HTTP Default Icon issue

Sometimes you may find that the HTTP URL shortcut icon is “broken”; referencing %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,0 instead of %SystemRoot%\system32\url.dll,0. This is due to a bug that does not consistently set the default type and data for the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\DefaultIcon value. When the icons are not displaying correctly, it will have a default value of type REG_SZ with Data “%1” when it should be of type REG_EXPAND_SZ with Data “%SystemRoot%\system32\url.dll,0”. Strangely, the DefaultIcon for the HTTPS (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTPS\DefaultIcon) URL shortcut does not suffer from the same problem. I hope you find this information of value.

Incorrect registry entry

Icon displayed incorrectly in Internet Explorer 6

Icon for URL shortcut displayed incorrectly

Correct registry entry

Icon displayed correctly in Internet Explorer 6

Icon for URL shortcut displayed correctly

How to fix this?

Use a registry import…

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,75,00,72,00,\
6c,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,30,00,00,00

…or an ADM template…

CLASS MACHINE
CATEGORY "MACHINE Custom Settings"
Policy "Fix the DefaultIcon for HTTP URL's"
Explain "This registry setting will fix the DefaultIcon for HTTP URL's so that they display correctly. More Information: Sometimes you find that the ICON for HTTP URL shortcuts have a broken icon that references %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll,0 instead of %SystemRoot%\system32\url.dll,0. This is due to a bug that does not consistently set the default type and data for the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\DefaultIcon value. When the icons are not displaying correctly, it will have a default value of type REG_SZ with Data ''%1'' when it should be of type REG_EXPAND_SZ with Data ''%SystemRoot%\system32\url.dll,0''"
KEYNAME "SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\DefaultIcon"
PART "Enter the Default Icon location" EDITTEXT EXPANDABLETEXT
DEFAULT "%SystemRoot%\system32\url.dll,0"
VALUENAME ""
END PART
END POLICY
END CATEGORY

The following screenshot shows the policy setting once the ADM has been added to the Group Policy Object.

Custom Group Policy Setting

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Jeremy Saunders

Technical Architect | DevOps Evangelist | Software Developer | Microsoft, NVIDIA, Citrix and Desktop Virtualisation (VDI) Specialist/Expert | Rapper | Improvisor | Comedian | Property Investor | Kayaking enthusiast at J House Consulting

Jeremy Saunders is the Problem Terminator. He is a highly respected IT Professional with over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Using his exceptional design and problem solving skills with precise methodologies applied at both technical and business levels he is always focused on achieving the best business outcomes. He worked as an independent consultant until September 2017, when he took up a full time role at BHP, one of the largest and most innovative global mining companies. With a diverse skill set, high ethical standards, and attention to detail, coupled with a friendly nature and great sense of humour, Jeremy aligns to industry and vendor best practices, which puts him amongst the leaders of his field. He is intensely passionate about solving technology problems for his organisation, their customers and the tech community, to improve the user experience, reliability and operational support. Views and IP shared on this site belong to Jeremy.

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Tagged as: default, http, icon