Desktop (and other icons) change after Skype updat...

Question

When I updated Skype to version 7.5 yesterday, some of my desktop and taskbar (also Start Menu) icons immediately disappeared, only to be replaced with standard Windows icons. This involved mostly Microsoft and Adobe programs, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat, but also Google Earth and QuickTime Player.
I carried out a Icon cache rebuild, but this did not restore the original icons, resulting instead in standard .exe icons or blank (i.e. white) icons. When I tried to change the icon for these programs, I got messages similar to this one (for Adobe Reader):
Windows cannot find file %SystemRoot%\Installer{AC76BA86-7AD7-1033-7B44-AC0F074E4100}\SC_Reader.ico.
Since then I've tried several system restores, and while these have always restored my icons, Skype then no longer works. I've also uninstalled Skype (which was a battle in itself!) and reinstalled the latest version, but the icon problem has returned. The generic icons DO open the programs without problems, but I cannot easily distinguish between the various Microsoft Office applications and Adobe programs.
As things currently stand, I can have either a working Skype or my desktop (taskbar etc.) icons, but not both. There must be some way around this. I am sure that Windows Installer is in some way involved, but can't undertand how updating or deleting Skype could affect it.

Answer 1

The issue is still related to the Windows installer.   If you keep Windows up-to-date it should resolve any Windows installer issues with updates that came out after Aug 2014 (unless this a new Windows update issue).  A Windows update at that time create a similar issue due to upgrading the Windows Installer then resolved them in later patches.   The only way to notice the issue was to install any programs that utilized the Windows installer (like Skype).  Some people uninstalled the update but it was a temporary fix (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2918614).  So either the issue you are having is related to that Windows update or possibly a newer one.
You can try this in case it helps but it's generally for normal shortcuts.  
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/49819-icon-cache-rebuild.html
If that doesn't help the only way to repair registered shortcuts automatically is to perform a repair install of the applications that are affected (via add/remove programs or programs and features in the control panel).  This will restore the individual package to icon association that broke.  Again these advertised shortcuts are tied to the Windows installer and registry.  When you create a shortcut to the exe of a program (like msword.exe) it won't have this type of problem and will still display the normal shortcut even if you don't perform a repair of the application.  If you still want to repair the issue a repair install would be best.
The latest version for download from Skype is still 7.5.x.102
Skype 7.5 (exe version)