no Word doc icon (2000)

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I’ve tried everything on this baby, but not the “right” thing, obviously.

When I look at files on a file list in a folder, the “W” icon next to the file name isn’t there. Instead, I have what looks like a pad of paper with the spiral on the top, and an “A” in the bottom right corner of this icon.

This appeared on all my Word doc files on the computer. What happened? How do I fix it?

Thanks.

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If you change the display to Details, and check the entries in the column that is headed Type, what type of documents does Windows say are they supposed to be?

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The icon you have described is probably Notepad. Somehow your system has been set to open Word documents using Notepad.

I assume the files are .doc files. Try this:
Right click on any .doc file.
Select Open With..
Select Choose Program…
Scroll down and select Word
Mark the box “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file”
Select OK.

From now on all .doc files should show the Word icon.

Regards,
Judith

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Thanks for the quick turnaround. I always have my displays on Details. And when I look at Type, they say Microsoft Word document.

Does that help diagnose this?

Also, thanks to judithmc. I tried your suggestion, and the file didn’t save with the Word icon.

Any more ideas, folks? I used to be curious about how this occurred so globally on my docs; now I just want to fix it…

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Oh, so they are still associated with Word. That’s good.

I believe that you can choose your own icon. Not sure how it got changed, but to change it back, try this:

In Windows Explorer or My Computer: Tools > Folder Options…, File Types tab

Scroll down and highlight DOC, click the Advanced button

At the top right, “Change Icon…” do any look like the familiar “W” ?

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I have seen this kind of symptom caused by a corrupted Icon Cache.

Try installing TweakUI, go to the Repair tab, select Rebuild Icons and click the Repair Now button.

StuartR

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