Fix Blank or White Shortcut Icons on Desktop
Once in a while, the shortcut icons on the Windows desktop may suddenly been changed or became blank or ‘white paper’ icon, where supposedly the icons should be colorful and customized in style and color. It’s as if the icon for the shortcut has been removed or unassigned, and been replaced with default blank icon in white.
The bug happens whenever there is corruption in icon cache database. For example, in Windows 7 pre-RC release, a network connection or broadband connection shortcut’s icon placed on desktop by user manually will go haywire and turn into blank default icon if there is another third-party program places an icon on desktop later.
In order to fix the problem where shortcut icons turn to blank icon, try to refresh or rebuild the cache database for icons. There are many system management software utilities that may reset the icon cache db automatically, but here’s how to reset the icon cache db manually.
To refresh and reset the icons cache, go to the following folder:
C:\Users\
To see the hidden AppData folder, go to Organize -> Folder and Search Options -> View tab, and select Show hidden files, folders and drives, and uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
Once inside the folder, delete IconCache.db. Create a new file named IconCache.db, and set it to Read Only attribute in Properties (if the file is not read only, the cache won’t be reset). Then restart the computer. Remove the Read Only attribute of IconCache.db file, and the icons cache will be refreshed. The step will restore the desktop shortcut icons to their lawfully icons.
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Entries (RSS)
November 25th, 2009 09:05
This works perfectly on Windows 7 (32-bit). To create a blank iconcache.db file, create a text file and save it as iconcache.db. This will ensure you have a zero byte file.
November 19th, 2009 04:07
Thanks! I have Windows 7 final and my small desktop icons all became black for some reason (except for recycle). Setting the icons to medium size displayed some of each icon but the small black square still obscured part of the medium icon. Setting it to large worked with no black square at all but they are way too big! Anyway, your trick worked great, thanks.
To other commenters: I created a text file (not a binary like a Word doc) plus this is for *Windows 7*, not Vista! I think there’s another icon repair process for Vista. And for good old XP just use TweakUI’s repair icons feature.
July 24th, 2009 15:51
Hi,
Your solution did not work. I am using Windows Vista 64.
Michael
July 23rd, 2009 00:31
How to create an iconcache.db?
Harry
July 23rd, 2009 00:31
How to create a iconcache.db?
Harry
July 20th, 2009 15:50
It work!!!! thanks…
i’m a real nerd!!!
ciao
July 20th, 2009 15:38
Maybe I’m a nerd… but… i create a iconcache.db from a doc file that i change in a db in command prompt…. it’s the way to do it? or, better, it’s wrong? and if… what i have to do to create a iconcache.db?
thanks and thanks
stefano
July 20th, 2009 15:14
I’m on vista 32 bit and… doesn’t work pal… thanks in any case..