Some Desktop Shortcut Icons have gone blank

JohnB47

The other day I noticed that I had duplicate shortcuts of some programs on my desktop (three or four programs). I have no idea what would have caused this - I haven't done anything different recently. My laptop is Win 10.

So I deleted one of each pair and checked that the remaining ones worked as before (and they looked as before).

Now, a few days later, I see that two of my shortcut icons are blank, although they still work. One is for Adobe Bridge and the other for a little program called Core Temp.

I thought, never mind, I'll go to the exe files for them and recreate the shortcuts. But when I look, I see that the exe files themselves don't show the icon image - they too are blank.

Any thoughts?

Jenni_D

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=desktop+icons+blank+windows+10

First result for me is 8 Ways to Fix Blank Icons on Windows 10. Maybe one of those will work?

https://www.makeuseof.com/windows-10-fix-blank-icons/

Option 5 (IconCache) looks like a possibility.  

JohnB47

Thanks Jenni. I tried all of those suggestions and then shut down/restarted the laptop. No change.

Then I just had a look at the properties of the shortcut - no idea why, just curious. I saw an option to 'Change Icon' and choose the image that I though should be there, then 'Apply' and it worked!

That was the Adobe Bridge one. Then I did the same for the Core Temp program and it worked too. What hasn't updated is the tiny icon beside the exe file name in Windows Explorer - those are still blank icons.

All very odd. But I'm happy now.

Oh, by the by, Settings/Windows Security/Virus Threats and Protection is showing two 'Low' threats. One called PUABundler:Win32/CandyOpen and the other PUADIManager:Win32/Bandoo. These are still there after I ran a full scan.

Should I try to get rid of them and if so, how? I use only Windows Defender.

Thanks again.

Jenni_D

MalwareBytes AntiMalware (free) would be my first step. Then there are other (related) apps that can help but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

Re. the blank icons in Explorer - right-click, select Open With, find the relevant apps and then click OK. That might get those icons back  

debitcardmayhem

Jenni_D said:

MalwareBytes AntiMalware (free) would be my first step. Then there are other (related) apps that can help but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

Re. the blank icons in Explorer - right-click, select Open With, find the relevant apps and then click OK. That might get those icons back  

Adwarecleaner also from  malwarebytes

Jenni_D

debitcardmayhem said:

Jenni_D said:

MalwareBytes AntiMalware (free) would be my first step. Then there are other (related) apps that can help but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

Re. the blank icons in Explorer - right-click, select Open With, find the relevant apps and then click OK. That might get those icons back  

Adwarecleaner also from  malwarebytes

That's the one I couldn't remember.  

JohnB47

Jenni_D said:

MalwareBytes AntiMalware (free) would be my first step. Then there are other (related) apps that can help but I can't remember them off the top of my head.

Re. the blank icons in Explorer - right-click, select Open With, find the relevant apps and then click OK. That might get those icons back  

Thanks, I'll try Malearebytes. When I try your other suggestion, there is no 'open with' option. Surely there wouldn't be, because it's an exe file?

JohnB47

OK, I've downloaded Malwarebytes and run it. It didn't find those threats I mentioned earlier but it does flag IMESHV12.exe (malware) and the setup.exe file for FreeFileSync (generic suspicious), that I've been using for years.

I'll get it to quarantine the IMESH one.

I'm running Adwcleaner now.

JohnB47

Adwcleaner just flags two preinstalled Toshiba programs, so I've told it to ignore them. It says it finds no PUPs or PUMs.

Hmmm, so how to get rid of those threats?

Just curious - no major problems here. Thanks for the help.

Jenni_D

Sorry - I misunderstood - I thought you meant files associated with those applications.