Mystery: ShellIconCache file gone!!

[janusz]

Greetings!

Wonder where the ShellIconCache went to? You didn't take it, did you?

Windows 98SE/IE6, Celeron 500Mhz, 128MbRAM

I have two machines running Win98SE/IE6 - pretty much identical setups - one has the shelliconcache file, the other does not! Nowhere on the system. I've never deleted it; never had icon problems with the machine.

I do have most of my desktop icons in a separate folder (cleaner loading, etc.) but, still, there are others that are not. Oh, things works just fine -- no icon problem at all. And, yes, I have it set so that all files are visible. I also changed color settings (supposed to cause rebuilding of the file).

It is perplexing . . . as though it's there but not!

1. Where is it?

2. Why does everything seem to work just fine without it (fingers crossed- at least for now it does)?

Thank you for taking the time to reply . . .


Janusz
Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

[AnnMarie]

Hi janusz - dont be offended but it is a hidden file, have you checked to make sure that you can view them? OK, next

A Google search revealed that a program called PaneKiller prevents shelliconcache from being rebuilt and if the worst come to the worst, you could try Derek's fix

[janusz]

Hello, AnnMarie! How are things in NZ?

I have tried everything but kicking the machine!

I have it set (I've reset several times . . . hoping) the system to show all files and extensions. I've booted into Safe Mode - still not there. Amazingly, it works fine.

I tried a little utility (5kb) called Silv that supposedly displays shelliconcache contents. Yup. I see my desktop icons and many for other programs. Apparently, the machine is "reading" something?!

Background: I was lead to this point trying to solve a problem caused the last Windows Upgrade. Urggh. After installing I had numerous DIBENG.DLL errors. The main cause is related to display drive-graphics card incompatibility. Strange. I have Intel 810E graphics chipset. So, I get latest drivers and install. Still a problem. Shouldn't be an incompatibility problem because this is the driver for the chipset. Changing resolutions did not help. After moving acceleration back to mid-point I gained control. While searching for a solution I ran across some comment about 'shelliconcache' (memory recall on specifics are absent; brain cells occupied with other work).

I have never had a problem with icons on this machine. To solve desktop icon problems, I've read where shelliconcache may be deleted and it rebuilds. I've never had reason to delete - it works fine. Oh, Registry Checker gave clean bill of health.

It's a case of - now you don't see it and now you still don't see it!

Thanks for taking the time to find the links. I think I may try Derek's solution. It seems radical enough to work. Since I have most desktop icons in a separate folder, I was thinking about renaming by desktop icon folder and rebooting. I'll try Derek's approach first and see what happens.

Janusz
Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

[janusz]

PROBLEM SOLVED! . . . but I haven't a clue as to why?

Here's what I tried:

1. Derek's solution . . . I placed my desktop icon folder (with desktop icons) in the recycle bin to completely remove it from the picture. Rebooted. Nada. I noticed that icon paths changed from the folder to program files with the icons. But still no ShellIconCache file. All else okay. I mention this because I don't know if it played a role in the following steps . . .

2. I decided to try copying the ShellIconCache file from another machine over to this one. I thought - what the heck - it might need something to operate on if it is rebuilding, etc. Reboot. No change: same date and file size. I left it in C:\Windows and did this . . .

2. I once again changed setting to HIDE hidden files and NOT show file extensions. This time instead of Start-Shut Down-Reboot I did complete shutdown, Start-Shut Down-Shut down. **Total shutdown** Restarted. Next, I changed files to show all hidden files and show file extensions. I then did the same total total shutdown - no reboot. Restarted. I now have a ShellIconCache file!! Or at least it is VISIBLE.

Mystery Questions:

Why? or why now? Coincidence? Or did I just happen to restart enough times that it finally "took"? Janusz's magic?

Janusz
Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone.

[AnnMarie]

Janusz's magic methinks Ah, the wonder and mystery of Windows, dontcha love it