Vista Desktop: shortcut icons show as black squares!

Philocalist

Hoping someone can help please?
Some of the shortcuts I produce and place on my desktop are showing as either black squares, or occasionally as the intended icon partially covered by a smaller black square.
Trying to go through the Properties / Change Icon route allows me to apparently choose an alternative icon, but problem persists.
Anyone out there can help please?

Werebo · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:31 am Post subject:

Allo Phil

I don't use Vista, but as an idea (off the top of my head, so to speak), do you have the desktop graphics set to maximum colours and bit-depth??? Confused

Philocalist · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

Hi Werebo ... colour depth, resolution etc at max, but PC is a new dual-core with an insane graphics card that should handle anything I (or Vista!) can throw at it!
Curious part is that if I drag the offending shorcuts to within a folder (ie off the desktop), they display the correct icon, as intended Shocked

Werebo · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject:

Ooooh - weird indeed!!! I seem to remember seeing a setting somewhere in WinXP that tells it to display the icons in full colour, but I can't remember where, exactly. Embarassed

I'll have to pass this one over to the VistaGnomies, I think Wink

goretsky

Hello,

I have seen similar problems when using older device drivers with a video card. Have you checked with the manufacturer of the video card to determine if you have the latest device drivers installed for it?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Philocalist

Hi gorestsy ... unfortunately (!) all is up to date with drivers (and patches etc too)

goretsky

Hello,

If you go open the %LOCALAPPDATA% and delete the hidden GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT and IconCache.db files and then restart the computer, does the problem still occur?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Philocalist

Tried, but problem is still there.
It's niggles like this, rather than other stuff, that REALLY wind me up about Vista! Rolling Eyes

goretsky

Hello,

Try installing Frameworkx' Vista Shortcut Manager and changing the shortcut icon to "no arrow" (blank). Does that make any difference?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

Philocalist

Now THAT set off a little alarm bell. Shocked

I'd totally overlooked a utility on the PC that I've used successfully for years ... X-Setup Pro.
I had it set to remove the shorcut arrows, which until now it had done flawlessly. Switched off this option, and the black squares disappeared (to be replaced again by the shortcut arrows).
Seems this may be a glitch with Vista?

A quick download of Vista Shortcut Manager (plus a couple of other toys from the download area Very Happy

), and the problem is now sorted ... no arrows, and no black squares Very Happy

Thanks Goretsky!