UNSOLVED
Missing ShellIconCache
My icons are having a hard time - and when I try to find (to delete) ShellIconCache - it is nowhere to be found. Should be on C:\Windows. Nope. Tried everything from looking in My Computer to Explorer - did a file search. Not there. Opened Windows in Safe mode - then re-started. No help. Icons still start in "basic" form, then slowly click to the regular icon form. I even reinstalled Windows 98 SE over itself. STILL NO SHELLICONCACHE. Have gone Online searching for help - you good folks usually have THE answers - so if anybody can help, you surely can. Meanwhile, my Dell Inspiron 7000 is running a tad slow - but Norton WinDoctor says no problems - sigh. Thanx in advance. Larry R
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Posted November 21st, 2003 17:00
Thanks for the replly. Yes, the "hidden" files can be seen. NO sign anywhere of ShellIconCache. Any other ideas? LR704
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Posted 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.
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Posted November 21st, 2003 21:00
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 - LR704
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Posted November 22nd, 2003 02:00
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.704
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Posted 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
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Posted November 22nd, 2003 02:00
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.704
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Posted 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.
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Posted November 22nd, 2003 02:00
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.
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Posted 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
Message Edited by chuket on 11-22-2003 12:11 AM
firstclermont
30 Posts
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Posted November 21st, 2003 17:00