Empty icons without images on them

Windows Desktop Windows 10
1

So, my desktop is having some serious issues (Win 10). I have non-empty folders filled with empty icons (just a link to applications but without images). Also, on the desktop itself, all icons lost their image presentations and I cannot do anything about it. How can I get it fixed?

1 Like
2

Hi @Hopkins,

Welcome to the community :bouquet:,

From when this problem started to persist maybe recent updates may have corrupted the user profile settings, It always happens in Windows 10. So, simply login with another or new account in the same PC and check if the error appears. If NOT then, you need to delete the current user profile and recreate a new one. Follow the below steps to delete the user profile:

  1. Login the PC with built-in administrator account
  2. Delete the temp user profile in C:\users\
  3. Delete the registry file for the temp user if available in the registry < HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList .>
  4. Goto c:\users and rename the default folder to something like default.old (note: you need to enable hidden files in the view to view this folder)
  5. This is the main step Copy the default folder (c:\users\default) from a good working computer and paste in the exact location (c:\users\default).
  6. Now restart your computer and log in.

Hope this helps

3

Hello @Hopkins

Welcome to the community! :bouquet:
As you mentioned, it seems your system is infected by virus.

4

Hi @Hopkins

It may happen because of your recent applications or Virus.
simply uninstall the recent unwanted Software that you have installed.
or Try to scan your system files using Antivirus or Malware bytes
hope this will help you.

5

Hello

You can try this way.

from **task manager turn off explorer.exe service
then open cmd and type:
CD /d %userprofile%\AppData\Local

DEL IconCache.db /a

EXIT

then from task manager start explorer.exe service and check your icons

6

This issue might have occurred if some system files gets corrupted. Let’s try the below steps and check if it helps:

Step 1: To isolate the issue, we suggest you to create a new user account and check if the same issue occurs. This will clarify us if the issue is confined to System file corruption or User profile corruption:

Create a user account

Step 2: If the issue doesn’t occur in new user account, then try these further steps on the current user account and check if it helps:

Run SFC Scan. What is SFC (System File Checker)?

System File Checker is a utility in Windows that allows users to scan for corruptions in Windows system files and restore corrupted files.

Follow the steps given in the below article to perform SFC scan :

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/929833?ppud=4&wa=wsignin1.0

Note: Steps applies to Windows 10 as well.

Step 3: Perform DISM .

  1. Press Windows key + X .
    Click command prompt (Run as administrator) .
  2. In the Administrator: Command Prompt window, type the following commands. Press Enter key after each command:
  3. DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  4. To close the Administrator: Command prompt window, type Exit , and then press Enter

Let us know if the information was helpful to you.