When ShellIconCache is Missing 1

[GrandpaCarl]

If ShellIconCache in the Win directory gets deleted, bootup is slowed and so is ant time icons must be painted on the screen. Sometimes it seems that the file is not recreated like Microsoft and others say it should be.

The secret seem to be: DON'T use a shortcut to shutdown or reboot Windows. I love shorcuts, because I hate the round about way Windows must shut down. Shortcuts omit more than mouse clicks! If you want your ShellIconCache file to be rebuilt, use the long way around: START/SHUTDOWN/SHUT DOWN/OK. RESTART works as well. I am embarrassed to say how many hours I wasted on this one before the light bulb turned on. Maybe I can save someone else some grief!:-D

 

[Snickle]

Additional tip I've had success with: Find another computer with the same OS and copy the ShellIconCache file to a floppy. Load it in the same place on the first computer and reboot. If it doesn't have all the right icons, delete it and re-boot, should be correct.

 

[GrandpaCarl]

Believe me, I tried what I called seed files for the ShellIconCache file, including a zero-length file as suggested by someone on the net. What I put, stayed that way, and a file taken from another computer produced some bizarre results. The files that I installed never became overwritten, as I was always exiting or rebooting from a shorcut. If I followed the "official" procedure of going to the START menu, clicking on SHUTDOWN, selecting SHUT DOWN from the exit menu, then clicking O.K., then the ShellIconCache was rewritten, and all was well. Take a shortcut as I was doing at first, and the file never gets overwritten, no matter what else you may do. I tried them all before realizing what was happening (or NOT happening!)

 

[hotfusion]

Thanks for the tip!
I've been having the problem of shelliconcache not rebuilding after deleting it for months, and just couldn't figure out what was going on until I did a search here.
This thread may be well over a year old, but still of help.
A belated star for you.
Cheers, Andy.

 

[GrandpaCarl]

Thanks Andy, always nice to know I have helped someone.

GrandpaCarl

 

[TekTippy4U]

GrandPa Carl;


Also;
Do a search for the ShellIconcache in windows, delete it, reboot in SafeMode..then reboot normally..

Just Starting in SafeMode should create a New ShellIconCache all by itself...

TT4U

Notification:
These are just "my" thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions....I try very hard to impart correct info at all times.