wierd problem in my computer

By JavaFiend Posted December 18, 2007 21:33:29

I had something wierd happen, and I am not sure what caused it. When I open up my computer, the c drive has no icon. When I had iconpackager loaded, it did, but nothing since I unloaded it. Also, when you double click on the c drive, the panel on the left shows video tasks.

I don't remember installing anything new or chaning anything at the time. I tried several different windowblind skins, I unloaded all stardock products, thinking that would correct it, but it is still wrong. Anyone have a thought?

I tried to load a screen shot, but I don't know how to put one in my post. If that does not make sense, I will figure it out and post it.

Thanks for any help.

0 Karma 23 Replies 18 Referrals

when you decided to stop using icon packager, did you load the program one last time and set your fonts to windows default?. that could have something to do with it

I used the program to go back to windows default icons before I un-installed the program. I thought that may change it, but no luck.

Anyone else have any thoughts?

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Assuming you have tried using the display properties > themes dialog to reapply the default windows theme when attempting to fix the issue, I would attempt the following:

- Reinstall IconPackager to see if that restores the correct icons.

If so, then I would suggest applying one of the icon packages that are included with the program > reboot > restore all icons using IconPackager (there is also the 'Repair Icons' option you can apply after that) > reboot.

If all icons are looking correct now, then attempt to uninstall the program again.

Note - I would perform all of the above with all customization unloaded and the default windows theme applied (with the obvious exception of the icons).

If that fails and you are comfortable with looking in the registry, you can look at the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile\DefaultIcon

The values should be:

Name = (default)

Type = Reg_SZ

Data = %1

Note #2 - if you see a folder (key) named 'IconHandler' under the following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile

Then another program has created that key and may be at fault.

To post an image, you must upload the image to an internet host site such as 'Image Shack' which can be found here: http://imageshack.us/

First you sign-up for an account, then upload the image to your account on the site. After uploading the image you can copy the 'Direct Link' address of the image and paste it into the field available when you click the 'Insert Image' button (far right button) here in the comment section.

I hope this helps.

Thanks Corky_O. I had tried the display properties stuff. No change there. As you suggested, I re-installed iconpackager. Now, any package I try (I tried the ones that come with the program and I also downloaded a few) none of them change the icon for the c drive in my computer.

I then went into the registry. I went to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile\DefaultIcon. There is one for icofile, and then under that is another for defaulticon.

The defaulticon shows the values you stated above. But the main one, icofile, shows two entries on the right, named default and ImageOptionsFlags. Values for default are type:REG_SZ, data:icon. Values for ImageOptionsFlags are type:REG_DWORD. data:0x00000000 (0).

What should I do next?

I will try to attach a screen shot to make this easier. Thanks for the instructions, saved me time. I like that.

Here is a shot of the c drive on my computer.

Here is the first entry in the registry

Here is the 2nd. I hope these can help.

I think I got to the area you were talking about, but I have never been in the registry before, so I don't want to mess around without some input.

Thanks again.

I also did get an error message when I re-installed iconpackager. It seemed to work fine, and unfortunately, I did not write down what it was. I have since uninstalled iconpackager again.

JavaFiend,

Your 'icofile' registry key is correct, so the problem is not there.

Here are two more things you can try:

1 - Look under the following registry keys for a folder (key) called 'Drive':

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer

If you see one, post a screenshot of it here (Windows XP does not have one there by default, and although IconPackager should have removed it, there may have been a glitch in the uninstall process).

2 - Try running a search for autoplay.inf (make sure to include hidden files and folders under the advanced options section of the search dialog).

If you find that file on your 'C:\' drive you can safely delete it and then reboot. This has been known to create issues with the drive icons. This file is safe to delete because it will be recreated if needed and should not create another issue after the issue is fixed.

Other than that, I would wait for someone who is running XP (I am now on Vista) who can tell you if there is a 'Drive' listing under 'Folder Options > File types' where you can use the 'Advanced' button to change the icon (I just can't remember for sure if that is listed).

I hope this helps.

I would wait for someone who is running XP (I am now on Vista) who can tell you if there is a 'Drive' listing under 'Folder Options > File types' where you can use the 'Advanced' button to change the icon (I just can't remember for sure if that is listed).

My Computer > tools > folder options > file types

for me: Drive is 5th one down
click to highlight > then click the advanced button

change icon button on top right

2 - Try running a search for autoplay.inf (make sure to include hidden files and folders under the advanced options section of the search dialog).

I searched for this, found nothing.

1 - Look under the following registry keys for a folder (key) called 'Drive':

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer

If you see one, post a screenshot of it here (Windows XP does not have one there by default, and although IconPackager should have removed it, there may have been a glitch in the uninstall process).

Same here, found nothing, but I may have found the problem. In the same area, the defaulticon for drive c is still looking for an image from iconpackager. What should this be by default? If I switch it back, it looks like that may fix it.

Now I have another interesting thing happening. I must have changed something I should not have. When I open my computer and double click on any of my three drives (c,d,e) it opens a separate search window. It did not do that before, so I must have messed something up. Any ideas? I went in to the area suggested, My Computer > tools > folder options > file types. I found drive, didn't think I changed anything, but I must have.

JavaFiend,

That 'DriveIcons' key is the problem.

Just delete that 'DriveIcons' key (folder) in the registry and reboot.

That should do it.

Note - FYI that key was created by IconPackager which is no longer installed and is not needed.

go ahead Corky!

java
I'm not sure if it will help,the tools-folder options window has "restore defaults" buttons,also microsofts tweakui has a rebuild icon cache button tho i don't know if it will fix the missing overlay.

That 'DriveIcons' key is the problem.

Just delete that 'DriveIcons' key (folder) in the registry and reboot.

That should do it.

Worked like a charm. Thanks for the help. Much appreciated!

I still have that other problem. When I go into my computer and double click on any drive, c, d, e, it opens a separate window for a search. Any thoughts on this one?

I'm not sure if it will help,the tools-folder options window has "restore defaults" buttons,also microsofts tweakui has a rebuild icon cache button tho i don't know if it will fix the missing overlay.

I had tried that as well. It took a delete of that one registry key. That solved it. Now to just get my drives to open properly.....

Also, and I don't know if it is related to the drives no opening, but when I right click, select explore, my c drive still shows video tasks.

Thanks again for all the help from everyone here. I really appreciate it.

Worked like a charm. Thanks for the help. Much appreciated!

No problem.

I still have that other problem. When I go into my computer and double click on any drive, c, d, e, it opens a separate window for a search. Any thoughts on this one?

I would make sure that the 'Launch folder windows in a separate process' is deselected under 'Folder options > View tab' to start with.

After that, I would go back into the 'My Computer > tools > folder options > file types' mentioned by Bichur and see if you somehow changed the default program to open that 'file type' (I believe it should be 'explorer.exe, but again; I am running Vista which no longer has the 'file type' section in folder options).

Hopefully someone running XP can offer the default listing for the 'drive' file type on their system to steer you in the right direction.

Also, and I don't know if it is related to the drives no opening, but when I right click, select explore, my c drive still shows video tasks.

This one sounds like XP is seeing your 'C:\' drive as a video folder for some reason. I have no real idea on how that would have occured or where in the registry it would be stored (if it is stored there).

You can run the following command via the command prompt: sfc /scannow

Note - to load the command prompt, you can use: 'Start > run > type: cmd > press 'Enter' > then type the command above (there is a space between the 'sfc' and the '/scannow' text) > press 'Enter' to run the command. This will run the 'system file checker' function in XP which will look for corrupt files and attempt to replace any found with either the cache that Windows creates or by asking you to insert the XP installation disc (hopefully you have one).

Alternatively, you can use the 'right-click drive > Properties > Tools > 'Check Now' button under the 'Error-checking' section to run the file checker. Note - you will want to select the 'Automatically fix file system errors' to have the process fix problems.

Again, I am not sure why XP is seeing your drive as a video folder, but this is a place to start.

I hope this helps.

I would make sure that the 'Launch folder windows in a separate process' is deselected under 'Folder options > View tab' to start with.

After that, I would go back into the 'My Computer > tools > folder options > file types' mentioned by Bichur and see if you somehow changed the default program to open that 'file type' (I believe it should be 'explorer.exe, but again; I am running Vista which no longer has the 'file type' section in folder options).

I messed around with this again. When I double click on a drive, it will open it up, but in a new window. Not too big of a deal. But, the c drive still shows video tasks. I tried both things you suggested. The error-checking didn't work. It gives me an error and says windows can't finish the check. I also tried the sfc /scannow. It went through the motions (took quite a while), and then finished. I did a re-boot, but all is still the same.

I don't know if it is related, but several months ago, my computer all of a sudden crashed (BSOD). I thought I was screwed. Then, all of a sudden, it booted back up. Also, every so often, my d drive disappears. Then, maybe the same day, maybe a few days later, it re-appears. Just like that.

This could be totally un-related, but maybe not. It just seems to me this computer is a little finicky. I don't know if a computer can be (dell dual core pentium, 14 months old), but it almost seems like it to me.

I'll probably back up all my extra files again, and if no one else has any other suggestions, I'll probably re-do my hard drive. That should take care of it.

Thanks again to Corky_O and others with all the help. Again, it is much appreciated.

Corky_O,

I just thought I would reply back, it has been a while. I kept having trouble with other things with my computer. It had ended up back with Dell and they are trying to fix it. It has the guy working on it a little confused. I don't think he even really believed me on the problems I was having (I had other stuff from what I mentioned here, plus, a whole host of new problems that arose when I tried to re-install windows. They are replacing the mother board and hopefully that will take care it things.

Thanks again for all your help on this though.

Yeah bloody hardware sux ,it can lead you down paths where you think on your on to it then it bites ya in the ass,an issue i had last year every so often i'd get a disk read error "no disk" reinstalling windows fixed it for a few days or even a few weeks,it had me believing the hdd was on it's way out,eventually after another install i got pissed off, ripped the IDE cable off the hdd ,which broke the ide connector on the cable,replaced ide cable, problem solved turned out it was the ide cable at fault..lol..