.

 

[karlsnooks]

I have an ssd in both my notebook and my netbook.

That delay is not normal.

There is no noticeable delay on either system and let me tell you that netbook has an old atom processor.

 

[Cata]

I once had a similar problem...try this:

Click Start and type Regedit in the Search box and click Regedit from the list

Locate and click to select the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

On the Edit menu, click New, and then click String Value

Type Max Cached Icons for the registry key name and press Enter on the keyboard

Double-click on the Max Cached Icons registry key and type 2048 or 8192 in the Value data: box and then click OK

Close the Registry Editor

Delete IconCache.db thats located in the following path:

Windows Vista or Windows 7
%userprofile%\AppData\Local

 

[karlsnooks]

before you perform any registry editing,
always make a system restore point.

CREATE A SYSTEM RESTORE POINT
Win | type Create Restore Point | ENTER |
CREATE | type a name for the restore point |
CREATE button | CLOSE | OK

WIN is the key with the wavy Microsoft flag on top.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I have an ssd in both my notebook and my netbook.

That delay is not normal.

There is no noticeable delay on either system and let me tell you that netbook has an old atom processor.

This is what I see:


Keep in mind that this was done in a clean VM with only 512MB or RAM assigned (but assigning 256MB made it no worse). Normally I don't even that much delay, but the relatively weak host hardware was being loaded down by other VMs that i had doing things.

I have seen this type of delay on other systems too - but only the first time after a reboot. That is why I'm sticking my nose into this thread. I would like to know if increasing the icon cache size helps the OP - because I've not seen it help by a noticeable amount on other systems.

 

[UsernameIssues]

I once had a similar problem...try this:

Click Start and type Regedit in the Search box and click Regedit from the list

Locate and click to select the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

On the Edit menu, click New, and then click String Value

Type Max Cached Icons for the registry key name and press Enter on the keyboard

Double-click on the Max Cached Icons registry key and type 2048 or 8192 in the Value data: box and then click OK

Close the Registry Editor

Delete IconCache.db thats located in the following path:

Windows Vista or Windows 7
%userprofile%\AppData\Local

Something very much like this was suggested many posts ago.

But I'll take this opportunity to suggest using the Fix-It tool rather than messing around in the registry. If you opt to follow the link to the post and then on to the MS article, you might notice what I think is a typo under the section for doing it yourself. They tell you to create a key named MaxCachedIcons (no spaces), and then they tell you to double click on that newly created key Max Cached Icons (with spaces). This space/nospace issue has been the topic of discussion in many a thread over the years. The Fix-It tool writes a key with the spaces.

Maybe I'm just reading the MS article wrong - maybe there is no typo. I've submitted feedback suggesting that they change that... but it is still the same. And the article was recently reviewed... whatever that means

http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/32935-increase-icon-cache-size.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/165318-iconcache-windows-7-ultimate-x64.html

But let's let the OP get some sleep and then run the suggested malware scans.

 

[kevindd992002]

I have an ssd in both my notebook and my netbook.

That delay is not normal.

There is no noticeable delay on either system and let me tell you that netbook has an old atom processor.

Oh ok, so there's got to be something wrong with my system.

I once had a similar problem...try this:

Click Start and type Regedit in the Search box and click Regedit from the list

Locate and click to select the following key in the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

On the Edit menu, click New, and then click String Value

Type Max Cached Icons for the registry key name and press Enter on the keyboard

Double-click on the Max Cached Icons registry key and type 2048 or 8192 in the Value data: box and then click OK

Close the Registry Editor

Delete IconCache.db thats located in the following path:

Windows Vista or Windows 7
%userprofile%\AppData\Local

Yes but I don't understand why the need for an increase in cache file size.

I have an ssd in both my notebook and my netbook.

That delay is not normal.

There is no noticeable delay on either system and let me tell you that netbook has an old atom processor.

This is what I see:


Keep in mind that this was done in a clean VM with only 512MB or RAM assigned (but assigning 256MB made it no worse). Normally I don't even that much delay, but the relatively weak host hardware was being loaded down by other VMs that i had doing things.

I have seen this type of delay on other systems too - but only the first time after a reboot. That is why I'm sticking my nose into this thread. I would like to know if increasing the icon cache size helps the OP - because I've not seen it help by a noticeable amount on other systems.

This is exactly what I'm having. Thank you for that video, it explains the problem well.

 

[karlsnooks]

kevin,
see post #30

 

[A Guy]

Might I suggest an easy test? Perform a clean start and make sure it isn't an application conflict. If no change, also suggest boot without AV active. Many of todays AV programs want to have a hand in everything. Many (if not all) AV's will not allow you to remove from startup using the clean start/msconfig method.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

A Guy