Registry Guide for Windows

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Registry tweaks, tricks & hacks to optimize, enhance and secure Microsoft Windows.

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Home > Windows > Troubleshooting > Repair

(All Windows)
Use this setting if Windows is displaying incorrect or corrupted icons for your programs and shortcuts.

This tweak can be easily applied using WinGuides Tweak Manager.
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Windows maintains a cached copy of all the icons on the system to avoid having to reload the icons every time they are displayed. If this icon cache becomes corrupt then the wrong icons may be shown.

To clear the icons cache make sure you can view hidden files and then open your Windows directory in Explorer and delete the file called "ShellIconCache".

When you restart Windows the icon cache file will be automatically recreated.

Related Tweaks

Change the Icon Cache Size (All Windows)

Last Modified: August 23, 2002