icons from shell32.dll are not rendering

i am missing all sorts of icons. in explorer especially. all the folder icons
from shell32.dll and basicly all icons from that file show up as generic if
they are not on a large size. in explorer the folders list is not scalable so
they all are just generic icons. and even on my desktop if i do not make them
large icons like my computer and recycle bin turn to generic. i have no idea
what the problem is and nobody else seems to have it. i have tried to change
them manually but if i pick any one from the shell32.dll file they will not
apply. but if i pick them from anywhere else they will. although they can be
changed that way i have to do it for every folder individually. it doesnt
make any sense to me and i need help. thank you