Menu Icons Changed

On one laptop I noticed that program icons are changed to default folder icon for most installed programs. Not sure when this happened, but could have been on update Tuesday. Will check my other puters tomorrow.

I have very few desktop icons for programs to keep the desktop 'clean'. The few on the desktop are ok. I found a bat file to rebuild the icon cache files, didn't help.

Haven't had an icon problem since Win 7 so kind of new for me at this point. As those were on the desktop and not in the menu. I reinstalled Malwarebytes which did not work. A few are ok, like Mozilla Thunderbird and looks like all Microsoft programs. If I right click on one of the folder icons, I do not get the second menu uninstall/pin/more.
Just checked my other laptop, same thing !

Tnx

If you could not install Malwarebytes, that would be a sign that you are infected.
Try downloading a running ADWCleaner. Scan then Removed all checked items.

Hello Ken,

In addition, you might see if doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this happened may be able to help until you can verify if you have been infected.

System Restore Windows 10 Windows 10 Tutorials

On one desktop I ran ADWcleaner and only two pups. System Restore crashed the whole machine. Will restore image I made.
Can't believe I am the only one with this problem. Maybe because I have very few icons on the desktop and mostly use the Win 10 menu. On the desktop maybe 15 out of 80+ programs installed.
I will report back after I restore the image and before I get the Feb. updates.

WOW, I really missed this thing. I restored an image from 1/27/2018 and the problem was also there. Running Sophos offline scan now, it found something. Have to wait till it completes.

Since System Restore screwed one desktop, I will not try it on the other three computers.

Any other suggestions since it only effects the main menu and only third party programs ?
I am going to try other free malware programs and see what happens. Then will try a repair install and what ever else I can think of before I return here.

tnx

Here is what I did,
Numberious free antispyware programs run
Emsisoft Anti-malware
Zemana Anti-malware
Sophos Antivirus offline scan
Repair reinstall
Start Menu Troubleshooter. Said it repaired database
I did some updates for programs, Ccleaner would be my first choice for a cause. The updates were after my restored image.

Nothing worked !!!

Next choice will be a new user which has screwed me in the past.

Ken, if you suspect that your PC may be infected, then it may be best to do a clean install instead.

It is not infected. Same thing on 4 computers ? No way. An infection would do more damage than this. Next try will be to change my user name. Just need to make sure all program shortcuts are on the all user list. That is how I got messed up in the past.

Using a new user account did not fix anything. Something got into the menu catch or wherever. I have no clue where to check next.

A clean install on four machines is out of the question.

This is the problem

Ken,

I don't see a problem with the folder icons showing in the All Apps list in your Start menu. Those are normal. You would click on the folder to expand it open.

If that's not what you meant, then please provide more details to help clarify.