While downloading Microsoft recommended updates I have inadvertently downloaded a program which replaces all icons with the Microsoft download logo. I have uninstalled all the programs which I installed on that particular day but the ‘download’ icons persist. How can I get back to how the system was running originally? I am operating Windows 98 SE.

There are two ways to go about fixing the icon problem you are experiencing. The first way is to go into every file type and manually replace the icon for each individual file type. However, a computer with 100’s of file types could take a while to do. Instead, we will use a program called TweakUI. This has a feature called ‘Repair Icons’ which, as the name implies, repairs icons. Firstly, download and install the utility. Instructions on how to do this can be found at: www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp . The file that you will need to install is TWEAKUI.INF . Once you have installed it, go to the ‘Start’ menu > ‘Settings> ‘Control Panel’ > ‘TweakUI’. After the TweakUI window appears, click the ‘Repair’ tab and then the ‘Repair Icons’ button. Once the operation is complete, click the ‘Ok’ button to close the window and restart your computer. Hopefully now you should have all of your icons back.