I just got nice new laptop and as expected software had to be installed.
everything worked as expected until last item - Step7Technology from Siemens.
It installed ok and everything seam to be fine except that icons of all files and folders
on CD drive are replaced by generic internet explorer icon.
This is only in the right pane of the file browser and only on CD drive (regardless of inserted CD).

has anyone ever encounter anything like this?

ok here is the screenshot of the culprit. note that icons on the left side are ok.
when browsing HDDs, network drives etc everything is normal. only files and folders
that are on CD/DVD are showing up this way (regardless of disc make or content).
Siemens suggests to talk to Microsoft about fixing it or reinstall everything
(yeah right, it took me a week to load and configure everything).
clicking on items works as expected it's just that it looks so ugly and slows me down.

This thread seems to describe your problem. There are several solutions mentioned one easier than the other so I suggest you read the whole thread.

http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6142_102-0.htm...threadID=238488

thanx PdL,

that did it... (it certainly beats Siemens's suggestion)


opening regedit, navigating to


and changing key "Shell Icon Size" from 48 to 47 worked the magic.

Glad it worked
I believe you can set the icon size back to original afterwards, it just triggers the reload of the icon cache.
BTW, what laptop model?

After talking to one good IT guy and demanding performance, he suggested to move up
from business model to workstation (pricewise about the same). Overall I like Dell
better than any other machine I worked on so I decided to check their Precision models.
After reading specs (and talking to sales guy) I picked M4300 (15") and bumped up
some of the specs like OS, HDD etc since this can't be selected from their website.
Anyway, this is what I've got (probably for the next three years):

CPU Core2 duo core 2.6GHz, 6Mb cache
RAM 4Gb
HDD 320Gb 7200RPM
LCD Display 1920x1200
VideoCard NVidia Quadro FX360M 512Mb
USB 3x (2 are on side for easy access)
RS232 1x
1394 (FireWire) 1x
PCMCIA Slot 1x
EC Slot 1x
2nd Monitor output HD15 (not DVI)
TV Output
one unknown connector (didn't read the manual yet)
DL DVD burner
Ethernet 1x Gigabit, 1x Wireless multiband
Bluetooth
Modem 56k
WinXP Pro SP2 preinstalled + disc (also disc for Windows Vista Business)
discs of all preinstalled software (MS Office 2007, cd/dvd burner, recovery, diagnostics etc.)
9-cell battery
power supply (+ spare one)
optical mouse
laptop bag
laptop cable with lock and alarm

it does not have:
built in camera
built in flash card reader
finger print reader (i didn't ask for it)

price tag $3000CAD plus tax.

Much better than what I'm currently using. Latitude D620

my trusty D800 was more than up to the task for everything but Siemens software (which also worked but it was getting too slow for my taste). after more than three years, nobody had problem with me picking something newer.

Glad you got it sorted there Panic, good tip there Pdl...

When i looked at the pic panic, i remembed the quote about siemens software.. it infects your machine like a virus...... Prove me wrong........

unfortunately - i can easily prove you right...
after installing their software (specially WinCC flexible) no PC stays the same.
you can still see it move, but - with pain...



if they would listen to me, they would fire few guys and replace them with experienced game developers and put them in charge.
those guys manage to make very hardware demanding products that still run smooth and real time with dozens or hundreds of users on relatively slow and unreliable network such as internet (100-300kbps).

[rant on]

in comparison:
- Step7 can't monitor one dang rung ("network") in a trivial project when connected directly to just one node (PLC) using dedicated point to point connection such as 12Mbps profibus or anything else (10/100Mb ProfiNet).

- WinCC flexible cannot import and export alarms. no export works (even just texts - which is useless anyway) unless you have more than one language selected.
copy and paste doesn't work, copying 30 tags takes anywhere from 30 seconds to 10 minutes (should be 30ms).

- projects are monsters, i was comparing footprint of a file set (plc program, HMI and servo) on few similar jobs using different hardware and
Omron is about 1Mb, AB 3Mb, Siemens 180Mb (what are they on?). Those 180Mb after compression (with ZIP for example) shrink to 40Mb (takes a while and still a monster - plus you can't use it in this form). 20 projects, few revisions and backups ---> 40Gb of junk. with 30Gb gone just installing XP and all software, plus some manuals and files for other things and old 80Gb HDD was choking while I had to resort to frequent backups, use of externall HDD etc (not any more).

- cannot create application, compile it and download it to more than one unit (must recompile every time).

- they never learned how to manage website, downloading (service pack for example) can easily (did for me) turn into nightmare with tipical file sizes 1Gb or so and no resume option. the download stops and you have to start all over (how modern and flexible). i had to go gome and download it because on corporate network there are internet rushhours (8AM, lunch, 4pm, then at 8PM servers slows network down to crawl while doing backup etc.). unfortuntaly most of the time you find those things when you are in the middle of something and convenient, fast and reliable internet connection is not available. if you happen to be on site and you find out you need a patch, you are pretty much out of luck.

- everything is brute force, sledgehammer solution - "reinstall everything", "create project from scratch" etc. given horrible import/export options, i find this criminal...

[rant off]

the list goes on and on, one has to think of a proper "award" for products like this.

Very good specs. I would run Siemens applications in virtual machine if i were you. So they won't cause distraction to your real system and your system can easily handle virtual machines.