Blank icon for exe and its shortcut.

[Synomenon]

I've installed the latest non-beta version of MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials). I'm running Windows 7 Pro. x64 and have all updates installed.

I have two user accounts. I've enabled the built in administrator account and use that as my personal account and I've created a second account named "Visitor" for everyone else that needs to use my computer.

In the built in administrator account, the MSE icon in the start menu shows the proper icon (blue castle w/ flag). I've gone into its directory:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials


and the actual exe file:
msseces.exe

has that icon too.

Problem is, in the Visitor account the MSE icon in the start menu has the blank icon (the one that looks like a sheet of paper w/ the top right corner folded).

When I go to the MSE directory (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Essentials) while logged into the Visitor account, MSE's actual exe file (msseces.exe) has that same blank icon as the shortcut in the start menu.

Anyone know how to fix this?

I've already tried deleting the icon cache db file in both the Visitor and administrator accounts to rebuild the icon cache, but that didn't work.

 

[bruceb]

When you installed the program, did you set to 'install for all users' ?
Sounds like you did not. Also when you are on the Visitor / Guest
account, if you go to the program directory and click the .exe does it open ?

If it does, you just need to copy the icon image file and then reassociate the program icon with the correct icon image. This is usually done by Right Click on the desktop Icon, then Properties, Shortcut, Change Icon .. point it to the Icon file you want it to use. Also check the Path to .exe is correct on the shortcut.

 

[Synomenon]

There was no option during install of Microsoft Security Essentials to install for all users. It does run when I click on the exe when logged into the Visitor account.

I've tried right clicking on the exe file AND the shortcut in the start menu. When I do it for the exe, the properties dialog box doesn't have the change icon option. When I do it on the shortcut, the dialog box shows the correct icon in there, but when I press apply, then ok the icon doesn't change to the correct one (blue castle w/ flag).

 

[bruceb]

Try changing the icon to something else and then change it back to the correct one.

 

[Synomenon]

I've tried that. Doesn't work.

I've also tried uninstalling the program and re-installing it. That doesn't work either.

 

[bruceb]

Try this:

You may try the steps as below and check if the issue gets fixed,

Now try to access the program in safe mode with networking.
Follow this below provided link to start your computer in safemode with networking.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

If not able to access the program in safemode with networking then you need to assign permission because of incorrect Permission settings OR Windows WMI Control services is not functioning properly.

In order to troubleshoot this you need to follow the steps provided below.

1. Right Click on Computer -> Manage
2. Under the System Tools section, double click on Local Users and Groups
3. Click Groups -> Right Click on Administrators -> Add to group -> Add -> Advanced -> Find now ->
Double Click on Local Service -> Click Ok
4. Close all the windows reboot the computer and check the status

Note you need to disable the security software present on your computer and check for the issue.
Because at times the security software might also cause these type of issues.

Also note you have to enable the security software on your computer after performing the troubleshooting steps.

If this does not help, I suggest you post at Microsoft Windows 7 forums here:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windows7

 

[MrAnssaien]

I had a similar issue with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's executable file just now (both the original EXE file, and the shortcut had a blank icon; the same one you mentioned.)
I came across this thread, then I thought I'd improvise first, so here's how I fixed it (this is for the Internet. I know this thread is ancient. Lol)
Go to: C:\Users\<YOUR_USERNAME>\AppData\Local\, and delete IconCache.db, then terminate explorer.exe, and run it again via Task Manager.

If you don't want to do it manually, here's a simple batch script I've just written:

@echo off

DEL "C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\IconCache.db"

taskkill /f /im explorer.exe

start explorer.exe

(Start Notepad, paste the script above, and then save it to something like fix-blank-icons.bat. No need to run it as Admin.)