Why is my icons blurred?

[garfield_101]

I would like to ask another question again, why is it that all my icons suddenly become distorted and the colors are blurred? How do i change it back to its good old self? I am using windows me by the way. Also, how do i make the most of my 256 MB SDRAM? I know that i have to change some cache settings in the system.ini fie but i dont know how. Please teach me. Thanks for answering my probelm regarding this topic thanks.

[linuxdude]

Try downloading Tweak UI and clicking repair icons. that might do it.

[Nightfire]

Or maybe your colour settings have been messed about? gone to 16 bit instead of 32bit

[garfield_101]

where can i download tweak ui? I mean i am not xp can i use that? Is there no other way than using this program? maybe my icon cache is damaged? I read somewhere that i t can be repaired.

[meow]

Do you have a file called 'ShellIconCache' (probably in c:\windows)? Try to delete it and reboot. It sometimes gets corrupt and it will be rebuilt when you boot up. You could back it up first (saves my a** if you delete the wrong file :D).

[joh6nn]

RebIC (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4414/RebIC.zip): program that rebuilds the icon cache for you, in one click. great little thing; i have it sitting on my taskbar.

[garfield_101]

thanks for the shellicon cache that you taught me it works wonder and my icons are all back now again. Btw, how do i make the most out of my 256 ram? It seems as if my pc is still slow despite the fact i add something.

[Roy Sinclair]

how do i make the most out of my 256 ram? It seems as if my pc is still slow despite the fact i add something.

Slow running computers usually result from the user loading program after program after program into the system and not removing the excess garbage that those various programs add to their system. Look at your system tray, how many of those icons do you use regularly? Every one of them represents a program running in the background on your system.

A dirty secret of the software industry is that every vendor seems to think that the major reason the consumer has a PC is to run that vendor's software. So they make it easy by adding a quick launch feature to your task bar (or even hidden like the one for the MS Office products).

An example of the problem is that a lot of people install software like RealPlayer to view a video or series of videos that they want to see. It may be months before they run across another video that requires the RealPlayer but in the meantime the RealPlayer is loading every time they boot, reducing the user's resources and slowing their system down.

Run the "MSCONFIG" program (Start > Run > type "MSCONFIG") to find and remove excess startup programs. Often that alone will make a hug difference in boot times. Remember, if you don't use it regularly, it has no business running in the background or in your system tray. I've never found a single program that truly requires the system tray or preloading utility in order to function.

[mouse]

Originally posted by garfield_101
thanks for the shellicon cache that you taught me it works wonder and my icons are all back now again. Btw, how do i make the most out of my 256 ram? It seems as if my pc is still slow despite the fact i add something. You should also defragment your hard disk and ensure virtual memory is either set pretty high or unlimited.

You can turn off pretty much all startup proggies, they'll start when they're needed anyway.

[garfield_101]

i know about the msconfig idea, but what i mean is that after i boot then sometimes the performance of my pc is still slow. i defrags my system twice oper month. so do i need to increase that to 4 tmes a month? i think norton needs the systray to operte. does it not? i also disabled loading the microsoft thing because its just not worth it.

[cg9com]

Originally posted by joh6nn
RebIC (http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4414/RebIC.zip): program that rebuilds the icon cache for you, in one click. great little thing; i have it sitting on my taskbar.
404

[garfield_101]

HI! well i am thinking that i think i have to optimize my swap file the only problem is that norton speed disk doesnt do it too well, doyou know of any program that solves this problem easier. Also how do I change the icon image of an icon? because i notice only shortcuts with the arrow are the only files capable of changing icon real time. Also, i have encountered a program that makes the text beneath the icon folders or any icons for that matter be transparent, do you know of what program that is? Thanks you for the time spent in reading my LONG post.

[joh6nn]

accidentally linked straight to the file before, and not to the page. geocities, like lots of free hosts, doesn't allow direct-linking, but for some reason, they don't bother to actually tell you that's what the problem is.

anyway, here's that link again: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Network/4414/Prod_Body.html#rebic

[cg9com]

green :thumbsup:

[mouse]

Originally posted by garfield_101
i know about the msconfig idea, but what i mean is that after i boot then sometimes the performance of my pc is still slow. i defrags my system twice oper month. so do i need to increase that to 4 tmes a month? i think norton needs the systray to operte. does it not? i also disabled loading the microsoft thing because its just not worth it. Er, try once every 2-3 months, it's not that useful a procedure and it stresses the disk quite alot. ;)

If it's hard disk performance you might find increasing cluster size helps. This can be done with a proggie called X-setup [see note in sig]. Other than that there are no miracle speed up procedures, getting another 256mb ram would probably help alot, particularly if you use XP and/or use multiple programs at once.

[garfield_101]

stresses the disk in what way? Pls. explain. I heard defragging twice a month makes the life of hard disk longer
do you mean about the increasing cluster size that i should use partition manager and change the cluster size of my drive c from 4 to 16? is that what you mean?

[mouse]

Okay, what you've heard/read is misleading; if your hard disk is fragmented then defragmenting will allow you to get the best from your disk, performance wise. However defragmenting a drive is stressful in that you're working the moving parts rapidly over a long period of time, this causes heat and can cause mechanical failure in the read/write heads. Defraging a drive twice per month is overkill; your disk will hardly be fragmented much within a couple of weeks. You do need to defrrag quite regularly to reduce defrag time for the above, and below, reasons...

The use of 16k clusters will reduce fragmentation and so inhance performance. Small clusters also mean large file allocation tables. The slack - ie wasted space - is marginally higher but this is unimportant in todays hard disks. You'll also find that with an increased cluster size, defragging and moving large files is alot quicker.

[garfield_101]

"Small clusters also mean large file allocation tables."-what does this mean? so that means that i should change al the cluster size to 16 in all my hard drives? I have 2 hd btw?
so what are your suggestions for defragging time?
BTW, Why isnt my icon questions be replied upon? That is also my question too, you know..:)

[mouse]

I thought you'd fixed the icon problem :confused:

If your disks are on 4kb clusters now then leave them, I'd say defrag once every two months, or make that six weeks.

I don't think fragmented hard disk is that noticeable performance wise, upgrading to 512mb ram whilst it's cheap probably would though. :)