Desktop Icon Shadow Problem

[GangstaPenguin]

This is basically a re-post of http://www.msfn.org/board/desktop-icon-shadows-t71940.html, but I still didn't get a fix from that topic. As Glen said:

This is what it looks, if anyone is wondering. The bottom is normal and the top is the problem.

When the computer boots and whenever the desktop is refreshed, all the icons look like the top one (they have a darker shadow behind the icon labels). But whenever icons are clicked or selected, they look like the bottom one (lighter shadow).

Now, obviously, this isn't a big deal, but it's starting to bug me. It's one of those ones where you just try to find a quick solution and end up tieing yourself in knots trying to find out (you know those ones, right).

Anyway, it's not ClearType, it's not "Use drop shadows for icon labels on the desktop" in Control Panel -> System -> Advanced -> Performance and so on.

The question is, does anyone know how to solve this little mystery? Anyways, I really hope someone does because this has been bugging me.

Thanks alot.

Edited January 3, 2010 by GangstaPenguin

[GangstaPenguin]

Anyone?

[jaclaz]

I don't get it.

The OP in the thread you linked to said he found what the problem was:

If anyone is interested, I've finally found the culprit to this annoying problem.

It's the tweak used to remove those arrows from shortcut icons (deleting IsShortcut from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile). Undoing this tweak fixes the problem, but now the arrows have returned (it's better this way though). Now, to find another way of getting rid of the arrows.

jaclaz

[GangstaPenguin]

I don't get it.

The OP in the thread you linked to said he found what the problem was:

If anyone is interested, I've finally found the culprit to this annoying problem.

It's the tweak used to remove those arrows from shortcut icons (deleting IsShortcut from HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile). Undoing this tweak fixes the problem, but now the arrows have returned (it's better this way though). Now, to find another way of getting rid of the arrows.

jaclaz

Yeah that's not the fix, apparently it worked for him, but it doesn't work for me. I just wonder if anyone with XP has this problem and has found the fix for it.

[GrofLuigi]

Remove the wallpaper and experiment with the color of the desktop background (if I remember correctly, XP chooses the color/shadow of the letters to be in contrast with the desktop background, even if it can't be seen/is covered by wallpaper). Also try the same with the colors of active/inactive desktop elements, but it's possible you won't find a combination that works for you...

GL