Uninstalling HP Direct Tape Access Changes System Icons

• Microsoft Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

After you uninstall Hewlett-Packard (HP) Direct Tape Access in Windows 95, icons for programs and other items may appear as generic document icons.

CAUSE

When HP Direct Tape Access is installed, it updates the registry to point to its custom icons. When HP Direct Tape Access is uninstalled using the Add/Remove Programs tool, the changes it made to the registry are not undone. Windows Explorer refers to the registry for information about which icons to display, but the registry points to icons that are no longer installed on the computer. As a result, Windows Explorer displays a generic document icon instead of the correct system icon.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (SYSTEM.DAT and USER.DAT) before you edit the registry.

Use Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) to follow these steps:

1. Create a "DefaultIcon" (without quotation marks) subkey in the following registry key, and specify a default value of "%1" (including quotation marks):

         HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile
   

   If the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon registry key already exists but has a default value other than "%1" (including quotation marks), change the default value to "%1" (including quotation marks).

2. Delete the following subkey from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex:

         IconHandler
   

3. Create a "DefaultIcon" (without quotation marks) subkey in the following registry key, and specify a default value of "%1" (including quotation marks):

         HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile
   

   If the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile\DefaultIcon registry key already exists but has a default value other than "%1" (including quotation marks), change the default value to "%1" (including quotation marks).

4. Delete the following subkey from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\icofile\shellex:

         IconHandler
   

5. Close Registry Editor and restart your computer.

MORE INFORMATION

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.