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[johnno]

I have MS Office XP Professional on a Windows XP computer.
Recently the normal "W" icon for shortcuts and Word files changed to the Windows Unknown File icon
(see attached screenshot) I can correct this by opening a Word document and clicking Help -> Detect and Repair -> Restore Shortcuts. However once the computer has been shut down and restarted I am back to the Unknown File icons.
Does anyone know a permanent fix for this?

[neonwizard]

You need to delete the Iconcache database

First watch my tutorial on how to "Show Hidden Files and Folders".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSJamss6LQE

Next open RUN and copy and paste this in: %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\ then press Ok

Now in that folder find and delete Iconcache.db then reboot the computer, the Iconcache database will be rebuilt and you should have your proper icons back.

[johnno]

Hi Neon,
thanks for your reply to my post.
Followed your instruction and deleted IconCache.db
This does not appear to have been rebuilt and the Word icons are still reverting to the unknown file icon. The files do however still open OK in Word.
johnno

[neonwizard]

Right-click a Word document file
Select Open With
Select Open Program or Open Default Program
Highlight Microsoft Word
Place a check on the bottom box that says Always use the selected program to open this kind of file
Open a Word file and see if it opens with Microsoft Word

[johnno]

Hi again Neon.
Have followed all your suggestions.....all to no avail.....still have unknown file icons for all word shortcuts and documents.
Have even uninstalled and reinstalled Word but still the same.
johnno

[neonwizard]

Hmm!, try this open RUN and paste this: winword /r then reboot computer

[johnno]

Yes Neon, tried that. Icons corrected then reverted to unknown file type on reboot.
Same thing happens if I open a Word file, click Help, click Detect & Repair then check "Restore my shortcuts...."
I have also tried the following;
My Computer --> Tools --> Folder Options --> File Types tab.
Scroll down to DOC Microsoft Word Document (note icon as in screenshot Folder Options)
Highlight this then go down to "Details for DOC Extension" and click Advanced button (screenshot File Type)
and click "Change Icon". This brings up the popup shown in the screenshot which indicates there is a missing file "wordicon.exe"
Could this be the problem? and how can I correct it? Have already tried uninstalling and reinstalling Word.
Again Neon, thanks for your help, it is much appreciated.
johnno







 

[johnno]

Last screenshot

[neonwizard]

I'm running out of ideas. There is a remove tool that remove the remaining parts of the Office program.

First download this from Microsoft http://download.microsoft.com/download/C/D/8/CD8FD60B-D53F-4E22-8202-BDB2D4D0898B/orktools.exe

Next go into Control Panel and uninstall Microsoft Office XP and then Reboot

Now run the Orktool.exe and follow the instructions (it may or may not tell you to reboot, reboot anyway)

Reinstall Microsoft Office XP hopefully that does it.

[johnno]

Hello again Neon.
Did all that....icons were fine.....til I rebooted then back to unknown file icon.
I have found that icons are here;
 
C:\WINDOWS\Installer\{90280409-6000-11D3-8CFE-0050048383C9}\wordicon.exe

However this seems to get deleted each time I reboot and replaced each time I use one of the repair tools ??

Regards,
johnno

[neonwizard]

Wow sorry Johnno I'm running out of ideas

[johnno]

Hi All,
Considering the number of views to this post I thought I would advise the final (hopefully) "fix" to this problem.
I was doing some pruning to my start up list via msconfig and removed the tick from Microsoft Office.
Icon problem now deems to be resolved??
Regards,
johnno