Icons Displayed Incorrectly in Control Panel (133733)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
This article was previously published under Q133733

SYMPTOMS

The icons in Control Panel or on the desktop may be displayed incorrectly. The icons may be black, or they may be the wrong icon.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the ShellIconCache file in the Windows folder is damaged.

RESOLUTION

Windows 95 Only

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. Restart Windows 95 in Safe mode.
  2. Use Windows Explorer to remove the ShellIconCache file from the Windows folder.

    NOTE: You need to be able to view hidden files to see the ShellIconCache file. To view hidden files, click Options on the View menu in Windows Explorer, click Show All Files, and then click OK.
  3. Restart Windows 95 normally.

Windows NT or Windows 95

To resolve this problem, follow these steps:
  1. In Control Panel, double-click Display.
  2. Click the Appearance tab.
  3. In the Item box, click Icon.
  4. Increase the icon size by one unit.
  5. Click Apply.
  6. Decrease the icon size by one unit, and then click OK.
  7. Restart your computer.

Windows 98

  1. Restart Windows in Safe mode. To do so, restart your computer, press and hold down the CTRL key after your computer completes the Power On Self Test (POST), and then choose Safe Mode from the Startup menu. For more information about Windows 98 startup, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    ARTICLE-ID: 178548
    TITLE : No "Starting Windows 98" Message at Startup

  2. Use Windows Explorer to remove the ShellIconCache file from the Windows folder.

    NOTE: You need to be able to view hidden files to see the ShellIconCache file. To view hidden files in Windows 98, click Folder Options on the View menu in Windows Explorer, click the View tab, click Show All Files, and then click OK.
  3. Restart your computer

MORE INFORMATION

Windows caches icons in the ShellIconCache file for performance reasons. The file's Hidden attribute is normally set.

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbprb kbProd2Web kbui KB133733
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.