Foo - Computer Help Please- Icons Displaying As Yellow Computers

I've just installed XP with all the latest updates for a friend. When the computer reasds from the DVD drive all the icons show as yellow computers. The original icons are covered up by these yellow computers, but the folders or file names still show.

I assume this is some kind of virus or spyware which came with one of the game packs she likes, but KIS, Spybot, and Adware all show the system as being clean. Does anyone have any ideas what is causing this and how to fix it? Thanks.


http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8190/screenam1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I don't know about KIS, but spybot and adaware aren't A/V programs. Do you have drivers in for the DVD player?

I don't know about KIS, but spybot and adaware aren't A/V programs. Do you have drivers in for the DVD player?
KIS is Kaspersky Internet Security, it's an anti-virus and firewall program. All the drivers are installed and everything works, it just shows the yellow computer icons.

Kapersky is good software....so I'd trust its A/V capabilities (assuming its "up to date"). CD/DVD players don't usually have drivers (just use native Windows ATAPI drivers or such).

I know this doesn't "solve" the problem, but have just tried rebooting?

I've just installed XP with all the latest updates for a friend. When the computer reasds from the DVD drive all the icons show as yellow computers. The original icons are covered up by these yellow computers, but the folders or file names still show.

I assume this is some kind of virus or spyware which came with one of the game packs she likes, but KIS, Spybot, and Adware all show the system as being clean. Does anyone have any ideas what is causing this and how to fix it? Thanks.


http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8190/screenam1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

I fail to see the problem. THose are probably just put there by the program you have installed to play DVD's. Those are .vob or DVD files.

I fail to see the problem. THose are probably just put there by the program you have installed to play DVD's. Those are .vob or DVD files.
No, all files have the yellow computer icons, .vob, ifo, exe, folders, everything. I just used a DVD as it was the closest disk.

Here's a Windows disk, I386 folder:

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/6541/untitledab4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Right click on a file and click properties...
One of the properties is "Opens with", what does it say?

I've just installed XP with all the latest updates...

There's your problem. :p

Right click on a file and click properties...
One of the properties is "Opens with", what does it say?
Everything is listed as opening with the proper program; .txt with notepad, .doc with word, .msi with Windows Installer, etc.

There's a unique icon for each file-type association (.doc, .xls, .txt, etc.). Sometimes, when you install additional software after the Windows installation, that software-package can override the default icons. In your case, something changed teh default document icons. You can set your own icons for various file-types yourself. Check out this IconUtils programme (http://www.aha-soft.com/iconutils/index.htm).

There's a unique icon for each file-type association (.doc, .xls, .txt, etc.). Sometimes, when you install additional software after the Windows installation, that software-package can override the default icons. In your case, something changed teh default document icons. You can set your own icons for various file-types yourself. Check out this IconUtils programme (http://www.aha-soft.com/iconutils/index.htm).
The strange thing is that it is only files that are read from the DVD drive that have the yellow computer icons. If I transfer the same files that have the yellow computer icons from the DVD drive to the hard drive they have the normal and expected icons.

Try deleting the DVD player out of the device manager and then rescanning for hardware so it puts it right back.

Try deleting the DVD player out of the device manager and then rescanning for hardware so it puts it right back.
Thanks, I tried it, but no changes. The icons are still yellow computers. :(

So what happens when you click on one of these files? Also it would still be good to know what software programs you have that relate to media etc. It looks similar to Nero, in which case if you have it, anything that lands in your CD/DVD drive gets instantly owned by NERO icons, etc.

So what happens when you click on one of these files? Also it would still be good to know what software programs you have that relate to media etc. It looks similar to Nero, in which case if you have it, anything that lands in your CD/DVD drive gets instantly owned by NERO icons, etc.
If I click on the icons they open as normal. It's not related to Nero, as I have used Nero for years on my machine without any issues.

The only programs which are on this machine that related to Media are Nero and Power DVD, neither of which have little yellow computer icons.

sounds like something hosed up your icons theme. I would explore either changing the windows theme to something with different icons, or try to change the icons manually.

Do is it file icons that are computers or like is the desktop "my computer, recycle bin, internet exploder" icons yellow computers too?

You may need administrator privileges to make the following changes.

To change file type icons
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

2. In the Folder Options dialog box, click the File Types tab.

3. Select the file type you wish to change, and then click Advanced.

4. In the Edit File Type dialog box, click Change Icon.

5. In the Change Icon dialog box, click Browse, and navigate to the new icon you want to use, select it, and then click Open.

6. Click OK, and then click Close.


From:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/sawyer_03june30.mspx

sounds like something hosed up your icons theme. I would explore either changing the windows theme to something with different icons, or try to change the icons manually.

Do is it file icons that are computers or like is the desktop "my computer, recycle bin, internet exploder" icons yellow computers too?

You may need administrator privileges to make the following changes.

To change file type icons
1. Click Start, click Control Panel, click Appearance and Themes, and then click Folder Options.

2. In the Folder Options dialog box, click the File Types tab.

3. Select the file type you wish to change, and then click Advanced.

4. In the Edit File Type dialog box, click Change Icon.

5. In the Change Icon dialog box, click Browse, and navigate to the new icon you want to use, select it, and then click Open.

6. Click OK, and then click Close.


From:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/sawyer_03june30.mspx
No, only icons being read from the DVD drive are covered by the yellow computers. You can see a little bit of the proper icon peeking out from under the the yellow computer. It's not theme related.

I'm all out of guesses. Good Luck.