On my computer, I like to set the view for my folders to "Details" because I can see more of what's in them on the computer screen, though I will use "Thumbnails" to make sure about what I have in folders for graphics files.

At some point within the past month (I'm not sure when this happened) I noticed, I mean really noticed that, in the "Details" view, some files in some folders had icons that belong to other types of files or other programs.

A good for-instance is my graphics files.  They have all been associated with Irfanview, but now, in "Details," their icons are not the funny red blob creature, their icons are all what looks like a tiny hand held out and part of a blue sleeve.  Zip files now have a pink diamond.  Some application files apparently have icons for other applications.

If I click on various things, the files open properly, and nothing else odd has happened.

I'm puzzled.

Thanks.

   Windows 98 and ME often do that but when you restart your computer, it should correct them.  Which Windows do you have and does restarting Windows correct it?

I have Windows 98SE.  Restarting does not correct the problem.  I've had my current computer for almost seven years (kept going along with the help of RegVac and A1Clean), and this is the first time it's happened.

I did unassociate Irfan view all the graphics files, and now they show the icon they normally show.

Thanks.

   There is a ShellIconCache file that has those icons in it.  Usually the mess up is associated with that file.  It has been such a long time ago that I messed with Win98 that I don't remember much more than that.  I think that you can delete that file and Windows will automatically recreate it correctly when Windows restarts.