Technology Blog

Blank HTML or HTM icons when using Firefox

Posted on February 15th, 2010

If you are using Firefox as your default browser and your icons appear like blank pages it means you have an error on your registry.

Warning: There is a potential risk of damaging your Windows installation and render it unusable if you do not know what you are doing. Use these instructions at your own risk as we are NOT responsible in any way for problems caused by following these instructions.

To fix it:
1. Press your Windows key + R
2. Type regedit
3. Look for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\FirefoxHTML
4. Delete the ShellEx registry key.
5. Close Regedit
6. Restart computer.

The icons should appear normal now.

If these steps did not work try these additional steps.

7. On any folder go
8. Go to Tools > Folder Options > View > Select “Show hidden files, folders, or drives.
9. Click OK

10a. In Windows Vista go to:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data

10b. In Windows 7 go to:
Go to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local

11. Delete the file called iconcache.db
12. Restart computer