How to reload icons on desktop

[markloman]

Hi all,

I am overwriting a shortcut on the desktop with a new shortcut pointing to the same (but updated) .ico file. Problem is, the old picture is still showing in stead of the new picture. This is probably because the old picture is in the icon cache.

Does anyone know how to update the icon cache using AutoIt ? The EnvUpdate ( ) function doesn't do the trick.

BTW, I do know when the picture is updated: using TweakUI Rebuild Icons or change the icon size at the display settings.

Perhaps there is a way I can do this with a DllCall?

I hope someone can help.

Thanks! Mark

[Andre]

Hi Mark,

There is a hidden icon cache file in your windows directory, ShellIconCache, which contains a copy of all the default desktop icons. It sometimes gets corrupted. If it does, your icons will go all black or they may display the wrong icons. If this happens, delete it and reboot. NT (& Win9x) will repopulate the cache with the default icons. To delete the ShellIconCache:

* at a command prompt, change to the %SystemRoot% folder

* remove the hidden attribute from the file:

type attrib -h shelliconcache and press ENTER.

* delete the file:

type del shelliconcache and press ENTER.

* logoff and backon and the default icons should be restored.

TweakUI has been known to corrupt the ShellIconCache.

This tip applies to all versions of Windows including Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

Ps. Great tool the HitmanPro.....

Andre

[markloman]

    type attrib -h shelliconcache and press ENTER.

Hi Andre,

Thanks for the quick response Fortunately, it does not work. There is no such file called shelliconcache on (my) Windows XP (looked into that yesterday). But there is an IconCache.db at %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data. Deleting it and refreshing the desktop does not solve the problem either. And I wish to update the icon picture without needing to log off. Perhaps you or someone else have another idea?

Thanks! Mark

BTW, this small problem is indeed concerning my program Hitman Pro

Edited March 24, 2005 by markloman

[Andre]

Hi Mark,

you are overwriting the old shortcut ?

What about trying to delete it first, refresh and then create an new one ?

ps. Did not test it myself.

Andre

[markloman]

you are overwriting the old shortcut ?

What about trying to delete it first, refresh and then create an new one ?

That doesn't work either. But deleting the IconCache.db and reboot the computer will automatically recreate the cache and the new icon will be displayed. Would rather have the icon without rebooting. But it'll do for now. Perhaps someone has an idea.

Thanks! Mark

[Andre]

Kill explorer.exe ?

Andre

[markloman]

Kill explorer.exe ?

Removing IconCache.db and restarting explorer.exe does the trick. It's not the nicest manoeuvre but I will implement it (only resetting explorer.exe once when a new icon exist). Thanks!

Edited March 24, 2005 by markloman