Taskbar icons changed to generic ones (22H2 OS Bbuild 22621.2428 )

Hello. Several days ago, two of my taskbar icons (non-windows programs) were changed to generic Windows one. This morning, a third icon (Pale Moon browser) was also changed to generic one. Trying to change them in Properties does nothing.
I did a System Restore and uninstalled last 3 updates. Still just generic ones.

Any suggestions on how to change these back to their defaults most appreciated (or anything but generic) most appreciated. Thank you.

@pamela

Could you post a screen shot of the generic icons?




To post a screenshot on this forum...
1. Take the screenshot, edit it as desired, save to your desktop as .png or .jpg (max. size = 2MB)
2. Left click in your post, where you want to place the screenshot.
3. Click the Attach Files button at lower left, browse to your pic and click Insert.
4. After clicking Insert, I usually choose the Thumbnail (smaller) option, or the Full Image (larger) option.

Usually when that issue occurs it means the .exe/executable file for a program can't be found. It could be the file is missing, corrupted or has been moved. Right-click the icon, Properties, Change icon, should get an icon or a message that it can't be found, may have to reinstall the program. Sometimes updating to the latest Build helps.

Thanks for speedy response. As mentioned, I cannot change the icon, nor do I get any message. Was thinking I may have to reinstall.

For some reason, when I take a screenshot and click Save As I don't have any options. Nothing happens....

I use the Snipping Tool, usually at least once a day, it copies to the Clipboard for Pasting and also saves to the Screenshots folder in Pictures.

pamela said:

Thanks for speedy response. As mentioned, I cannot change the icon, nor do I get any message. Was thinking I may have to reinstall.

For some reason, when I take a screenshot and click Save As I don't have any options. Nothing happens....

Click to expand...

Well, try this... delete the current "generic" icon.
Then navigate to the actual executable file, say... Pale Moon.exe
Right click it and choose: Send > To Desktop (create shortcut)
Then reboot the computer, and see if the newly created shortcut stays created.


Sometimes a Windows Update can break the "connection" (file path), between the icon and the executable file.
Then the icon will look like a text file icon.


In those cases, completely re-creating the icon will sometimes work.

Thanks so much, Ghot. I unpinned the generic icon, clicked on the Apps shortcut on the desktop and then pinned the icon to taskbar. Worked on all cases.
Am a happy and grateful camper.

pamela said:

Thanks so much, Ghot. I unpinned the generic icon, clicked on the Apps shortcut on the desktop and then pinned the icon to taskbar. Worked on all cases.
Am a happy and grateful camper.

Click to expand...

Good job.









About 8-9 months ago, one of the Windows Updates, changed the way the PrtSc key works.

The "classic" function of the PrtSc key would just save a screenshot to the clipboard.
Then you could open a program like PAINT, and choose Edit > Paste... etc.

After the update the PrtSc key now is melded with the snipping tool.


Here's the tutorial for enabling/disabling the new PrtSc function...



Personally, I like the "classic" PrtSc key better.
The tutorial above will allow you to set the PrtSc key... either way.
You can always change it back to the "new" way, if you like that better.

In the tutorials, I like the registry patch options the best.
You just save the patch to your desktop and double click it.
Then reboot to apply the changes.