OK, everybody - I've re-booted in Safe Mode - re-booted in Dos mode - tried sfc to see if I could extract it from a CD installation disc - I've done about everything that anybody on the Web has suggested that I do. Still NO ShellIconCache. Does anybody out there have a copy of it that you can e-mail me, so I can install it on my system? I'm getting desperate, as my icons at startup take a LONG time to change from the "flag" icons to the icons I created. Sigh. A liddle help is badly needed here, folks! Thanx - LR
Hi, Denny - have read so many of your good solutions - but not sure what to do in this case. If you have Win98 - I suppose we could TRY an e-mailed copy - I guess I'd have to send that to C:\Windows? But you are probably right - each computer has its own "version" of that file. Triple sigh here. I've tried EVERYTHING else - and outside of re-formatting (which I really don't want to do) I'm open to any and all suggestions. If you want to give it a try - wryte4u@comcast.net is my e-mail. So many thanks - Larry R.
Regarding using a file from someone else's computer, I think Denny is right...each is unique and it would be of no help and could make matters worse. This cache simply contains the shortcuts loaded to the Desktop in a centralized folder for faster loading rather than, having Windows search for each program individually to retrieve the shortcuts.
Try going here and following the directions under, "Resolution":
While the problem is caused by another issue there is a good chance that deleting the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\IconHandler will work in your case as well.
EDIT: As an afterthought, if the problem continues to persist you may want to use TweakUI to rebuild (or build) the cache. It is located on your Windows CD or, can be downloaded. You can find a very good description of the tool and instructions for installing it, here:
Lastly, I might mention that it's not uncommon for the cache to require more than one reboot to be recreated particularly if, the problem was initially caused by the registry value being to low for the size of the cache.
Message Edited by Dan Manley on 11-21-2003 11:18 PM
Hi, Dan - you are so often helpful in this forum that I welcome your posting! However, I have tried - and tried - everything you suggest - except the last one re the other link and file download. I've searched in vain - re-booted in DOS, re-booted in Safe Mode - even reinstalled Win98 SE - but still NO ShellIconCache. Have read several Online articles about similar problems - and now think I'll just have to beg an e-mailed file from somebody and then insert it in my C:\Windows? Heck, my icons are now so slow that it is embarrasssing - and my poor computer bogs down as the icons try to change from the Windows flag to the other icon graphics. I'm at wits end on this. Obviously, the "find file" hasn't worked - and I was hoping that I might isolate it on the installation discs - but can't do that, either. Need some heavy-duty help from you dudes who know what you are doing! With advance bended-knee thanks - Larry R.
Let's try this again...I don't see how it's possible you could actually be missing this file since it's automatically re-created by Windows even if, deleted.
First, go to folder options and put a tick by, "Show All Files", hit "Apply" and OK out. Now, go to "Start | Find | Files or Folders" and in the "Named" field enter, shelliconcache. Make sure the C:\ drive is selected in the "Look In" field and OK the search. The file should appear and be located in the C:\Windows directory. When found, delete the file and reboot to rebuild the file.
Contingent upon the above actually working, you might want to go, here:
There, locate and download a little registry file called, "IconFix.reg" and follow the instructions to merge it into your registry to increase the size of the cache thereby, avoiding most icon-related problems.
I have a copy but your email address is not shown in your profile. Even if it were, I don't believe a copy of the file would do you any good, since that file is generated by Windows and I suspect each version is unique to the computer upon which it was generated.
I could find nothing in a search which suggested that the file could be generated in any way other than by deleting it and letting Windows rebuild it and restarting in MS-DOS mode then in Normal Mode.
Yo - Dan - many thanks for SO much info! Whew! First of all - tried to find the registry key that you so kindly sent. Nope - not in the registry. Ain' no sech animal as HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\IconHandler. Tried three times - not there.
So - now I'm going to try your other "tweaks" - and see if they work. Meanwhile, a good friend with Win98 sent me the ShellIconCache as an e-mail attachment. I loaded itin Windows - fine - then re-booted. Still there, but icons still not changing very fast. So, I deleted the file. Re-booted - and ShellIconCache did NOT re-create itself. Sigh.
Back to the drawing board - and will try your tweaks in the morning. As an old, retired chap, it's getting too late for me to do rational work on the computer! So many thanks to you, Dan, and to Denny and all who are trying to help - boy, do I need it! Well, I'll "see" you in the morning! Larry R
Long night - good morning everyone! Early this ayem (Naples, FL) I started in again to see if I could recreate ShellIconCache. Well - I tried, and failed to get a download for TweakUI from ZDNet - just didn't happen. Did Dan's download of IconFix.reg - put it in Windows Temp - R-clicked and hit Merge. didn't see smoke or action, but guess it did its thing without fuss? After all this I re-booted in both DOS and Safe Mode - still no sign of the missing file - and the icons change even slower than before. I'm a thorough Chicken when Registry editing is called for - never have done more than "search" there. No edits. Now, I'm hoping that some Help will come from y'all. Opened all the MS files, by the way, and tried all their tips - except Registry editing, that is. So I'm starting "fresh" today - and hope that the icon-thang doesn't get worse (which it seems to be). Sigh. Larry R
My registry doesn't have that key, either. The download link for TweakUI in the reference Dan linked you to is no longer valid. You can get TweakUI
here. When you install it, you will receive an error telling you that tweakui.cnt is not on your installation disk. It will then display a window which will allow you to browse to the location of the file. It is in the folder where you unzipped the downloaded file, so point it there.
Once TweakUI has been install, access it through Control Panel and use the Repair tab to rebuild your icons. With luck that should create a ShellIconCache file.
Thanks for the catch, Denny...I didn't realize the link was no longer valid and upon a physical check, I don't have the reg key either. If the TweakUI thing does not rectify the problem frankly, I'm at a loss of what will.
Yo - Dan - and thanks to you, too, for all your suggestions. I went Online and searched in Google (for the umpteenth time) and found some postings that I thought might help. One guy suggested changing icon size and spacing, then re-booting. Well, I R-clicked on desktop and went into Display>Appearancd>Item box>Icon. Changed size and spacing, and did the re-boot thang. NOTHING. At this point, I'm afraid I'm stuck with all those nutzy icons that take a loonnngggg time to change on startup. Hope springs eternal, but eternity is getting shorter and shorter for me!! GRIN Larry R
firstclermont
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November 21st, 2003 17:00
Writer
33 Posts
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November 21st, 2003 17:00
MichaelCretired
2 Intern
•
1.3K Posts
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November 21st, 2003 18:00
Writer,
Thanks for using the Dell Community Forum.
Go to http://www.google.com and do a search on ShelliconCache. There are several articles on this and how to rebuild it in Windows 98.
Writer
33 Posts
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November 21st, 2003 21:00
Writer
33 Posts
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November 22nd, 2003 02:00
Dan Manley
1.4K Posts
0
November 22nd, 2003 02:00
Regarding using a file from someone else's computer, I think Denny is right...each is unique and it would be of no help and could make matters worse. This cache simply contains the shortcuts loaded to the Desktop in a centralized folder for faster loading rather than, having Windows search for each program individually to retrieve the shortcuts.
Try going here and following the directions under, "Resolution":
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;243779&Product=w98
While the problem is caused by another issue there is a good chance that deleting the registry key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\IconHandler will work in your case as well.
EDIT: As an afterthought, if the problem continues to persist you may want to use TweakUI to rebuild (or build) the cache. It is located on your Windows CD or, can be downloaded. You can find a very good description of the tool and instructions for installing it, here:
http://malektips.com/98tww0001.html
Lastly, I might mention that it's not uncommon for the cache to require more than one reboot to be recreated particularly if, the problem was initially caused by the registry value being to low for the size of the cache.
Message Edited by Dan Manley on 11-21-2003 11:18 PM
Writer
33 Posts
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November 22nd, 2003 02:00
Dan Manley
1.4K Posts
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November 22nd, 2003 02:00
Let's try this again...I don't see how it's possible you could actually be missing this file since it's automatically re-created by Windows even if, deleted.
First, go to folder options and put a tick by, "Show All Files", hit "Apply" and OK out. Now, go to "Start | Find | Files or Folders" and in the "Named" field enter, shelliconcache. Make sure the C:\ drive is selected in the "Look In" field and OK the search. The file should appear and be located in the C:\Windows directory. When found, delete the file and reboot to rebuild the file.
Contingent upon the above actually working, you might want to go, here:
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/Tweekz.htm
There, locate and download a little registry file called, "IconFix.reg" and follow the instructions to merge it into your registry to increase the size of the cache thereby, avoiding most icon-related problems.
Denny Denham
2 Intern
•
18.8K Posts
0
November 22nd, 2003 02:00
I have a copy but your email address is not shown in your profile. Even if it were, I don't believe a copy of the file would do you any good, since that file is generated by Windows and I suspect each version is unique to the computer upon which it was generated.
I could find nothing in a search which suggested that the file could be generated in any way other than by deleting it and letting Windows rebuild it and restarting in MS-DOS mode then in Normal Mode.
chuket
1.4K Posts
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November 22nd, 2003 03:00
Writer
You can try this from MS:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;132668&Product=w98
Sorry, slow typing Dan.
Message Edited by chuket on 11-22-2003 12:11 AM
Writer
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November 22nd, 2003 03:00
Yo - Dan - many thanks for SO much info! Whew! First of all - tried to find the registry key that you so kindly sent. Nope - not in the registry. Ain' no sech animal as HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\IconHandler. Tried three times - not there.
So - now I'm going to try your other "tweaks" - and see if they work. Meanwhile, a good friend with Win98 sent me the ShellIconCache as an e-mail attachment. I loaded itin Windows - fine - then re-booted. Still there, but icons still not changing very fast. So, I deleted the file. Re-booted - and ShellIconCache did NOT re-create itself. Sigh.
Back to the drawing board - and will try your tweaks in the morning. As an old, retired chap, it's getting too late for me to do rational work on the computer! So many thanks to you, Dan, and to Denny and all who are trying to help - boy, do I need it! Well, I'll "see" you in the morning! Larry R
Writer
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November 22nd, 2003 10:00
Denny Denham
2 Intern
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18.8K Posts
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November 22nd, 2003 15:00
My registry doesn't have that key, either. The download link for TweakUI in the reference Dan linked you to is no longer valid. You can get TweakUI here. When you install it, you will receive an error telling you that tweakui.cnt is not on your installation disk. It will then display a window which will allow you to browse to the location of the file. It is in the folder where you unzipped the downloaded file, so point it there.
Once TweakUI has been install, access it through Control Panel and use the Repair tab to rebuild your icons. With luck that should create a ShellIconCache file.
Dan Manley
1.4K Posts
0
November 22nd, 2003 17:00
Writer
33 Posts
0
November 22nd, 2003 17:00