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Some icons in My Computer, Windows Explorer, on the desktop, or in the Quick Launch toolbar may randomly change.

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Microsoft Knowledge Base Article

This article contents is Microsoft Copyrighted material.
©2005-©2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Trademarks
Article ID: 132668 - Last Review: January 19, 2007 - Revision: 3.2

Icons randomly change to different icons

View products that this article applies to.
System TipThis article applies to a different version of Windows than the one you are using. Content in this article may not be relevant to you. Visit the Windows Vista Solution Center
This article was previously published under Q132668

SYMPTOMS

Some icons in My Computer, Windows Explorer, on the desktop, or in the Quick Launch toolbar may randomly change.
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CAUSE

This behavior may occur if the icon cache is not properly updated.
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RESOLUTION

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

To resolve this behavior, use one or more of the following methods:
  • Press the F5 key to refresh the icons in the current folder.
  • Close and then reopen a window that contains incorrect icons.
  • Restart your computer.
  • Re-create the ShellIconCache file. This file is re-created automatically when you change your display's color depth. Follow these steps to change your display's color depth to a new setting and then change it back to the original setting:
    1. Right-click the desktop and then click Properties.
    2. Click the Settings tab.
    3. Change the color depth from the current setting to a new setting. For example, change from Highest (32 bit) to Lowest (16 bit).
    4. Click Apply, and then click Yes to accept the changes.
    5. Change the color depth back to its original setting.
    6. Click Apply, and then click Yes to accept the changes.
  • Using Registry Editor, add the Max Cached Icons string value with a value data of 2000 to the following registry key, and then restart your computer:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
    If the icons are still incorrect, delete the ShellIconCache file. The Max Cached Icons value data range is between 100 and 4096. The default value is 500.
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MORE INFORMATION

For more information about this issue, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
133733  (http://kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=133733/ ) Icons displayed incorrectly in Control Panel
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 6
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 2
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 3
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 5
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6
  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6a
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2
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Keywords: 
kbprb kbui KB132668
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