setting default icon to display for specific file types with registry

Something in Windows 10 or another program has created an issue that I cannot find any way to fix. I tried the normal things for setting the default program. Both by using properties on the files as well as using the Windows Default App settings in every combination i can think of.

File types (png, jpg, jpeg) that I have chosen to be opened by the Original Windows PAINT program will only show a generic "image" icon on desktop and in folders. I also noticed that .txt files now only show a blank page with lines instead of the Notepad icon that was always displayed beneath items that have Notepad as the default editor.

However, If i change the image files to use Paint-3d by default, the icon for Paint3D displays. If i change .txt files to use Wordpad by default, the icon for Wordpad displays. It has been this way for the past several weeks at minimum, perhaps longer.

The icon for the program MSPaint still shows the original icon as it should and Notepad also still has its original icon for the program.
I know where to go in the registry to change the icon associated with a file type. When i checked there, Jpeg files are set to use "imageres.dll,-72". Oddly, .png files are set to use ,-83 but on my screen they look identical. Txt files use imageres.dll,-102.

As I have never had to resort to this much trouble to achieve what was once the normal setup, and before I do anything I wondered if this is the "new normal" or if it was caused by something 'malicious'?

Sounds like you may need to rebuild your icon cache because it has become corrupt. Follow the instructions in this tutorial;

Rebuild Icon Cache in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials

I wish it was that easy.
But, i tried it just to be sure. No help
Changed nothing.
I even ran it as admin so no problems deleted the cached files.
It did bt no change.
I think i have a pretty good idea of what is causing the wrong icons to display.. The locations listed in the Windows registry are incorrect for the icons i need. What I dont have is the location of the proper icon for Paint and Notepad. The locations stored in the registry for those two files in imageres32.dll does not have those two files. I need to locate the proper icons for Notepad and Paint and set them to be used for Txt files on notepad and jpg,png, others for Paint.

While trying to figure out why Notepad (the program) still has the right Icon and is Set as the Default program for .txt files, I accidentally renamed a .TXT file to a .TEXT file. Miraculously, the icon instantly changed to the correct one that matches notepad.exe. I have checked every location I can find under default apps etc and each place shows notepad.exe to be the correct program for .txt files.

I would prefer not to have to rename all .TXT files to use the ..TEXT extension just to get the right icon to display.

It has NOT happened on every system I have, But HAS occurred on Most of them The icon that does show up on .TXT files is a "generic" piece of paper with lines on it. If i set the default program to be Notepad++, the icons all switch to notepad++ icons as they should. Only notepad.exe fails to set them back to the correct icon.