It used to be that the icons for internet shortcuts were all blue lower-case 'e' (using IE as default browser) unless you manually changed icon to something else.

Then websites began supplying their own icons. AnswerPool, for instance, has a yellow light bulb. Many of my shortcuts now have distinctive icons.

The problem is, these icons seem to come and go of their own volition. Sometimes an icon will revert to a blue 'e', and then -- presto-chango! -- return a few days later when I revisit the site, though not all icons related to that site are affected.

Similarly, when I create a new shortcut from a page that I'm viewing, sometimes it has a site-specific icon and sometimes not.

What's going on?

Professor,
The only thing I can think of right now would be that you're deleting cookies, and the icons go with them till you revisit the site? Mine will occasionally do the same, but I never gave it much thought as to why till reading your post.

chris

quote:

Originally posted by vansrme
The only thing I can think of right now would be that you're deleting cookies, and the icons go with them till you revisit the site?

I concur with Chris,Perhaps the Internet Explorer settings has been changed to delete cookies at Shutdown? Symptoms: Having to log in everywhere?

Thank to you both for replying. Yes, I do delete cookies from time to time, at irregular intervals. And indeed when I delete cookies I have to re-enter some log-ins that are normally handled by cookies (not really a problem with an automated utility I use).

I didn't realize that these icons were tied to cookies, though if I try to find these special icons inside the web shortcuts (right-click | properties | change icon) the icons are nowhere to be found. Curiouser and curiouser.

Update:

The "CNN" icon in my Windows "quick launch" toolbar disappeared (that is, reverted to the default IE icon) for about two weeks, then spontaneously re-appeared today (red CNN logo against white background). I have NOT deleted cookies or changed anything else of relevance (as far as I know) during this period. CNN.com is my home-page so I view it quite often every day.

What exactly is the connection between internet shortcut icons and cookies? Might there be some other explanation for this behavior that's not related to cookies?

Deep down I know the computer gremlins are just trying to drive me insane. And it may be working!

This type of icon is called a "favicon". It is added when an entry is made in the Favorites folder and whenever the temporary Internet files folder or cookies are deleted, the favicon fails to display. A simple way to restore is to re-add the page to your Favorites list.

Excerpt from a PC MAG article:
"The biggest problem with favicons is that they are not persistent. If you empty your Temporary Internet Files folder, the icons are lost. The only way to restore a favicon is to delete the link from the Favorites folder and recreate it."

You can see an example of this on my site http://dwightblackburn.com When the page first opens, note the icon. Then add the page to your Favorites list, and reopen the page. Note the Icon has changed.

More on favicons.

Dwight

AM-DeadLink detects dead links and duplicates in your Browser Bookmarks. If a Bookmark has become unavailable you can verify it in the internal preview and delete it from your Browser. Additionally you can download FavIcons for all your Favorites and Bookmarks.

AM-Deadlink works with Internet Explorer, Opera, Mozilla and Firefox.

AM-DeadLink is Freeware!

http://www.aignes.com/deadlink.htm

Dwight:
Thanks for a most informative and helpful answer.

I'm still digesting the PC Mag article. I experimented with your website; the favicon didn't appear until after saving it to favorites and rebooting. But realizing the connection with Favorites is a major step in clearing up the mystery. I'll experiment some more now that I know I'm on the right track.

CarGolga:
Interesting that you can directly download favicons. I wonder how they compile their library.