Missing ShellIconCache

Show hidden files from Folder Options in Windows Explorer

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.

 

 

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.

Writer,

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.

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

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,

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.