Remove infernal shortcut arrow icons (corrupts to black square)

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  1. Posts : 5
    win 10
       #1

    Remove shortcut arrow icons (corrupts to black square)


    Hiya everyone, I have a problem. I've been trying to get rid of the shortcut arrow icons for over 2 weeks now and no matter what I do they keep corrupting to a black square. Sometimes it works, and the icon is just gone, but it's 50/50 (actually 75/25) whether the black squares come back after a reboot. Refreshing the icon cache does nothing. Things I've tried so far:

    - Added a key to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons
    Name 29, Value %windir%\System32\shell32.dll,-50
    - Removed the value from key 29
    - Created a blank .ico in a random folder outside the user or windows directories and had the value point to that, this was just a fully blank 32x32 image created in gimp
    - Resized the blank .ico to 24x24
    - Moved the .ico to the windows system32 folder and had the value point to that
    - Modified the value to use %windir% instead of the full path

    I *really* don't want to use any 3rd party software for this - given that they'll use the same methods I use it will just keep corrupting anyway no? Anyone have any advice?

    Thanks for reading
    Last edited by Notme; 05 Aug 2020 at 16:43.
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  2. Posts : 1,604
    Win 10 home 20H2 19042.1110
       #2
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  3. Posts : 5
    win 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I have, obviously I checked the tutorial before asking ...
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  4. Posts : 1,604
    Win 10 home 20H2 19042.1110
       #4

    Yes and you also said you didn't want a third party software, but Winaero works: Winaero - Free small and useful software for Windows
    Remove infernal shortcut arrow icons (corrupts to black square)-tweak.jpg
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  5. Posts : 5
    win 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I'm aware it's capable of removing the icon, but given that it makes the same changes I'm making it will just keep corrupting anyway. If not, it's making different changes. I'd like to know what those are.
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  6. Posts : 42,733
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    Each Winaero tweak is supported by a link to how it works. So, FWIW here it is for you: I don't expect it will be any different as you suggest.

    Remove shortcut arrow overlay in Windows 10

    Remove infernal shortcut arrow icons (corrupts to black square)-1.png

    Do you see the same if you create a new user for test purposes, log in as that user and then try?
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  7. Posts : 5
    win 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Hey, thanks for the suggestion. Adding a new account initially seemed to work but after a few reboots it corrupted again. If I find the time I might try creating a new dll with the icon file in it, although I doubt that will help since the default dll also has a transparent icon that kept corrupting. Such a weird bug, no? It works about 25% of the time, and none of the other icons revert to a black square. I could also try making an "icon" that has one colored pixel in it, maybe it's something with how windows reads fully transparent icons, although I would expect it to get the black square always then. I'll update if I find a solution that works.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Huzzah! Victory! At least for now. Adding 1 black pixel to the .ico file seems to have worked, 4 reboots so far and no ugly black squares. I can see the pixel if I look close but I think this is a solution I can live with. The file is here if anyone wants it.nearlyblank.ico
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  8. Posts : 42,733
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    Hope it stays that way- very odd.
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  9. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
       #9

    Notme said:
    Hey, thanks for the suggestion. Adding a new account initially seemed to work but after a few reboots it corrupted again. If I find the time I might try creating a new dll with the icon file in it, although I doubt that will help since the default dll also has a transparent icon that kept corrupting. Such a weird bug, no? It works about 25% of the time, and none of the other icons revert to a black square. I could also try making an "icon" that has one colored pixel in it, maybe it's something with how windows reads fully transparent icons, although I would expect it to get the black square always then. I'll update if I find a solution that works.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Huzzah! Victory! At least for now. Adding 1 black pixel to the .ico file seems to have worked, 4 reboots so far and no ugly black squares. I can see the pixel if I look close but I think this is a solution I can live with. The file is here if anyone wants it.nearlyblank.ico
    That's brilliant NotMe! Would you be so kind as to walk a simple user like me through how to add the pixel without losing transparency or the ico format? Would MOST appreciate it. HATE those shortcut icons that mess up my custom ones.
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  10. Posts : 68,652
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #10

    aarg said:
    That's brilliant NotMe! Would you be so kind as to walk a simple user like me through how to add the pixel without losing transparency or the ico format? Would MOST appreciate it. HATE those shortcut icons that mess up my custom ones.
    Hello aarg, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Just to verify, did you try option 1 in the tutorial below using the downloadable transparent.ico and Transparent_shortcut_overlay.reg files?

    Shortcut Arrow Icon - Change, Remove, or Restore in Windows 10
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