Q171325: Incorrect Icons Displayed for .ico Files

Article: Q171325
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:4.0,95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95 kbshell
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
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WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious, system-wide
problems that may require you to reinstall Windows to correct them.
Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of
Registry Editor can be solved. Use this tool at your own risk.

SYMPTOMS
========

When you view icon (.ico) files, the icons may display the default Windows
system icon instead of the actual icon image.

CAUSE
=====

The .ico file association is missing, or is damaged.

RESOLUTION
==========

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may
require you to reinstall Windows. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems
resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry
Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, see the online Help in
Registry Editor.

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer, and then click Options on the View menu.

2. Verify that the Icon file type appears on the File Types tab. If the Icon
  file type does not appear in the Registered File Types box, skip to step 10.

3. Click Icon in the Registered File Types box, and then click Edit.

4. Verify that the following settings exist, and then click OK:

   - The Description Of Type box contains "Icon" (without the quotation marks).

   - If there is a Confirm Open After Download check box, it should be
     selected.

5. If the settings do not appear exactly as listed in step 4, click Remove,
  click Yes, and then click OK. If the settings do appear as listed in step 4,
  skip to step 10.

6. Click New Type.

7. In the Description Of Type box, type "Icon" (without the quotation marks).

8. In the Associated Extension box, type "ICO" (without the quotation marks).

9. Click OK, and then click Close.

10. Use Registry Editor to view the

  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ico

  key, and then verify that the default string contains the following value:

  icofile

  If the .ico key does not exist, create it, and then insert the value listed
  above. If any other values exist in the .ico key, delete them.

11. Use Registry Editor to view the

  HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile

  key, and then verify that the default string contains the following value:

  icon

  If the icofile key does not exist, create it, and then insert the value
  listed above. If any other values exist, delete them.

12. Create a new key in the icofile key called "DefaultIcon" (without the
  quotation marks) , and type "%1" (without the quotation marks) as this key's
  default value.

13. Quit Registry Editor, and then restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION
================

When this issue occurs, the default system icon may be displayed for all the
icons on the desktop.

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Keywords          : win95 kbshell 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : WINDOWS:4.0,95
Hardware          : x86

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