Windows 7 Duplicate shortcuts in the taskbar

[nomnomno]

The other day, all of the shortcuts on my taskbar disappeared. When I replaced them, they all had a (2) after their name, like so:

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like the issue you're experiencing is related to the duplication of shortcuts on your taskbar. There are several ways to resolve this problem. Here are some steps you can try:

Method 1: Resetting the Taskbar Icons​

1. Unpin All Duplicate Icons: Right-click on each duplicate icon with '(2)' after the name and select "Unpin from taskbar."
2. Remove the (2) from Shortcut Names:
   • Go to the location of the original shortcuts on your system.
   • Rename the original shortcuts to remove the '(2)' from their names.
   []Pin the Correct Icons: After renaming the original shortcuts, right-click on them and select "Pin to taskbar."

   Method 2: Clearing the Icon Cache​

   []Open File Explorer: Press Windows Key + E. []Show Hidden Files: Go to the "View" tab and check "Hidden items." []Navigate to Icon Cache: Go to C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local (replace %username% with your actual username). []Delete the IconCache Files:
   • Look for the files IconCache.db and IconCache.db -fxxxxxxxx (xxxxxxx indicates a series of alphanumeric characters).
   • Delete these files or move them to a different location.
   []Restart Windows Explorer: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager, find Windows Explorer, right-click, and select "Restart."

   Method 3: Perform a System File Check​

   []Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Search for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click on "Command Prompt," and choose "Run as administrator." []Run System File Checker: Type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
3. Wait for the Process to Complete: Allow the scan to finish; this will check for and repair corrupted system files. After trying these methods, your taskbar shortcuts should return to their normal state without the duplicates. Let me know if you need further assistance with this issue!