All desktop icons changed to Notepad style

[gregrocker]

I'm connected to a friend's laptop whose son's account shows almost all of the desktop icons for programs (TeamVIewer, Chrome, MBAM, etc) and other with a Notepad icon.

The son says he remembers being asked a question to which he answered Notepad resulting in all the icons changing. This was several months ago so System Restore is out of reach as a solution.

Does anyone recognize this or see a way to change them back to their defaults?

I tried one for Chrome and it actually showed a Chrome icon logo to choose in Change Icon, but wouldn't take it when I tried to apply it.

Thanks!

 

[VistaKing]

Have you tried resetting the desktop icon cache?

 

[VistaKing]

See if this will help

:ar: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[Ztruker]

System Restore?

 

[Layback Bear]

Greg is their a 3rd party program that could be causing this problem?
One of those make my computer pretty and it changes colors, and all around appearances.

 

[gregrocker]

When I reconnect tomorrow I'll try Rebuilding Icon Cache. Google found me Shawn's tutorial: Icon Cache - Rebuild - Windows 7 Help Forums

Since he admitted he clicked something associating them with Notepad my first thought is he re-associated the .exe but these are only shortcuts and not the actual .exe - and some are internet shortcuts.

There was a lot of spyware on the Admin account which I cleaned up with no obvious remaining issues. Only the kid's account had the desktop shortcuts' icon format changed.

I'll ask him again to pinpoint when it happened to double-check System Restore points.

 

[derekimo]

Shortcuts are .lnk, maybe restoring that from here will change them back,

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks, Derek.

I wonder if it makes a difference how it's sequenced: Rebuilding Icon Cache or Restoring .lnk File Associations first?

 

[VistaKing]

derekimo

Read Post #3

 

[derekimo]

I would try restoring the .lnk first, you may not need to rebuild the icon cache after the log off or restart.

 

[derekimo]

derekimo

Read Post #3

What about it?

 

[VistaKing]

What about it?

Its the same thing I posted

 

[derekimo]

What about it?

Its the same thing I posted

Happens all the time, you do it too.

If you feel the need for recognition then, yes you posted it first.

You didn't point out which one though...

 

[gregrocker]

Guys, guys. No need to fight over me.

This is not a competition. When we confirm another member's advice it is to agree and signals a likely fix. In this case I needed to know the exact association so Derek added important info. This is collegiality, required of us to remain the top tech forums on the web.

Advice in your first post Vista to Rebuild Cache caused me to google it taking me straight away to Shawn's tutorial which I've now added to my bookmarks.

Thanks all for your help. I'll report back as soon as I try these in the sequence suggested by Derek.

 

[VistaKing]

I am not arguing just saying what is the point of posting what was already said .

I do it too ? Yeah when someone posts at the same time as me . But then I delete my post .

 

[derekimo]

I am not arguing just saying what is the point of posting what was already said .

I do it too ? Yeah when someone posts at the same time as me . But then I delete my post .

Let it go, it happens all the time.

If three or five people post the same thing it just confirms a good place to start.

Start acting like a team player instead of self imposed royalty, it's an open forum.

 

[Arc]

If three or five people post the same thing it just confirms a good place to start.

It is not the same thing, Derek. Its only your generosity to address the two posts as the same. There is hell and heaven difference.

The article http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html contains pretty much more than 100 registry entries. supplying the link to that article and pinpointing to the particular registry entry that is needed among those more than 100 (you suggested to use the registry entry for .lnk only) cannot be the same thing.

Well done.
(in this case, I suggest for not only .lnk, but also the .exe)

 

[AddRAM]

But hopefully the end result will be the same, a Solution

 

[gregrocker]

Restoring .lnk as default association solved the problem. Icons reverted correctly.

Thanks to all.

 

[derekimo]

Glad to hear it Greg, it was a team effort.