DVD explore problem

[unicorn283]

When I right click on DVD drive and click "explore" or "open" to see the content of the DVD. The window displys all icons on the DVD. the problem is all icons are the same (.html Icon). window should disply different icons (zip, text,setup,DLL etc.) I have tried Restore ,run ad-aware, spybot and avast Boot-time scan. My computer is clean. Can somebody please help ;to get rid of unwanted icons. My OS is Windows XP Home SP2. Thank you.

[ronallandottk]

It's possible your icon cache is corrupted.

Go to your windows folder, turn on "show hidden files" from the tools, folder options menu item, and find a file named "ShellIconCache". Delete it, then restart windows.

[unicorn283]

Ronallandottk thank you for your help. I have turned ON "show hidden files" and had a good look in my windows folder. But there is no file "shelliconCache" in my windows XP.

[ronallandottk]

Oops, sorry about that, I gave you the location for pre-SP2 Windows XP. Try here instead:

X:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Application data\

Replace the drive letter with the appropriate one. It's usually C:

Look for a file named "IconCache.db"

If you still can't find it, or if the solution above doesn't work (actually it should, but just in case), try booting up in safe mode (press F8 when Windows is starting up), then restart up normally. This should clear out your icon cache.

[unicorn283]

I deleted file "IconCache" and restarted , but it did not help. I booted up in safe mode than restarted
up normally. Unfortunately I still have the same problem.
Some more information that may help: After inserting DVD in the DVD drive and clicking on "explore" or "open" all displayed icons are ".htlm type". If I click on view - thumbnails all correct icons are displayed for few seconds. Than smaller .html icons are displayed on top of the original icons. It covers about 1/3 of the original icon. If selecting any other view option (tiles,icons,list etc) only .html icons display. This problem happens only when atempting to explore dvd content. There is no problem with icons in Windows explorer or any other part of the PC.
ronallandottk: thank you for all your advice and help!!

[ronallandottk]

Okay, I'm running out of ideas, so let's try a process of elimination:

You were able to flush Window's icon cache, and apparently the problem is limited to only the DVD drive, since all the icons work fine on the rest of your PC. In all likelihood, it's not a Windows problem.

Does it happen on all DVDs? Or just that one DVD? If it only shows that problem on one DVD, then that DVD is probably defective/corrupted. If it happens with all DVDs, then it may be your drive which is the source of the problem.

When you use the same DVD with problems on another PC, does it show the same icon corruption? If not, then the files on the DVD or the DVD itself aren't the source of the problem. If yes, than the DVD is defective/corrupted.

Try copying some of the files from the DVD in question to your hard drive. Create a temporary folder on your desktop and copy some of the files on the DVD to it (you can erase it later on). See if the icons are displayed correctly on the files copied to your desktop. If the icons are displayed properly, there's probably something wrong with your DVD drive.

If you have more than one optical drive (whether external or another internal one) does it show the same corruption when you insert the same disk? If not, then it's possible your first drive is going south.

Given your descriptions, I'm suspecting that your drive's cache may be malfunctioning, but I can't be sure. It may still very well be a problem with Windows, but the obvious solution of flushing the icon cache doesn't seem to help.

Try this as a last resort:

Download Tweak UI from here:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/tweakui.htm

Install it, then run it from the Start button.

Click "Repair" in the left side pane.

Select "Rebuild Icons" in the drop-down list, then click "Repair Now", then "OK".

Some users report success fixing their icons with this technique. I can only hope it works for you too.

I'm sorry you haven't been able to solve the problem, I'll try researching other possible solutions.

[unicorn283]

Answers to your questions:
1. Problem is on all DVDs
2.DVDs with "problem" on my PC, show no icon coruption on other PCs.
3.When I coppy files from DVD to the hard drive all icons are OK. NO coruption.
4.I downloaded Tweakui and followed your instructions. This action returned all my icons as they should be;OK I was happy!!
But as soon as I restart my PC , the same problem returns.
ronallandottk; thank you for your help an patience!!!

[ronallandottk]

Since it only happens to DVDs (which are fine when used on other PCs' drives, so it's not a problem with the media) and not on files on your hard drive, and despite several workarounds via Windows (which should have worked if it's a problem with Windows), I'm inclined to think that it's a physical/hardware defect of some kind with your DVD drive, possibly a faulty buffer or cache chip. I'm not 100% certain, but we eliminated everything else, I think.

The only way to verify this is to either reinstall Windows, or to replace your drive with another one. If after reinstalling the problem still exists, or if the problem disappears after replacing the drive, this would confirm a hardware fault.

If this is indeed the case, you may need to replace it, or have it repaired, or brought in if it is still under warranty, if you want to rid yourself of the problem.

The only other solution I could suggest that doesn't involve reformatting or replacing your drive is to try a system restore and use a restore point dated earlier than when the problem first occurred, but given everything we tried, that may not work as well.

As a workaround, you may opt to run Tweak UI and rebuild your icons every time at startup. I know it's not an elegant solution, but so far that's the only thing that seems to have worked...at least until you reboot. If the drive still functions well in every other way except with the icons, the minor inconvenience may be better or more cost-effective than shelling out for a new drive.

I'll try to look up other solutions, as there may still be a workaround somewhere. For now, I'm stumped.

If there are other suggestions from other forum members there, please feel free to chime in. I'll see if I can dig up anymore possible answers.

[unicorn283]

I have tried system restore (going back few months), but no luck. my "icon" problem is annoying but not critical, so I will learn to live with it. CD/DVD burner performs 100% in all other functions. Reinstalling Windows and/or geting another optical drive is not an option at present.
One last hint: Sometimes when i am using my computer (net,games,multimedia) the icon cache is somehow repaired,without using "Tweak-ui". I have no idea what trigers this action. As soon as I restart my computer the icons are corrupted again.
I do appreciate time and effort you have dedicated to the solution of this nasty little problem.
Once again; thank you.