Start menu icons disappear!! WTF!

[DaRonRon]

So i bought adobe flash cs3 and fireworks cs3 because i will be needing them a lot soon. But im running into quite an amazing problem. I install them and everything looks good. The programs launch from the desktop and work good. But when i click start and click All programs there's nothing there!! Just white. I uninstalled flash, and still the problem. Then i uninstalled fireworks, and they're back! I then installed flash because i thought fireworks might be the problem but it happens again.

Please can somebody help me here? A google search reveals nothing. I need this problem solved soon.

 

[Brink]

Hello DaRonRon,

You might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this started may be able to fix it for you. If not a repair install may without losing anything.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[DaRonRon]

performing a system restore is no use because it will also remove the applications. If i uninstall them then the icons come back anyway. And performing a Repair install seems a little drastic, are u sure there's no other way?

If i did do a repair install then i lose my drivers? like graphic driver, volume button drivers (im on a laptop), etc?

 

[Hakon]

I had the same problem, try moving all folders and icons from the All Program folder to a temporary folder on your desktop somewhere and see if the icons come back, it worked for me. Or just rename the All Programs folder so windows wont find it, restart and rename again.

 

[Jacee]

Adobe Support: Installing and using Windows 7 with Adobe applications

 

[DaRonRon]

Adobe Support: Installing and using Windows 7 with Adobe applications

well that wasnt really helpful.

@Hakon, i will try that and report back

 

[Jacee]

Asking your question in Adobe Support forums would more than likely be helpful

 

[DaRonRon]

it appears i found the solution to the problem

well firstly the problem isnt related to adobe programs specifically. I know this because today when i got all the icons back, i went and installed another program, a game, and they still disappeared.

The problem is that i have too much programs installed apparently. After removing some unnecessary programs the icons are back

Still this is a pretty annoying bug

 

[awenthol]

I have had the same issue!

I see you've got yours taken care of but FWIW, I'v just started creating new shortcuts from the .exe in the Windows/Programs folder....

 

[Kari]

I posted a solution to this issue a couple of months ago. Read it here.

Kari

 

[DaRonRon]

if i remove icons and folders from the start menu folder and put them in another folder, then will they appear in the start menu?

Or should i put them back after?

Also where should put this new folder? Should it be in the start menu folder or anywhere i want?

 

[Kari]

Create a new folder in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\. The folder you created is then shown on the Start Menu > All Programs.

By default Windows 7 Start Menu > All Programs displays every item (file, folder or shortcut) stored in this Programs folder, also the ones you add there yourself.
Kari

 

[awenthol]

I posted a solution to this issue a couple of months ago. Read it here.

Kari

That's not really a solution, but a band-aid fix. Clearly there is something wrong at the heart of the OS that needs to be rectified.

 

[Kari]

You are right, this is more a workaround. However, the issue no longer exists in retail version, so MS has fixed it.

Kari

 

[awenthol]

You are right, this is more a workaround. However, the issue no longer exists in retail version, so MS has fixed it.

Kari

I have a retail version....

 

[Kari]

You are right, this is more a workaround. However, the issue no longer exists in retail version, so MS has fixed it.

Kari

I have a retail version....

Really? That is a big surprise. I am quite sure I read it somewhere in Technet the issue was solved in build 7600.

Have to do some research... With Arnold Schwarzenegger's words: I'll be back!

Kari

 

[Kari]

OK. I tested it just now. I'm running Win7 Ultimate Retail, currently 130 items in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs. Everything is there, all items showing.

A quick chat with a Technet friend resulted the same news; issue should be fixed now, last build with this issue was 7100. It is very strange if you still have this 70+ items issue with retail version. I have no fix or workaround other than the one told earlier here.

Kari

 

[open4biz]

Sorry, but that's not the answer. There is no magic number (like 70 icons). You simply just need to rebuild your icon cache with the instructions here:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

Simple.