diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/CDebugCorePlugin.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/CDebugCorePlugin.java
index 750dfc92f90..06f628f1993 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/CDebugCorePlugin.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/CDebugCorePlugin.java
@@ -269,21 +269,6 @@ public class CDebugCorePlugin extends Plugin {
 		return dbgCfg;
 	}
 
-	protected void resetBreakpointsInstallCount() {
-		IBreakpointManager bm = DebugPlugin.getDefault().getBreakpointManager();
-		IBreakpoint[] breakpoints = bm.getBreakpoints( getUniqueIdentifier() );
-		for( int i = 0; i < breakpoints.length; ++i ) {
-			if ( breakpoints[i] instanceof CBreakpoint ) {
-				try {
-					((CBreakpoint)breakpoints[i]).resetInstallCount();
-				}
-				catch( CoreException e ) {
-					log( e.getStatus() );
-				}
-			}
-		}
-	}
-
 	protected SessionManager getSessionManager() {
 		return fSessionManager;
 	}
@@ -347,7 +332,6 @@ public class CDebugCorePlugin extends Plugin {
 		super.start( context );
 		initializeCommonSourceLookupDirector();
 		createBreakpointListenersList();
-		resetBreakpointsInstallCount();
 		setSessionManager( new SessionManager() );
 	}
 
@@ -357,7 +341,6 @@ public class CDebugCorePlugin extends Plugin {
 	public void stop( BundleContext context ) throws Exception {
 		setSessionManager( null );
 		disposeBreakpointListenersList();
-		resetBreakpointsInstallCount();
 		disposeCommonSourceLookupDirector();
 		disposeDebugConfigurations();
 		super.stop( context );
diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java
index 115bac421ff..044a1b1e425 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/model/ICBreakpoint.java
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ import org.eclipse.debug.core.model.IBreakpoint;
 public interface ICBreakpoint extends IBreakpoint {
 
 	/**
-	 * Breakpoint attribute storing the number of debug targets a breakpoint is
-	 * installed in (value <code>"org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.installCount"</code>). 
-	 * This attribute is an <code>int</code>.
+	 * Breakpoint attribute that we use merely as a way to force the marker to
+	 * refresh. When a CDT internal, but not persisted, state of the breakpoint
+	 * changes in a way that calls for the marker to refresh, we simply store a
+	 * timestamp (Long.toString(Date.getTime())) into this setting. The platform
+	 * responds to all marker attrib changes with a marker refresh.
 	 */
-	public static final String INSTALL_COUNT = "org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.installCount"; //$NON-NLS-1$	
+	public static final String FORCE_UPDATE = "org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.forceupdate"; //$NON-NLS-1$	
 
 	/**
 	 * Breakpoint attribute storing the conditional expression associated with
diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java
index b05821f0870..663dce41f3b 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/internal/core/breakpoints/CBreakpoint.java
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ package org.eclipse.cdt.debug.internal.core.breakpoints;
 
 import java.text.MessageFormat;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -48,6 +49,11 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
      */
 	private Map fExtensions = new HashMap(1);
 	
+	/**
+	 * The number of debug targets the breakpoint is installed in.  
+	 */
+	private int fInstallCount = 0;	
+	
    /**
      * Constructor for CBreakpoint.
      */
@@ -107,7 +113,7 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.ICBreakpoint#isInstalled()
 	 */
 	public boolean isInstalled() throws CoreException {
-		return ensureMarker().getAttribute( INSTALL_COUNT, 0 ) > 0;
+		return fInstallCount > 0;
 	}
 
 	/*
@@ -215,20 +221,19 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 
 	abstract protected String getMarkerMessage() throws CoreException;
 
-	/* (non-Javadoc)
-	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.model.ICBreakpoint#resetInstallCount()
-	 */
-	public synchronized void resetInstallCount() throws CoreException {
-		setAttribute( INSTALL_COUNT, 0 );
-	}
-
 	/* (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.model.ICBreakpoint#incrementInstallCount()
 	 */
 	public synchronized int incrementInstallCount() throws CoreException {
-		int count = getInstallCount();
-		setAttribute( INSTALL_COUNT, ++count );
-		return count;
+		++fInstallCount;
+		
+		// handle the crossing into the installed state; we decorate 
+		// an installed marker with a blue checkmark
+		if (fInstallCount == 1) {
+			setAttribute(FORCE_UPDATE, Long.toString((new Date()).getTime()));	// force a refresh of the marker through a dummy attribute
+		}
+		
+		return fInstallCount;
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -236,20 +241,35 @@ public abstract class CBreakpoint extends Breakpoint implements ICBreakpoint, ID
 	 * 0 if the attribute is not set.
 	 */
 	public int getInstallCount() throws CoreException {
-		return ensureMarker().getAttribute( INSTALL_COUNT, 0 );
+		return fInstallCount;
 	}
 
 	/* (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.model.ICBreakpoint#decrementInstallCount()
 	 */
 	public synchronized int decrementInstallCount() throws CoreException {
-		int count = getInstallCount();
-		if ( count > 0 ) {
-			setAttribute( INSTALL_COUNT, --count );
+		fInstallCount--;
+		
+		// handle the crossing into the uninstalled state; we decorate 
+		// an installed marker with a blue checkmark
+		if (fInstallCount == 0) {
+			setAttribute(FORCE_UPDATE, Long.toString((new Date()).getTime()));	// force a refresh of the marker through a dummy attribute
 		}
-		return count;
+		
+		return fInstallCount;
 	}
 
+	/* (non-Javadoc)
+	 * @see org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core.model.ICBreakpoint#resetInstallCount()
+	 */
+	public synchronized void resetInstallCount() throws CoreException {
+		int previous = fInstallCount;
+		fInstallCount = 0;
+		if (previous != 0) {
+			setAttribute(FORCE_UPDATE, Long.toString((new Date()).getTime()));	// force a refresh of the marker through a dummy attribute
+		}
+	}
+	
 	/*
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
 	 *