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| Vista Tutorial - Icon Cache - Rebuild Icon Cache - Rebuild
How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Vista
Published by Brink
12-30-2007
| | How to Rebuild the Icon Cache in Vista Information | | If you have any icons that are not displaying correctly in Vista, then rebuilding the icon cache will reset them. This will show you how to delete the icon cache, to clear it, so Vista will rebuild it after a restart. |  | NOTE | | - This does not change the icons. It only clears the icon cache to get rid of any corruption and rebuilds the icon cache with the correct icons again.
- If this is for a internet URL icons (favicons), in IE7 Favorites for example, then you will need to delete the Temporary Internet Files to reset these icons instead. For how, see: How to Delete the Internet Explorer Browsing History in Vista
|  | Tip | | If you only have problems with a particular file (file extension type) icon, then it may be a default association problem instead. The file extension will show the icon for the program that it is associated to. This happens when a program and file extenstion has lost their default associations with each other, or associated to a wrong program instead. To resolve this, either make sure that you have all of the default associations set for the program that the file extension is for, or make sure that you have the correct default program associated with the file extension type. For how to do this, see: How to Set Default Associations For a Program in Vista or How to Associate a Individual File Extension Type With a Program in Vista |  | RELATED LINKS: | METHOD ONE: |
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| Rebuild the Icon Cache |
NOTE | | This will delete the icon cache so Vista will wipe out all icons in the cache and reload the icons into the cache for the files as you run across them again. |  | 1. Open Folder Options to select (dot) Show hidden files and folders. 2. Open a Windows Explorer window. 3. Go to C:\Users\(User Name)\AppData\Local (See screenhot below) 4. Right click on IconCache.db and click on Delete. 5. Click on Yes to confirm the deletion. (See screenshot below) NOTE: This deletes the file to the Recycle Bin. It is safe to empty the Recycle Bin when finished. 6. Close the window. 7. Empty the Recycle Bin. 8. Restart the computer. 9. When you go back, you will notice the Size of the IconCache.db file is smaller, and the Date Modified is now the current date. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If for some reason IconCache.db is not there or the size has not changed much, then just restart the computer again. You may need to restart a couple of times in some cases. 10. The icon cache has been rebuilt.
11. Open Folder Options to select (dot) Do not show hidden files and folders. | METHOD TWO: |
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| Reset the Icon Cache |
NOTE | | This method is not as thorough as METHOD ONE and is good for minor quirks with the icons only. It will only reset the icon cache instead of deleting it and having Vista completely rebuild it. |  | 1. Right click on a empty area of the desktop and click on Personalize. 2. Click on the Display Properties link. (See screenshot below) 3. Under Colors, select Medium (16-bit) and click on Apply. (See screenshot below) NOTE: If you already have Medium (16-bit) selected, then select Highest (32-bit) instead. Sometimes you will need to do a restart first, then proceed to step 4. Try both ways.A) Click Yes to confirm the new settings. 4. Now, select Highest (32-bit) and click on OK. NOTE: If you already have Highest (32-bit)selected, then select Medium (16-bit) instead.A) Click on Yes to confirm the new settings. 
That's it,
Shawn |  Published by | | | Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 23,763
Rep Power: 150 | |
 Tutorial Tools | | |
 Applies to | | All Vista Versions | | 64 Bit & 32 Bit | |
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03-13-2008
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| | Member
Rep Power: 10
 | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild Just wanted to let you know that this one worked for me.
Lost the icon of one of my harddrives, it was replaced by a generic one.
Rebuiding the cache brought it back
Thanx,
Benergy | My System Specs | | OS Vista Ultimate x64 CPU Intel Q6600 Motherboard Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 (rev. 1.1) Memory 4 X 1Gb Team Xtreem Dark 800 Graphics Card MSI RX2600XT Monitor(s) Displays Dell 2007WFP Screen Resolution 1680 x 1050 PSU Cooler Master 550W Case Antec p180 Hard Drives 3x SAMSUNG HD321KJ
1x SAMSUNG HD501LJ
03-13-2008
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild Hi Benergy, and welcome to Vista x64 Forums.
I'm glad to hear that it helped you. Thank you for the feedback.
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
04-04-2008
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| | Member Vista Business 32bit Finland
Rep Power: 12
 | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild Thanks for this thread, however, I tried both options, but afraid to say, neither of them sorted out my particular issue. All my icons are fine except .sis and .exe files | My System Specs | |
04-04-2008
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild Hi GSI-R,
For the .exe files, try clicking on the .exe in the box here to download and use the reg file to see if it can help. File association fixes for Windows Vista
For the .sis files, see the added Still Not Working section at the top of the tutorial and check to make sure that it has it's default program associated to it.
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
04-04-2008
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| | Member Vista Business 32bit Finland
Rep Power: 12
 | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild Cheers Shawn. Appreciated.
Micky | My System Specs | |
04-04-2008
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
04-04-2008
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| | Member
Rep Power: 10
 | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild For some reason, all desktop icons pointing to my F: drive were dead after I installed some different SATA drivers. They still worked.
I tried the bitdepth option and it worked for me  sure is faster than a reboot!
Thanks | My System Specs | |
04-04-2008
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| | Administrator Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 Texas, USA | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild Your welcome Wracky, and welcome to Vista Forums.
Shawn | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Custom OS Vista x64 Ultimate SP2 CPU Core2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 12MB Motherboard Gigabyte X48-DQ6 Memory 8 GB (4x2) DDR2 PC2-8500 1066 MHz Patriot Extreme Graphics Card BFG GeForce 9600 GT OC 512MB Sound Card Realtek HD Audio ALC889A Integrated Chip Monitor(s) Displays 28" Hanns-G HG281DJB and 17" eMachines E17T4 Screen Resolution 28" 1920x1200 and 17" 1280x1024 Keyboard Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution Mouse Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution PSU Antec NeoPower 500 Watt Case Tagan El-Diablo Full Tower Cooling 250 mm Front, 360 mm Side, stock CPU, 120 mm SiLenX Rear Hard Drives 64GB Patriot SSD (v2)
750GB Samsung HDD HD753LJ SATA 32MB Internet Speed 3382 kb/s Download and 312 kb/s Upload Other Info Creative WebCam Instant
05-30-2008
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| | Banned
Rep Power: 0
 | Re: Icon Cache - Rebuild hi, when you say you can empty the recycle bin when finished do you mean i can dempty it after restart or before? thanks
Last edited by mlbplayer456; 05-30-2008 at 08:56 PM..
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