Serious Help requested !!!

from WinCustomize Forums
Need help, beause I almost getting very angry about computers. I basicly wanna change a few icons. mainly the control panel icons and the start menue icons. Problem: I dont wanna use any of the usual programs, like windows blinds, style xp or whatever. I simply want to change them manually by editing the registry or maybe in a different way. I read about changing them by editing the registry. but only one of the icons will change by doing this. the closed folders. dont know the key names for the icons in the shell32.dll. used microangelo to find that out but it didnt work.

so to sum it up. i want to change my icons manually (if possible all). is that possible without any programs, and if who can help?
Thankx in advance
icons
2,926 views 15 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why would you want to change your registry? That is why all these programs were made, so we don't have to risk messing up our computers.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe because Broncobuster is only almost getting angry and screwing up the registry will take it all the way?
Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
I ahve to chime in with the others on this. The fact is that if you don't know how to do something already in the Registry then that is a great sign that you shouldn't do it. The icon changer programs out there exist because mucking about in the Registry is something best left to very advanced recreational geeks or professional geeks. If your computer is making you angry then I recommend staying the hell out of Regedit alltogether.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Maybe because Broncobuster is only almost getting angry and screwing up the registry will take it all the way?




Right on, Bichur!

Ride 'em cowboy!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
advanced recreational geeks


I'm going on vacation for a week... wanders off to computer room
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
oh guys i pity you. I´m not angry about my computer because it doesn´t work anymore. everything is allright with it. i know how to edit the registry, but only one icon has changed by doing it that way. guys like you could make people say that you are lame freaks. i wanted a serious answer in this forum and thats what forums are about, I think! so i hope that i could get some serious answers here now. Thanks!!!
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hi woods! I prefer a computer with a minimum amount of installed programms, so therefore i dont want those programs. besides, these programs are running in background mostly, and when i uninstall them, they change the icons to the standard ones again. i found a topic about changing the icons manually on the www.windowspage.de website. seems very easy but it doesnt work that good and i want to know wy. fact is that you can change the icons by doing it this way! thanks for the serious answer!
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Broncobuster,

I think at the very least you will need a program to hack the 'shell32.dll' file to access the values.

If you are trying to replace current icons with different ones that already exist in the 'shell32.dll', you may be able to do so.

MS does not publish a lot of information about the registry for the very reason that unrecoverable damage can be done. You may want to either Google for a day or two, or purchase a book that has the listings of the registry keys you are looking for.

If you are trying to change the icon images inside of 'shell32.dll', you will definitely need a third-party program to allow you to do it. I believe there is at least one program that will do this job, though the name of it escapes me.

Sorry for the limited information, I only work in the registry when necessary, and I use Icon Packager due to the negligible use of system resources while in use.

Good luck.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You might need to rebuild the icon chache. I think you can do that with the free TweakUI tool from Microsoft's PowerToys. Try that or search for utilities that can rebuild icon caches.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You might find some info at http://www.virtualplastic.net/ as well.
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great link from thomassen!

Found this page there Link

Should steer you in the right direction.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey corky and thomassen!!
Thanks for the great link. Problem solved. tahnks to you. i was just editing the keys in the wrong registry directory. instaed of shell icons, i created my own folder shellicons. so basicly i forgot a space between the words. thanks again and again.
bye !!!!
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
these programs are running in background mostly, and when i uninstall them, they change the icons to the standard ones again.

Glad you been steered in the direction you wanted, but just a little FYI............... IconPackager does not run in the background. It's only running when you're using it. And, it will not change the icons back to default when uninstalled. The only time it changes icons is when it's told to.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
yes, but i still wanna change all the icons in the control panel. for example my bluetooth icon or gamecontroller or whatever.havent found out how that works,yet. icon packager doesn´t show them to change. i manually changed the folder options, the taskbar and the printers by editing and searching the registry. so please tell me if you know how to change them. either manually or with a programm.Thanks and bye
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think you will have to hack the controlpanel files for that. You open the .cpl files in a resource editor, like ResHack like any other dll or exe.