I added another account to Windows 10 today (Version 1607 Build 14393.321) and there are NO icons on the desktop or in any folders. Task bar and notification area icons are fine. Right-click context selection icons are fine.
This started when previously, I had an account for my son and one day he came to me and said all his icons were gone. All that appears is the name of the file or folder - no icons at all. This is true for desktop icons and folder icons. I Googled the problem then and came up with corrupt icon cache. Tried to fix it by rebuilding the icon cache by running the following commands from an elevated command prompt:
cd /d %userprofile%AppDataLocal
attrib –h IconCache.db
del IconCache.db
start explorer
This did not work. I tried a few other things (which I don't recall now) and finally gave up and deleted his account. I use the Administrator account (I know some frown on that) and everything is fine in that account. Today I added a new account and this new account has the same problem. I also have an account for me (also Admin level) that is all tied into my Microsoft account. I never use it but today I logged into that account to check and sure enough - no icons. So the only account that has normal working icons is the Administrator account. I am at a total loss as to what is causing this. Here are screen shots of a portion of the desktop and a typical folder (Root of C:). Any help is most appreciated.
Edited to add - I just tried the following to no avail:
Rebuild Icon Cache by typing the following into an elevated command prompt:
ie4uinit.exe -show
taskkill /IM explorer.exe /F
DEL /A /Q "%localappdata%IconCache.db"
DEL /A /F /Q "%localappdata%MicrosoftWindowsExplorericoncache*"
shutdown /r /f /t 00
Also ran an Icon Cache rebuild BAT file that I found on this forum. I am also noticed that if I right click on a file, folder, or desktop shortcut (ex Google Slides) and select Properties, Change Icon, I see the proper icon and in the "Look for icons in this file" box I see the path "%SystemRoot%Installer{459CE109-4E46-4340-92BC-054642BC3BC2}GoogleSlidesIcon". If I select the icon (for Google Slides) and click Apply, I get a pop up error box that says "Unable to save changes to "Google Eath.lnk Access is Denied". This account is an Administrator account. I am stymied. Here is another screen shot.
Thanks !
Updated to add - Ran SFC Scan today. No luck.
Anybody?
Update to anyone who wanders into this thread with a similar problem. With the help of another forum member, I was able to solve this problem. I still don't know why it started but it is now FIXED. Please go to the following thread and read down to find the solution, which basically consists of setting up the proper permissions for the user to access the IconCache.db file located in AppdataLocal. Here is the link:
ALL icons missing...from entire system...!
And here is the procedure, compliments of user pepanee. Repalce "Laurie" with the user name of the affected account.
Go to: C:UsersLaurieAppData
Right click Local -> Properties
Press the Security tab
Press the Advanced button
Press the Add button
Click on the blue Select a principal
Type: Laurie
Press OK
Next to Applies to, sleect: This folder only
Check Full control
Press OK, press continue if that ever shows up, press OK, OK to close it all.
Restart the computer.
Good Luck !!
