Problem with desktop icons / unable to delete "thumbs.db" files

All pdf and Microsoft Office files on my laptop are shown with a generic Windows thumbnail instead of the Adobe, Word or Excel thumbnail.

From what I've read, I want to delete the "thumbcache.db" files and I found them but Windows won't allow me to delete them. It keeps saying they are in use. I tried using Disk Cleanup but they're still there.

I read that changing my folder options to "always show icons, never thumbnails" would enable me to delete the thumbchache files but that didn't help.

I read that turning off the caching of thumbnail pictures in the Local Group Policy Editor would enable me to delete the thumbcache files but that didn't help either.

I have read that I should try "CCleaner" but their website wants me to create a login, sign up for a trial of their cloud product, etc. I just wanted to download the free version but couldn't figure out how.

I'm not sophisticated at all when it comes to trouble shooting and I'm feeling so frustrated. I've never seen this problem on any other computer I've ever had.

I'd be very grateful for a solution!

If you double click on the shortcut, does it open the related program?
Right click on the desktop shortcut, properties - Change icon


CCleaner http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup536.exe. Pay attention on the installation options or it will install Chome.
Once installed, open it, go to Options - monitoring - uncheck all boxes

Yes it does open the correct related program. When I go to properties I see an option to change the program the file opens with, but not the icon.

I installed CCleaner and did as you directed but I still can't delete the thumbcache.db files.

Megahertz07 said:

If you double click on the shortcut, does it open the related program?
Right click on the desktop shortcut, properties - Change icon


CCleaner http://download.piriform.com/ccsetup536.exe. Pay attention on the installation options or it will install Chome.
Once installed, open it, go to Options - monitoring - uncheck all boxes

I think that the shortcut icons has nothing to do with thumbcache.db files.

I accept that possibility!

I'm attaching a picture of one of the adobe pdf files that I am trying to fix. It doesn't have the Adobe icon, it has a generic Windows icon.

All of my Word, Excel and Adobe pdf documents have this same icon instead of the normal program icon.

Megahertz07 said:

I think that the shortcut icons has nothing to do with thumbcache.db files.

Right click on the desktop shortcut, properties - Change icon

Thanks but my issue is not with a shortcut, it is with an actual document that is saved on my desktop. :)