Word Icons on Desktop

[David E. Ross]

Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64

When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.

This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.

All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

[Paul]

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

Is this like the picture at the end of this thread ?

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/generic-icons-for-each-document-are-the-same/0c4fb27d-3671-4245-8521-9eb8eae798a9

Paul

[David E. Ross]

Post by Paul

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

Is this like the picture at the end of this thread ?
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/generic-icons-for-each-document-are-the-same/0c4fb27d-3671-4245-8521-9eb8eae798a9
Paul

Yes, the image on the left.

[Sailfish]

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

This usually restores the icons for me

REF: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

[excerpt quote=\"

*Icon Cache - Rebuild*

If one or more of your icons are not displaying correctly, or that your
icon cache is corrupted, then you might consider rebuilding the icon
cache to reset and reload the icon images into the icon cache in Vista,
Windows 7, and Windows 8.
\" /]

Cheers

[lisa]

Post by Sailfish
This usually restores the icons for me
REF: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

I use DesktopOK for that

https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Software/DesktopOK&language=english

[David E. Ross]

Post by lisa

Post by Sailfish
This usually restores the icons for me
REF: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html

I use DesktopOK for that
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Software/DesktopOK&language=english

I tried DesktopOK, but it did not have an option to fix desktop icons.
On top of that, the icons for Computer and Recycle disappeared.

[lisa]

On Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:53:22 -0800, "David E. Ross"

Post by David E. Ross

Post by lisa
I use DesktopOK for that
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Software/DesktopOK&language=english

I tried DesktopOK, but it did not have an option to fix desktop icons.
On top of that, the icons for Computer and Recycle disappeared.

aaahhh, yes, those missing two icons.
That's a windows thing i always forget and why I have to use DesktopOK
twice.

Right click with your mouse on your desktop and select view.
Select show desktop icons and deselect Autoarrange icons and Align
icons to grid. That's the way DesktopOK restores the icons on the
place I saved them.

[Brian Gregory]

Post by lisa
I use DesktopOK for that
https://www.softwareok.com/?seite=Software/DesktopOK&language=english

I used to use Desktop Restore
(Freeware from http://www.midiox.com/ NOT https)

But I don't seem to need it now I'm on Windows 11.

[David E. Ross]

Post by Sailfish

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

This usually restores the icons for me
REF: https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html
[excerpt quote=\"
*Icon Cache - Rebuild*
If one or more of your icons are not displaying correctly, or that your
icon cache is corrupted, then you might consider rebuilding the icon
cache to reset and reload the icon images into the icon cache in Vista,
Windows 7, and Windows 8.
\" /]
Cheers

I tried the second method at
<https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html>.
It did not fix my problem. However, unlike DesktopOK, it did not do any
damage.

[David E. Ross]

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

The probme affects only files that are Word documents (.doc, .docx, and
.docm). All other icons on my desktop are okay. I have Word 2007 and
Windows 7 (yes, they are both old).

[Spalls Hurgenson]

On Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:56:09 -0800, "David E. Ross"

Post by David E. Ross

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

The probme affects only files that are Word documents (.doc, .docx, and
.docm). All other icons on my desktop are okay. I have Word 2007 and
Windows 7 (yes, they are both old).

Have you tried word.exe /a or word.exe /safe, opening the file, and
then re-saving it

Its possible the problem has something to do with the preview in
explorer (that's what generates the icon). Does it view correctly in
explorer preview window?

[David E. Ross]

Post by Spalls Hurgenson
On Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:56:09 -0800, "David E. Ross"

Post by David E. Ross

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

The probme affects only files that are Word documents (.doc, .docx, and
.docm). All other icons on my desktop are okay. I have Word 2007 and
Windows 7 (yes, they are both old).

Have you tried word.exe /a or word.exe /safe, opening the file, and
then re-saving it
Its possible the problem has something to do with the preview in
explorer (that's what generates the icon). Does it view correctly in
explorer preview window?

Yes, I tried that. It did not help.

[Paul]

Post by David E. Ross

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

The probme affects only files that are Word documents (.doc, .docx, and
.docm). All other icons on my desktop are okay. I have Word 2007 and
Windows 7 (yes, they are both old).

https://superuser.com/questions/1774198/what-does-this-new-microsoft-word-icon-mean

They can use a thumbnail prepared from the content of the
document, as the icon of the document. This was being done
by Acrobat Reader (64 bit version) for PDF files, as an
example of one of the few applications that do it. Presumably
at some point, Office started doing that too. And Windows 7
likely supports it, as such.

Paul

[David E. Ross]

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

I used Windows Explorer to view my desktop. On the menu bar, I selected
[Tools > Folder options > View], checked the checkbox for "Always show
icons, never thumbnails", and then selected the OK button.

I did this from a clue given from the link supplied by Paul (thanks).
However, I could not follow the exact suggestion in the resulting Web
page because the problem happened only on the desktop, which is not a
file. With Windows Explorer, I was able to treat my desktop as if it
were a file. Thus SOLVED.

This was annoying me for several weeks now. I do not know how the
checkbox became unchecked.

[David E. Ross]

Post by David E. Ross

Post by David E. Ross
Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 x64
When I create a new Word document (.doc, .docx, or .docm) on my desktop,
the file has the expected Word icon. However, if I then edit the file,
the icon changes to a white rectangle with irregular horizontal lines
representing text.
This does not happen if the document file is in a folder. Also, if I
move or copy an affected document file into a folder, the file recovers
the expected Word icon. The problem only occurs on my desktop.
All this means I have to be extra careful when searching for a Word
document on my desktop. Is there something I can do to prevent this
from happening?

I used Windows Explorer to view my desktop. On the menu bar, I selected
[Tools > Folder options > View], checked the checkbox for "Always show
icons, never thumbnails", and then selected the OK button.
I did this from a clue given from the link supplied by Paul (thanks).
However, I could not follow the exact suggestion in the resulting Web
page because the problem happened only on the desktop, which is not a
file. With Windows Explorer, I was able to treat my desktop as if it
were a file. Thus SOLVED.
This was annoying me for several weeks now. I do not know how the
checkbox became unchecked.

Why is it that only Word files and shortcuts to those files are
affected? Why is it that this problem only appeared on my desktop and
not in any folder? This is not a problem with Excel files.

I do not seem to be able to set "Always show icons, never thumbnails"
for my desktop without that setting also propagating to the folder of
music files, even though they are on different drives. I had to make a
choice. Either have the problem on my desktop or else loose the
indication in a folder of music files which are video and which are
audio-only. I chose to see which music files are video or audio-only.