Win8 Control Panel Empty-My Docs-Library problem

[XweAponX]

See where it says "Change System Icon Cache"? - Try increasing the value by using the Slider, just slide it up one notch.

 

[CPWin8]

See where it says "Change System Icon Cache"? - Try increasing the value by using the Slider, just slide it up one notch.

That is increased (several notches--picture on page 4). This is the first time I've used the computer in question since making those changes, and I will be busy/away on and off this holiday weekend. I took a screenshot of the original position, which I did not post before.

I will try to get back to it when I can to see if this did any good. Unfortunately, again, I don't know how to force the issue.

Thanks.

Original position of slider shown in picture below for reference (compare to one on page 4).

 

[CPWin8]

I didn't have to wait long. It happened again already. The above use of Windows 8 Manager to "fix/adjust" the icons/icon cache failed to fix the problem. The Control Panel was "empty" as noted (missing the icons) when opened. I immediately opened a "File Explorer" window from the task bar--it showed correctly. The windows returned to normal without a restart (showed proper icons again). This is ridiculous.

Well, on to the summer holiday...Now, I'll just have to think about what's next. Yikes!

 

[XweAponX]

Ok, so now we know it is not the SIZE of the cache. Something is interfering. If you can keep track of the exact TIME this happens, there may be an entry in the Event Logs. It is not an iCon error, it is a system error. What system controls the viewing of iCons? We need to find that out, then test that system.

 

[CPWin8]

Thanks, XweAponX, and others:

I think I'm going to "reset" it next. I quickly looked at some logs and didn't notice anything specific. At this point, I need to put things back together as before the problem and the refresh, if possible.

Hopefully, a reset will proceed properly. If the problem somehow happens after the reset (which would make me insane) or returns in the future, I'll deal with it then from this point.


It's just such an odd problem how it occurs.

We've learned some things: it happens on different types/brands of systems, it can "survive" a "refresh," it may have been occurring since at least Win7, it is intermittent (never know when it will occur), a restart/perhaps opening a File Explorer will return it to normal for a time, it most likely isn't a virus (no one person has found malicious activity in scans), it doesn't show up in sfc /scannow, chkdsk/Scan Disk, it doesn't give any error messages, it can appear and go away on its own (more rare), it affects icons in the Control Panel, File Explorer, Computer, My Documents, as shown in pictures in this thread. Also, with lots of searching, no "absolute" solution was found that can be immediately applied. Also, fixing the icon cache and making it larger, as noted above, does not help.

I will note it if things do not go well with any of the above now that I've been on the forum.

 

[XweAponX]

Well, the Intermittency of your specific situation makes this an unusual problem.

 

[Brooklyn567]

Do you have a cleaning utility installed that may be clearing out the cache?

Disable it for a few days and see if your issue is resolved..

I had an issue with CCleaner automatically resetting my last download location (WHY?!?!) until i unchecked it..

 

[XweAponX]

Exactly - I have cCleaner Pro installed, but so far it has not caused me any trouble.

Yamicsoft Windows 8 Manager has that "1-Click Cleaner" which I found is dangerous to run! Do you have anything like it? cCleaner is pretty safe, but there are other less desirable programs, one of them being "Registry Cleaner" which is very close to being Malware. I used to run THAT until I saw ccleaner, which I've been using since the very first version came out.

 

[CPWin8]

I had nothing extra like that installed. Plus, after the refresh, all installed apps were removed. Thanks again.

 

[XweAponX]

Ok, so now we just have to see if the problem re-asserts itself. If it does you'll have to do either an in-place install or a fresh install. We'll have to find you an install disk somewhere.

 

[Brooklyn567]

If you have not reset your system yet, can you disable all startup programs for a couple of days and execute only what you need to see if its a program interfering with the icons?

Before you reset create a windows image so that in case the problem still exists you can restore your current windows and personalizations and not be burdened with reinstalling and fiddling with all the changes we make to customize our systems..

I usually clone the drive and work with the clone to fix serious issues so as not to have to redo allllll my work..

Have you run scandisk? Have you defragged the harddrive? I believe you already ran SFC /SCANNOW.

 

[CPWin8]

I tried a bunch of simplistic stuff that I didn't even write out here that wasn't technical in any way to see if it did have any effect. None. I did all of the standard scans. Nothing. As noted, I did the refresh before joining the board to ask--again figuring I'd take the easy way out. Well, as you know, the refresh didn't help nor did the steps on the previous pages.
Here is the quick update--not much to tell yet
I did the reset (quick--not total overwriting of drive--just removed files option). I haven't pushed the system to make it recur. There isn't really anything on it like last time. The reset seemed to go fine. I have some Windows Updates to complete that came out the other day. Nothing extra was installed yet in terms of applications. I planned to be further along, but I wanted to be sure, so I used an older system for basics.*
Note this: I noted on an earlier page that I thought the "waiting" symbol was the hourglass (even after the refresh). Well, it was. Now after the reset it is back to the small, blue spinning circle--whatever they're calling it officially. So, whatever that means on top of the other issues.

Again, reinstallation of everything doesn't bother me. So, I didn't care about doing a reset.

I will eventually post this in the correct section, and I've already done some research (have the commands), but I'm thinking of finishing getting the system set up with "my basics" and then making a custom refresh image using command prompt, recimg.
I might have some basic questions on that to be sure as long as I've joined the forum.



Thanks again.

 

[Abdullah79]

Same issue.

Firstly, sorry for bumping this thread. I'm new around here so I'm not sure whether I should/shouldn't do so.

Secondly, does anyone know whether there is a workaround to the issues described by the OP besides using the reset feature? My laptop is just a couple of weeks old and it's having these same problems, i.e. blank My PC, Control Panel, etc. Another things is that the system tray icons take a LONG time to load at startup, like maybe half an hour or more. I find this bizarre because this laptop is lightning fast otherwise. I'm also having problems running Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. It simply refuses to open, though it does run in the background. I thought there may be some malware/viruses, but after thorough scans and no other obvious problems in the functionality of the laptop, I'm forced to conclude that the problem is something else.

So is the reset the only option or has anyone else found an alternative? I'm aware that this problem isn't widely documented and seems to have affected a minimal amount of people since finding other material on it has been pretty difficult. I'm also not sure if I understand OP's last post correctly; did resetting fix the problems completely, or did they re-surface again, once programs, drivers, etc were reinstalled?

 

[Abdullah79]

Got a solution.

Ok, so I had been trying to fix this for the past 3 days without any results. However, finally most (if not all) of the issues have been resolved after I did one thing.

I went to Control Panel > Indexing Options. On the Indexing Options pop-up, I clicked on 'Advanced'. Under 'troubleshooting', I clicked on 'troubleshoot search and index'. When the troubleshooter ran, it resolved a problem that went along the lines of "Incorrect permissions on Windows Search directories". As soon as it fixed this, the start-up items loaded straightaway and the empty Control Panel and My PC issues have gone away completely. Previously, all thumbnails from icons (folders and files) had disappeared but now they have all returned. However, indexing is not working for me but I assume that is an unrelated problem. I hope this works for others also.