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Desktop ICONS disappeared/changed
Hi...
I'm using Office 2000 -- Word and Excel only. Windows XP Home SP2. All XP and Office updates applied. For some reason, all the icons for Word and Excel changed today from the Office icons to the "standard DOS-style icon" -- little white rectangle with blue bar at the top. When I right click one of these icons and select Properties, the "Change Icon" button is grayed out. Not only did all the Word and Excel icons disappear (change to the DOS-style icon), but the StartAll Programs icons for "New Office Document," and "Open Office Document" changed to that standard DOS-style icon. Also, StartAll ProgramsMicrosoft Office Tools -- all icons are gone, replaced by the generic icon. I am also using FrontPage 2003, and the same thing happened with that icon. I am able to restore the icon by finding the .EXE file for each program and right-dragging it to the desktop (or Start Menu folder) and selecting create shortcut here. Can someone tell me what's going on here? This is very strange behavior and only just happened. Thank you. John |
#2
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Follow-up to initial post.....
When I try to run Office Update (from the Windows Update site), Office Update is unable to run. I get an error page -- see below. Something has become corrupted, but I have no idea what, or how to fix it. I have not deleted any .MSP files; I have admin. privileges; my network is working correctly. Windows Update seems to install "Installer" updates, but I have done nothing other than installed recommended Windows Updates. John ---------------ERROR MESSAGE-------------- Office Update is unable to check for updates Help The Office Update site is unable to check for updates on this computer. This may be happening because of one of the following reasons: a.. You do not have administrative privileges for this computer. b.. There is a network problem and the detection catalog used by the Office Update site failed to download. Go back to the Downloads home page and try running detection again. c.. Windows Installer patch files (.MSP files) from previously applied Office updates are missing from the \Windows\Installer hidden directory on your computer. MSP files are stored on your computer after update installation completes because they need to be referenced for future update operations. If the files are missing you will not be able to apply Office updates. You may also be unable to uninstall Office products as a result of the same problem. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for assistance. d.. You installed Office updates in the past and then upgraded from Windows Installer version 1.0 to Windows Installer version 1.1. For more information see the KB article Windows Installer May Prompt for Install Source if Unavailable. |
#3
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Another follow-up.....
Now, other desktop icons are disappearing, being replaced with the generic DOS-style icon. Help! John |
#4
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This would concern me enough to start backing up my important files. I don't
know what's causing it but it doesn't sound good. -- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... Another follow-up..... Now, other desktop icons are disappearing, being replaced with the generic DOS-style icon. Help! John |
#5
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JoAnn,
I had the same thought. I have backups of all data. I just ran a complete AVG scan of all files and it found nothing. The Office Update error page had a link to send an e-mail to MS for help. I've done that and will report back here when I get a response. I think this has something to do with installer files because when I check properties of a non-MS app with a changed icon and click Change Icon, I get an error about an installer file missing. John "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote in message ... This would concern me enough to start backing up my important files. I don't know what's causing it but it doesn't sound good. -- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... Another follow-up..... Now, other desktop icons are disappearing, being replaced with the generic DOS-style icon. Help! John |
#6
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Further follow-up...
Today, all icons are restored, but Office Update still won't work. Very odd. John "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... JoAnn, I had the same thought. I have backups of all data. I just ran a complete AVG scan of all files and it found nothing. The Office Update error page had a link to send an e-mail to MS for help. I've done that and will report back here when I get a response. I think this has something to do with installer files because when I check properties of a non-MS app with a changed icon and click Change Icon, I get an error about an installer file missing. John "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote in message ... This would concern me enough to start backing up my important files. I don't know what's causing it but it doesn't sound good. -- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... Another follow-up..... Now, other desktop icons are disappearing, being replaced with the generic DOS-style icon. Help! John |
#7
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Did you already back up what you need. Like JoAnn said "it does not =
sound good"=20 --=20 Peter Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged. "John Blaustein" wrote in message = ... Further follow-up... =20 Today, all icons are restored, but Office Update still won't work. =20 Very odd. =20 John =20 =20 =20 =20 "John Blaustein" wrote in message=20 ... JoAnn, I had the same thought. I have backups of all data. I just ran a complete AVG scan of all files and it found nothing. The Office Update error page had a link to send an e-mail to MS for = help.=20 I've done that and will report back here when I get a response. I = think=20 this has something to do with installer files because when I check=20 properties of a non-MS app with a changed icon and click Change Icon, = I=20 get an error about an installer file missing. John "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote in message=20 ... This would concern me enough to start backing up my important files. = I=20 don't know what's causing it but it doesn't sound good. --=20 JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message=20 ... Another follow-up..... Now, other desktop icons are disappearing, being replaced with the=20 generic DOS-style icon. Help! John =20 =20 |
#8
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Have you run a Scandisk yet?
-- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... JoAnn, I had the same thought. I have backups of all data. I just ran a complete AVG scan of all files and it found nothing. The Office Update error page had a link to send an e-mail to MS for help. I've done that and will report back here when I get a response. I think this has something to do with installer files because when I check properties of a non-MS app with a changed icon and click Change Icon, I get an error about an installer file missing. John "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote in message ... This would concern me enough to start backing up my important files. I don't know what's causing it but it doesn't sound good. -- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... Another follow-up..... Now, other desktop icons are disappearing, being replaced with the generic DOS-style icon. Help! John |
#9
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John -
I was talking to my husband about this. He said it happens to him at work often. He said just reboot and everything will be fine. He said it's always the same icons that go first too. Something about something stepping on the part of the RAM where this info is stored. I've learned that he's usually right. And yes, I've told him that I say that. :-) -- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... Hi... I'm using Office 2000 -- Word and Excel only. Windows XP Home SP2. All XP and Office updates applied. For some reason, all the icons for Word and Excel changed today from the Office icons to the "standard DOS-style icon" -- little white rectangle with blue bar at the top. When I right click one of these icons and select Properties, the "Change Icon" button is grayed out. Not only did all the Word and Excel icons disappear (change to the DOS-style icon), but the StartAll Programs icons for "New Office Document," and "Open Office Document" changed to that standard DOS-style icon. Also, StartAll ProgramsMicrosoft Office Tools -- all icons are gone, replaced by the generic icon. I am also using FrontPage 2003, and the same thing happened with that icon. I am able to restore the icon by finding the .EXE file for each program and right-dragging it to the desktop (or Start Menu folder) and selecting create shortcut here. Can someone tell me what's going on here? This is very strange behavior and only just happened. Thank you. John |
#10
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JoAnn,
For whatever reason, all my icons are back. Your husband was right. Yes, everything is backed up. The plot thickens, however. When I open System Properties and click on the System Restore tab, it freezes and I get an error message about rundll32.exe not running and DrWatson PostMortem Debugger not running. I send both error reports to MS. I got a message back from MS support in response to my "call for help." The suggestion was as follows: As a Customer Service Representative, I can assist you with the support options available with your Microsoft product. However, I have taken the time to look through our self help website and found that the rundll32.exe file is located in the c:\windows\System32 folder. RunDLL32 is used to run DLL s as programs. The following steps may resolve your issue: 1. Search for the file in c:\windows\servicepackfile\i386 folder. 2. Copy to c:\windows\system32 folder. 3. Restart your computer. I followed these instructions, but the problem persists -- clicking the System Restore tab still causes a "crash" -- the rundll32.exe error message. I am really baffled by this whole thing. Since last posting here, I remembered one key thing -- no doubt important. A week ago, I got a new HDD and used the Western Digital utility to transfer my C: drive to the new HD. I've done this in the past with no problem. I am thinking my current problem may be related. I have run ScanDisk and the Western Digital error checking utility and no problems are reported. JoAnn... perhaps your husband will have some ideas. All idea are welcome. John "JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]" wrote in message ... John - I was talking to my husband about this. He said it happens to him at work often. He said just reboot and everything will be fine. He said it's always the same icons that go first too. Something about something stepping on the part of the RAM where this info is stored. I've learned that he's usually right. And yes, I've told him that I say that. :-) -- JoAnn Paules MVP Microsoft [Publisher] "John Blaustein" wrote in message ... Hi... I'm using Office 2000 -- Word and Excel only. Windows XP Home SP2. All XP and Office updates applied. For some reason, all the icons for Word and Excel changed today from the Office icons to the "standard DOS-style icon" -- little white rectangle with blue bar at the top. When I right click one of these icons and select Properties, the "Change Icon" button is grayed out. Not only did all the Word and Excel icons disappear (change to the DOS-style icon), but the StartAll Programs icons for "New Office Document," and "Open Office Document" changed to that standard DOS-style icon. Also, StartAll ProgramsMicrosoft Office Tools -- all icons are gone, replaced by the generic icon. I am also using FrontPage 2003, and the same thing happened with that icon. I am able to restore the icon by finding the .EXE file for each program and right-dragging it to the desktop (or Start Menu folder) and selecting create shortcut here. Can someone tell me what's going on here? This is very strange behavior and only just happened. Thank you. John |
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