📎 AI Summary:
The user reports desktop icons are displaying a document overlay icon after upgrading to Windows 8.1, with initial troubleshooting steps like deleting IconCache.db and changing themes not resolving the issue. Contributors suggest that the overlay may be caused by icon overlays or theme-related settings, and recommend actions such as adjusting desktop icon settings, checking icon properties, or recreating shortcuts. Ultimately, the user confirms that a fix provided by one of the responders resolved the problem, expressing gratitude and satisfaction with the assistance.
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Tit4Tat

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Thread Author #1
All my icons on the desktop has a (document icon?) on top of them. I've tried to delete the IconCache.db and rebooted to no avail. Any suggestions? Here is a snapshot.
An image from 'Windows 8.1 Desktop Icon Help'. Vertical computer desktop screenshot showing various software shortcuts and folders.
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ussnorway

ussnorway

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#2
is this system just been up-graded to 8.1 from 8 or recovered from a backup image of some sort?
 
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Tit4Tat

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Thread Author #3
Hello, thanks for the reply. It was updated a week ago to 8.1 and everything was working fine. The pc was shut down the night before and when I started it yesterday morning, the problem occurred.
 
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Neemobeer

Neemobeer

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#4
If you're talking about the white boxes on the icons, then it's possible you have a theme pack installed.
  • Right click on the desktop and select personalize
  • Try changing the theme to the default or just a different one and see if the icons adjust.
  • If you don't want the icons to change, from this same screen, click "Change Desktop Icons"
  • Uncheck "Allow themes to change desktop icons"
 
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Tit4Tat

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Thread Author #5
Neemobeer said:
If you're talking about the white boxes on the icons, then it's possible you have a theme pack installed.
  • Right click on the desktop and select personalize
  • Try changing the theme to the default or just a different one and see if the icons adjust.
  • If you don't want the icons to change, from this same screen, click "Change Desktop Icons"
  • Uncheck "Allow themes to change
Click to expand...
 
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Tit4Tat

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Thread Author #6
Thanks, but that did not work. It changes my desktop theme (background picture) but icons stay the same.
 

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helpifIcan

helpifIcan

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#7
It appears that something has caused the normal shortcut arrows to change to the document overlay.

see if this helps.

 
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Solution
Neemobeer

Neemobeer

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#8
Right click on the google chrome icon and go to properties > customize and click "Change Icon..." and post a screen shot

or if it's just a shortcut click on shortcut tab and "Change Icon..."
 
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Tit4Tat

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Thread Author #10
Bingo! helpifIcan, you fixed it! Thank you so much and thanks to all for your help! Love you all. Lol.
 
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helpifIcan

helpifIcan

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#11
Great every once in while I get it right.

:up:
 

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