This manual solution worked for me on this particular issue, though it would be far more satisfying if Windows would use the icon from the application selected to open the file type. You will need an uncorrupted Windows PC to copy settings from.
Step 1: Identify an affected file type. In this example, I will use .jpg.
Step 2: On the uncorrupted Windows installation, open regedit
(registry editor) and navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.jpg
Step 3: Note the (Default)
key, in this case jpegfile
. This points to the actual registry key that decides which icon to display (and which application to open, etc).
Step 4: Navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jpegfile\DefaultIcon
Step 5: Copy the value of (Default)
. In my case, this entry was shimgvw.dll,3
.
Step 6: On the corrupted Windows installation, open regedit
and navigate to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jpegfile\DefaultIcon
Step 7: Note the current value of the (Default)
key. In my case, this had been corrupted to %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,19
. You may find that most of your corrupted icons will have been changed to this.
Step 8: Change the value of the (Default)
key to the value copied in step 5 (shimgvw.dll,3
).
Step 9: Close regedit and load the Windows Task Manager.
Step 10: On the Processes
tab, select explorer.exe
and then End Process
. Now move to the Applications
tab, select New Task...
, type explorer
and hit the RETURN
key.
You should find that .jpg file type icons are now restored. Repeat for other corrupted file types.
Best Answer
Create a new shortcut from the original MSOffice .exe file, and then you can change it's icon. This works in
Windows 7
orWindows 8
.. To create one, search the
or
for the exe you want, and then right-click drag the .exe somewhere like desktop where you can create a shortcut. You can then change the icon.
Win8:
Win7:
Win7: