Taskbar Icons

[bvrsqeezer]

I just got a call from a friend who's computer taskbar icons have all turned black. And when he clicks on Internet Explorer it does'nt want to hook up to the internet. I told him to run a virus scan and see if it comes up with anything. I haven't heard back from him yet. I there anything else that could cause this? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[AnnMarie]

Hi bvrsqeezer - welcome to CTH. The icons could have corrupted. If a virus scan gives his PC a clean bill of health, tell him to run a search for a file named ShelllconCache. He should find it in C:\Windows. Tell him to delete it and reboot. The file will be rebuilt when windows starts. Let us know how he gets on.

[bvrsqeezer]

We did a search for shellicon cache but didn't find such a file. I went through his computer file by file and I couldn't find it either. I take it it is a Windows system file, it doesn't seem to be there. Any suggestions to what we are doing wrong. Thanks for the help.

[GretaP]

Hi bvrsqeezer,
shelliconcache is a hidden file. Open My Computer or Windows Explorer, and go to View>Folder Options>View tab. Under "Hidden files", click in the radio button beside "Show all files", then click on Apply and OK. Now you should be able to find the shelliconcache file (it's in the C:\Windows folder, btw).

[tb525]

ShelllconCache is a hidden file, Click Start > Settings > Folder Options > View tab. Place a tick in 'show all files' and click apply/ok.

Then do a find files for ShelllconCache.


*Edit.. Hi GretaP.. Ya beat me to it!:D

[GretaP]

Hi GretaP.. Ya beat me to it! Hi, tb525...It's a nasty habit I have :D

[bvrsqeezer]

Ok I should have thought of that. I'll try that but I think we still maybe dealing with a virus. He can't connect to the internet and some of his documents have been move do different files. I asked him when the last time he updated his antivirus and he said "Doesn't that do that by itself"? So I think I will first try to run Norton 2003 and see what it comes up with, then work from there. Thanks for all your help,and I'll let you know how it all comes out.

[AnnMarie]

So I think I will first try to run Norton 2003 and see what it comes up with, then work from there

Absolutely! Try the fix posted only if the PC is clean and the symptom persists. Good luck bvrsqeezer. :)

[bvrsqeezer]

Ok ran updated antivirus, no viruses were found. I then delete the shellicon cache file and rebooted. Still black icons. This is a Dell machine so I then started the recovery disk. First stage didn't fix it. Ran the second stage and all the icons came back. Sucesss! Now everything seems to be fine. Thanks for your help, and quick replys.

[AnnMarie]

Hi again bvrsqeezer - sorry we couldnt fix your problem. Thanks for posting back and letting us know what worked for you :)