Desktop Icons Appear As the Default Windows Icon
This article was previously published under Q185217
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry.
Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it
if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the
"Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a
Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.
On This PageSYMPTOMS
When you start your computer, you may notice that the following desktop
icons now appear as the default Windows icon:
CAUSE
This behavior can occur if you install, and then uninstall a program that
has the capability of changing these desktop icons. If you uninstall this
type of program, the icon files that are associated with these icons may
no longer be present on your computer, and the desktop icons may revert to
the default Windows icon.
RESOLUTION
To restore an altered desktop icon to the original desktop icon, use the
appropriate method, and then restart your computer:
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it. My Computer IconUse Registry Editor to locate the following key in the registry, and then edit the default item's value data so that it is explorer.exe,0:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\
DefaultIcon\
ab(default) value= explorer.exe,0
Network Neighborhood IconUse Registry Editor to locate the following key in the registry, and then edit the default item's value data so that it is shell32.dll,17:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}\
DefaultIcon\
ab(default) value= shell32.dll,17
Recycle Bin IconUse Registry Editor to locate the following key in the registry, and then edit the default item's value data so that it is shell32.dll,32 . Also, edit the Empty item's value so that it is shell32.dll,31, and the Full item's value so that it is shell32.dll,32:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\
DefaultIcon\
ab(default) value= shell32.dll,32
ab Empty value= shell32.dll,31
ab Full value= shell32.dll,32
Inbox or Outlook IconUse Registry Editor to locate the following key in the registry, and then edit the default item's value data so that it is c:\exchange\exchang32.exe:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00020D75-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\
DefaultIcon\
ab(default) value= c:\exchange\exchng32.exe
NOTE: This is making the assumption that the Exchange folder contains
the Exchnge32.exe file. If this is not the case, make the appropriate
change to the path.
The Internet Icon for Internet Explorer Version 4.0 or 4.01Use Registry Editor to locate the following key in the registry, and then edit the default item's value data so that it is c:\program files\internet Explorer\ iexplore.exe,-32528:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}\
DefaultIcon\
ab(default) value=C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe,-32528
NOTE: This is making the assumption that the Program Files\Internet
Explorer folder contains the Iexplore.exe file. If this is not the
case, make the appropriate change to the path.
The Internet Icon for Internet Explorer Version 3.xUse Registry Editor to locate the following key in the registry, and then edit the default item's value data so that it is c:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\ iexplore.exe,0:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{FBF23B42-E3F0-101B-8488-00AA003E56F8}\
DefaultIcon\
ab(default) value= C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe,0"
NOTE: This is making the assumption that the Program Files\Internet
Explorer folder contains the Iexplore.exe file. If this is not the
case, make the appropriate change to the path.
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