Icon Cache Size - Change in Windows

Sorry I mean this thread

Icons on desktop - Windows 10 Forums

Ok I tried the DWORD based on the registry file suggested in the tenforums thread. It makes no diff. Maybe because the limit of 8192 kb is set too high and so windows 10 ignores it?

Ok thanks, I changed it back. Even with an SSD drive as my windows boot?

Thanks. I am noticing the icon cache.db file growing now. it's at 800 kb. I guess the issue is just one of those things about windows. Just baffled that my Windows 7 machine, displays all desktop icons instantaneous fully drawn on a reboot or cold boot as soon as I login to desktop. 10 displays about 75% of them, and the rest with the white paper icon before drawing the rest after anywhere between 2 to about 4 seconds later. I know it's not long but it's odd especially as the machine running 10 is infinitely more powerful. I suppose the difference I should be grateful for though is my Windows 7 machine (after BIOS) takes about 20-25 seconds to reach desktop, the Windows 10 machine (after BIOS) takes about 1 or 2 seconds to reach desktop (I do have fast startup enabled by default but it's the same even if I manually restart. So maybe it's the extra boot time that gives 7 a chance to draw those desktop icons in good time and ready for the big reveal! I just am sure I never noticed the white generic icons in the early days of having the 10 machine. I've only had it 2 or 3 months but I guess in that time the number of desktop shortcuts I have placed has grown in that time so maybe this is key (about 45 shortcuts!)

I think I know what is to blame for the initial slow(ish) display of desktop icons. And also some folders gradually displaying the .exe icons (mainly my downloads folder which has quite a few .exe files in it of varying degrees and sizes). It's Windows Defender. When I open the downloads folder I see a surge of cpu activity at about 15% whilst the exe icons generate. I opened task manager and saw the antimalware service executable was running at this percentage and then reduced to zero once when all the icons finished. So it seems this is the culprit and no amount of diddling with Maxed Icon Cache or rebuilding it will make a difference. That explains why after boot subsequent browses to the downloads folder are instant because Defender is happy with it. I guess it's doing what it should be doing but it's a tad annoying. I could try another service but I preferred Defender as it's integrated and in my mind of all the suites one could choose from Defender should play nicest with Windows (after all it's another MS product). Whilst not satisfied with the outcome it's nice to know why.

EDIT


Yep it's Defender confirmed, I rebooted. Disabled Defender real time scanning and opened my downloads folder. Every icon populated in a micro second. Obviously will switch it back on. Question is whether this should be considered a bug or intended behaviour! I do apologise for crossing over with 10 into a 7 forum. It's just because the tutorial was on here and I guess many things work the same across those 2 windows versions anyway.

Cheers,
Wayne

I gotta say Shawn it never ceases to amaze me the amount of time and effort you put in across the 7, 8 and 10 forums. I am not an avid poster and offer little to no solutions (just not that smart!). But I read and try to digest much of the stuff on all the forums. I think you are to be applauded for your services. There are plenty of good guys floating around on these forums. For anything Windows related I wouldn't go anywhere else! And you don't get any abuse here, sometimes I grumble/vent a little frustrated at MS. I know it's not what the forums are designed for but its just a little better to make a post even if nobody agrees. On here it is tolerated (within reason), can you imagine trying that on an apple forum - you'd be hung, drawn and quartered before you've even clicked post!