Article ID: 151723 - Last Review: November 1, 2006 - Revision: 1.1

How to Re-create Default Icons Deleted from Desktop

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SUMMARY

If the default icons are deleted from a Windows NT desktop, they can be recreated with the Registry.
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MORE INFORMATION

When a desktop icon is deleted, the registry entry for that icon is also deleted in one section of the Registry (details below). However, the icon information is maintained elsewhere in the Registry (details below) and this information can be copied back to the original location to restore the icons.
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RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide problems that may require you to reinstall Windows NT. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.
  1. Use Regedit.exe to search the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID portion of the registry for the string associated with the icon you want to recreate.
  2. Right-click on the 32-character number and choose Rename. With the ID number highlighted, press CTRL+INSERT to copy the text to the Clipboard.
  3. Locate Hkey_local_machine\software\microsoft\windows\currentversion \explorer\desktop\namespace in the registry and choose Edit\Add Key.
  4. Press SHIFT+INSERT to paste in the 32-character identifier.
  5. In the right-hand pane of REGEDIT, double-click on the default icon and type the title to be associated with the desktop icon in the Value data field.
  6. Log off to make the changes take effect.
This procedure works for these desktop icons: 

   Icon name               Key value
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   Inbox                   {00020D76-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
   Recycle Bin             {645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}
   The Internet            {FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}
   The Microsoft Network   {00028B00-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
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Keywords: 
kbhowto kbui KB151723
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