Icons associating with wrong applications

[jerseyboy]

Win98SE
I have an intermittant reoccuring problem.
The icons on my desktop are all changing to another program icon. Example: All of the Microsoft Access Icons look like an Internet Explorer icon?!? They work just fine, the tool tips work and the icon opens the right program, but it is the wrong icon.
If I cold boot the problem goes away and the file association is fixed.
Is it a Windows problem? If so, Microsoft is hiding the article in TECHNET so that I haven't been able to find it.
Is it a virus? I have McAfee and the latest dat files and it doesn't catch a virus.

I am guessing that somewhere, somebody has had this problem. Thanks for any assitance.
JerseyBoy
Remember: self-praise is no recommendation

 

[wolluf]

Tweakui (available here if you haven't got it) has an option to repair icons - this usually fixes your problem (its to do with the icon cache size - but can't remember the technical details).

 

[Kento]

Search for ShellIconCache and delete it then restart the computer. A new ShellIconCache file will be created by Windows at restart. See if that fixes it.

 

[JonathanB]

The proper way of deleting ShellIconCache

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q133733

. Q133733 (if link is not complete).

 

[Kento]

I did forget to mention that it would be a hidden file so go to start--settings--folder options--view tab--place a tick in 'show all files' then ok out. Then find and delete ShellIconCache. Also, while you're in the view tab you might as well uncheck 'hide file extensions for known file types' if it's checked. It has nothing to do with your problem but you'll want to be able to see the extensions.

 

[jerseyboy]

Thanks all for the posts, but is this explained anywhere? I have been able to restart (cold boot) the PC and make the problem disappear without having to delete any files, but I wondered what causes it in the first place so that I may avoid triggering the event in the future.

Thanks for you help, JerseyBoy
Remember: self-praise is no recommendation

 

[Kento]

Is what explained? Your problem could be caused by a corrupt ShellIconCache file which is why I suggested you delete it. If you're worried about deleting it don't be. That file gets recreated by Windows at restart. If doing that doesn't stop it from happening then it might be caused by low resources.

 

[jerseyboy]

I was worried about why it was corrupt...
What am I doing to corrupt it.

Thanks JerseyBoy
Remember: self-praise is no recommendation

 

[JonathanB]

PC computing is a very dynamic process that has never been perfected even by Microsoft. ShellIconCache can be corrupted by so many possible causes which the PC user may not understand at all, such as a bad shutdown, instability of the programs, running low on resources, etc. That's why Microsoft is also quick in coming up with a thousand technical solutions. And these solutions of Microsoft seems never ending so we have to embrace it if we want to live with our PC.:-D