Vista Tutorial - Icon Cache - Rebuild

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

• How to See and Flush the Contents of the DNS Resolver Cache in Vista
• How to Clear the Thumbnail Cache in Vista
• How to Clear Vista Temporary Files in the Temp Folder
• How to Delete the Internet Explorer Browsing History in Vista
• How to Fix a Personal User Shell Folder Displayed as a Standard Yellow Folder Icon in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Clear Virtual Memory Paging File at Shutdown in Vista
• How to Change a File Extension Type Icon in Vista
• How to Reset the Favorites Favicon Icons in Vista

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.

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.