Icons of any shortcut overlapped by another icon

Hi,

I saw this after I logged in to my computer today in the morning: All the icons of the shorcuts (to different applications) on my desktop is overlapped by the 'My Network Places' icon. When I try to change the icon of the shortcut, the actual icon changes but the ''My Network Places' icon again sits on the top of the new icon. I can see that the old icon has changed as parts of the new can be seen peeking out from below the 'My Network Places' icon. The same holds true for the new shortcuts created. The moment the new shortcut gets created, the 'My Network Places' icon automatically gets on top of it and remains there. Double clicking the shortcut however launches the desired application.

PLEASE HELP ME get my icons back. Most of my desktop is filled with 'My Network Places' icons. I have tried running a virus check with no infection report.

Shivaji Datta

 

Welcome to the BB Shivaji Datta

Let's try the easy way first. Do a search for shelliconcache and when found, delete it and reboot.

Many times that will fix the icon problem since it's usually a corrupt cache. Windows creates a new one upon boot.

Post back your results.

 

I guess you have right clicked on the desktop and clicked Line Up Icons?

Whilst here, click on Arrange Icons and don't tick any of the options.

Try to keep the info about the icon brief if you right click it and select rename. Too much info here can cause crowding of some icons on the desktop.

 

Hi Surferdude2,

I had tried that (deleting shelliconcache) before I had posted my problem here. Sorry to have missed out on mentioning that. Anyways, i tried that again but the issue didn't get resolved.

Do you think that the shell32.dll file might be corrupt? I think most of the Windows icons are in that file. Do you think I can delete this file and copy one from another machine on the network? I have checked the file size with another guy's shell32.dll and they are the same: 2,358,544 bytes. So I am not sure if it is a shell32.dll corruption. Please help.

Hi Paul,

I have not lined up icons or anything. It's just that any new shorcuts I create, the icons are always overshadowed by the "My Network Places" icon and when I click and drag the icon, both of them move together. It's like one is glued on the top of the other. I understand your suggestion and I wish to reassure you that the issue is not because of crowding or the lenght of the names under the icons. It seems to be a system corruption at some level. Please let me know if you want me to try something else.

I will be grateful if someone can help me with this along with Surferdude2 and Paul. If you guys want a screenshot, I can send you one. Do leave an email id for that.

Cheers!

 

I am still facing the same issue. Can someone help? My company's helpdesk failed to resolve it.

 

I doubt it. I think it's something affecting the shortcuts as an overlay. Check all right-click Desktop property settings for anything abnormal.

Since you haven't installed any third party tool that would allow you to change the overlay on shortcuts, I would also suspect viral activity. At any rate you should eliminate that possibility first. An on-line scan would be a good place to start.

HOUSECALL Free on-line Virus Scan http://housecall.antivirus.com/

Then you need to eliminate Spyware as the cause. AdAware is a good tool for that:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download506.html

After doing those things, get the trial version of Tweaking toolbox:

http://www.tweakingtoolbox.com/ttw/

It has a tool that can repair your icons under certain conditions.

I'm at a somewhat disadvantage here since I'm running XP and don't have access to a W2k machine. Perhaps someone will chime in that is better positioned.

 

Do you have TweakUi? It has a tool that changes the shortcut overlay and can do exactly what you describe. You'll find it listed under EXPLORER > SHORTCUT. See that the "Customize" button isn't tagged there. Tag the "Arrow" button instead. Click OK on the way out.

Even if you don't have that tool, get it and perhaps run through the motions above and you may get the fix via luck.

 

Hey surferdude2,

The issue is accidentally resolved. I was fooling around with the colour depth and once I changed it to 256 colors, the ovellapping icons vanished and teh original ones were displayed. I changed it back to 32 bit colour thinking that the overlapping icons would be back but they didn't. YAY!!!

Thanks anyways for the tips. I'll keep 'em handy.
Take care.