Icons keep disappearing from my desktop in Windows 7

decimator · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:00

From what I can gather on the net, there are a few other people out there experiencing the same problem, but none of the suggestions I've tried so far have worked....such as:

All the latest WHQL drivers (graphics etc)
Windows 7 patched up to date.
Installed a program called Icon restorer....didn't make much difference.
Disabled Aero
Renamed the Iconcache.db file

...etc, etc...does anybody have any other suggestions?

PoiNt54 · 19 Jul 2011 at 20:38

Open Control Panel in category view.
Under 'System and Security', click 'Find and fix problems'.
Click 'Change settings' link (left-hand side).
Set 'Computer Maintenance' to Off.
Click OK at bottom.

Had the same and this fixed it for me, haven't noticed any bad side-effects. Always reversible if it doesn't make a difference for you.

anything I don't mind · 19 Jul 2011 at 21:02

Install sp1. You can refresh your icon cache in windows 7. http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/how-to-rebuild-the-icon-cache-in-windows-vista/

But sounds like a strange problem.

decimator · 20 Jul 2011 at 00:09

OK, cheers for the replies folks....I've had SP1 installed for a while so it can't be that.

Groen: I followed the instructions for refreshing the icon cache, don't know if it works yet, the icons usually disappear after I change screen res, so we'll see, though it's going to be a bit of a palaver if I have to do that again every time they go.

point54: Also tried your suggestion at the same time, so if the problem goes away I won't know which solution did it!

Edit: MS themselves say that system maintenance could be the cause (don't know if that's where you got the idea from)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/978980

anything I don't mind · 20 Jul 2011 at 11:04

I disable action center completely and set it to never look for solutions. I had some issues with icons prior to sp1 installation. But since then it has been ok.