Windows 10: Rebuild Icon Cache in Windows 10

Need Help!
I tried the BAT file option (which I've done successfully in the past with Windows 7 from sevenforums), now I'm having trouble with the entire Windows display. Here's what happened:

• I followed Shawn's instructions for Rebuild_Icon_Cache.bat (option 1). It showed the brief flash and then disappeared.
• Then, if I recall correctly, it was the Task Bar which also disappeared. So I tried rebooting.
• The system came back to the Windows login screen and I logged in as usual. Then, when Windows started loading, it gave me only a black screen and white window. No Task Bar. No Start Menu. I tried keyboard shortcuts to see if that would launch some application, but I nothing ed.
• I came back to it a couple hours later and this time tried to open the Task Manager with Ctrl-Alt-Del. It displayed the Task Manage fine and revealed there were three applications open- A JPG image--that turned out to be the "white window" I was seeing (but no JPG was visible---it was literally a 100% white, re-sizable window with the min-max-close buttons showing upper right).
• The two other applications that were open were MS Outlook and a screen capture program (Snag-It) I have. I'm thinking those might have been launched as I was trying "Quick Keys", because they actually work fine.
• Bottom line, O/S screens parts are showing--task bar, menu, clock, background image, etc., and I cannot get them to display. While Ctrl-Alt-Del opens its normal menu, the Task Manager does NOT show when clicked---nothing happens.

At this point I'm thinking if we can reverse the effects of Shawn's BAT file, that might be the best place to start, but I need to how to do that and open to any other ideas. Thanks. --Bill

 

Hello Contego, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

It sounds like something interrupted the explorer process from starting.

You can do this below to start it:

• Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc)
• Click on File (menu bar) in Task Manager.
• Click on Run new task.
• Type explorer, and click/tap on OK.

 

Thanks for the suggestion, Brink. As I was trying Ctrl-Shift-Esc, nothing was happening---so I was not even getting Task Manager. I tried multiple times and was then clicking around the black screen on the few windows that were visible. Something I did caused the system to reboot, and this time Windows came back (unlike the first two times)! So I don't know exactly the cause or the solution, but my screen is back up. Will re-post if that changes. Many thanks!

 

I'm glad to hear it. *Smile

 

I have a very similar, but slightly different issue. The proper icons for certain applications (calculator, calender, camera, store, settings--the ones that I know about--which are applications (.exe), right?) do not display in the Windows search field; Instead, the default icon for images is displayed. Is this an issue of file association in the registry?

 

Hello Anton, *Smile

These would be Windows apps (aka: modern apps) instead.

If the files open correctly, then it wouldn't be an association issue.

 

Thanks for the prompt reply! *Biggrin

The files open and function correctly. Likewise, if I pin any of those applications to the start menu, the proper icons are displayed. The only area in which there is an issue displaying the proper icons is the search field. I find this super strange and perplexing. Do you know which keys in the registry correspond to Windows Apps?

 

Anton,

I'm not sure if rebuilding the icon cache will help in search results, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

 

Yeah, I've tried this a few times. Magically the other day I noticed that 3/5 have been restored. For some reason 2/5 (store and settings) are still missing -.-a

 

This worked for me in part , I just cut the internet explorer in task manager, its a bit different or called something different in Windows 10. The screen went all black, i navigated to the hidden Icon thing myself , and deleted it manually. I started up the process i stopped before, and the windows appeared, when I looked at the mixed up file association i had problems with before, it was corrected *Smile

 

Today, I downloaded a portable tool and created a desktop shortcut, but the icons disappeared after about an hour. I just finished spending an hour doing things like deleting the folder and unpacking the ZIP file, which only restored the icon for a few minutes. I knew about this tutorial, but I thought that it referred to standard Windows icons, so I only used it as a last resort. I'm still not 100% certain about it, but at least the icons lasted long enough for me to type this. Also, would a BAT to EXE compiler I downloaded a while ago be likely to work on the icon cache batch file? I just think that it would be appropriate if I could give the file it's own icon.

 

Hello Greg, *Smile

Sure you could use a .bat to .exe if you like. Resource Hacker would be a good program to use to add an icon to the .exe file if the converter program doesn't already have a feature for that.

Another option would be to create a shortcut of the .bat file. You could then just change the icon of the shortcut as usual.

 

Thanks for the info. Bat To Exe Converter does have an option for choosing an icon. Now if only I could download some artistic talent so I could create a worthwhile icon. Anyway, the icon I had trouble with is still intact, so rebuilding rebuilding the cache must have been the answer.

 

Why does it show like this :



After cleaning from CCleaner it shows a folder without showing icon thumbails on it.

 

Hello jk22, *Smile

CCleaner may just not have refreshed it after rebuilding the icon cache.

You should see that if you have thumbnail previews turned on. If turned off, then you'll see only the folder.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...dows-10-a.html