Windows 10: No icons available in a shortcut's properties window

Trying to change the icon of a shortcut I made. There are no icons available when I go to the Properties menu other than the blank paper one it already has. I remember there were hundreds last time I needed to do this, how do I actually change the icon?

submitted by /u/munchiesnOOb
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:)

 

Blank shortcut icon GPU-Z

I know I am quite late but as I was scrolling through I saw this post which happened to one of friend too. This sometimes happens with Windows. Usually a reboot will solve the problem. However if this doesn't, try setting the icon for the shortcut(right-click pinned icon, right-click program, left-click properties, select "change icon...") or refreshing it by switching to a different icon, applying it, and then reverting back to the original icon. Remove the shortcut from the taskbar and replace it with the start menu shortcut or simply drag the .exe file to the taskbar.

 

No desktop icons and no file properties available

I have posted previously under 'disappearing icons', but the problem continues with no solution thus far.
Win10 home on a desktop, installed as an online update to Win7. Everything ran well for five months. But now, suddenly, I see NO ICONS on my desktop. I have about 20 shortcuts, each with their correct file name, but no icons associated with
the names. If I click on the shortcut name, the expected program runs as expected. However, when I right-click on the shortcut name and get the normal listing of available tasks; (copy to, ... rename, ....properties, etc), when I then click on 'properties'
(e.g., to change an icon), I get nothing. Not the normal box, no box, nothing, so it is impossible to change the icon.

If I open file explorer and right click on any file, and again click the 'properties', I again get nothing. The properties of a file seem to have become broken from their name and from their shortcut, such that the name cannot see the icon.

I do have the word 'Desktop' on my lower left tool bar (notification bar?), but this word has no icon associated with it. If I click on this word 'Desktop' I get a listing of all the files and shortcuts on my desktop, but again no icons.

This problem occurs on both my and my wife's accounts, desktops and file explorers, but it does NOT occur in the Admin account, which shows normal icons and which gives the correct properties box to each file when opened up.

If I add a new shortcut to my account desktop, the process works except that I again get NO ICON, and cannot access the shortcut 'properties' of the new shortcut.

If I add a new user to the system, the desktop of the new user suffers the same problem - NO ICONS, and no properties available for any desktop shortcut.

No viruses (Windows Defender. Malwarebytes, Superantispyware), and the problem still occurs when booting in Safe or Clean mode.

I consider myself to have a reasonable knowledge of Microsoft systems (computing since 1971), and I now ask if there is a Windows expert who can advise me of which key(s) to set or reset in the registry.

Thanks

 

Icons on shortcuts

1. Right-click the shortcut.
2. Select "Properties."
3. Click the "Change icon" button on the "Shortcut" tab.
4. Browse to the *.ico file (or *.dll or *.exe file containing icons).
5. Select the icon from those displayed.
6. Click OK