my windows 2000 application shortcut icons are displaying as the
"windows update" icon.  the icons work correctly (if you double-click
them the correct program starts).  you can sort of see the original
icon hiding underneath the windows update icon.  what is going on and
how can i get my icons back?  pc is current with windows updates.

Did you try restarting the computer? Sometimes that helps.

The program "Tweak UI" was created to make enhancements to the
Microsoft Windows interface.  It allows for modifications to the
Windows Environment ranging from minor to major.

There should be a tab in Tweak UI for windows 2000 that has a
drop-down menu box that says "Repair Icons" (along with other repair
options).  If you click on this option, and then click "Repair" it
should restore your icons.

(The following instructions are paraphrased from http://www.annoyances.org)
To get Tweak UI for windows 2000:
    1. Download TweakUI (can be found at
http://www.annoyance.org/downloads/ftp/tweakui.zip)
    2. Unzip TweakUI.zip.
    3. Right-click tweakui.inf and select "Install" from the menu.
    4. The TweakUI icon should appear in your control panel. 
Double-click it and you're on your way.

Hope this works for you.

You have you tried ?Arrange Icons?? Right click.

Best

I agree with guzzi.  Right click on a blank area of the desktop and
select ARRANGE ICONS.  Select either: Name, Size, Type, Date.

Does that work for you?

Hi shouldbeskiing-ga,
You can customize the icons used to for shortcuts to programs. 
Windows will use a default icon, or you can easily change this by
right-clicking the shortcut, and choosing Properties.   On the
Shortcut tab, click the Change Icon button, and choose a different
icon.

Regards,
Indian.

thanks very much for your suggestions.  (i had alrady tried rebooting,
the icons were correctly assicated with their corresponding
applications, and "arrange icons" had no appreciable effect).

i tried going into display properties this morning, under appearance
tab, item "icon" decreased the size by 1 increment, then back up to
original size and the icons were correctly restored.  maybe tweakui
would have also fixed the problem but i did not have to resort to
that.  thanks again!