Changing file icons in Windows Explorer---- How?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robert
  • Start date Start date
R

Robert

Here's what I do:

I go to Tools/Folder Options/File Types

I select MP3 Winamp Media File


I click Advanced

I click Change Icon

I change the icon and close the windows.

Everything is fine. The Winamp Media files have the icon I want.

Now I shut down the computer. When I reboot, the settings are lost
and it reverts back to the old icon I don't want.

How do I get it to remember the new icon setting?

Thanks.
 
Hi Robert,

As I recall, WinAmp controls media icon association in it's own options.
Chances are that those file associations are being re-written by WinAmp's
settings.

I installed WinAmp, and here's what you need to do in order to prevent
WinAmp from changing your icon types.

Open WinAmp.
Click Preferences
Under General Preferences, click File Types
Uncheck the "restore file associations at Winamp startup".

You see the two sliders for file and playlist icons? Unchecking the option
listed in the steps above will prevent Winamp from changing file icons for
these file types.

Hope that helps you out. Please let me know if there's anything else I can
assist you with!


--
Lance Zielinski
Microsoft Corporation

This posting is provided "AS IS" and confers no rights.
=========================================================
When responding to posts, please "Reply to Group" via your newsreader
so that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
=========================================================
 
I tried it and it didn't help. Still changes icons back to the wrong
ones every time I reboot.

Robert
 
I tried it and it didn't help. Still changes icons back to the wrong
ones every time I reboot.
Click to expand...

Try it again. Then before you reboot - open the program that you
*want* to have control of the file extensions and use its menus to
grab them. Example: Media Player> Tools> Options> File Types. Also
check in Control Panel: Set Program Access and Defaults and select the
program that you want as the default media player.

I've never used WinAmp but had to perform a similar dance after
install MusicMatch.
 
Thanks for replying but I can't seem to find any of the things you are
talking about.

I don't know what you mean by having WinAmp grab a file extension. I
thought I had it set to play mp3 files. If I double click an mp3
file, WinAmp opens and plays the file. Is that what you mean?

Also, I don't have anything in Control Panel that refers to Program
Access and Defaults.

I'm using Windows XP. I must be missing something.

Robert
 
Thanks for replying but I can't seem to find any of the things you are
talking about.

I don't know what you mean by having WinAmp grab a file extension. I
thought I had it set to play mp3 files. If I double click an mp3
file, WinAmp opens and plays the file. Is that what you mean?
Click to expand...

Yes, that's what I mean. I didn't see the first part of this thread but
from the help you received from Lance Zielinski, it looked like you were
working on getting those file types associated with another program. Was
this not the case?

If yes, my suggestion was to (in addition to the other advice) open the
media program that you want to open those file types. Use its menus to
assign the various file extensions to it. When you do this, the icon for
your mp3 files *should* change to the one that is normally used by that
program.
Also, I don't have anything in Control Panel that refers to Program
Access and Defaults.

I'm using Windows XP. I must be missing something.
Click to expand...

"Set Program Access and Defaults" was added by SP1. If you don't have SP1
installed, you won't find it. Two ways to get to it: Start> All Programs>
Set Program Access and Defaults. OR use Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs.
You'll see "Set Program..." at the bottom of the list on the left hand
side. From here you can designate a default browser, default messaging
program, default media player, etc.

If none of this is helpful (or only partially helpful), post back. Let us
know where you are at at resolving the problem and what it is that you want
to happen next.
 
Set program access and defaults, at least on my computer, isn't in Control
Panel. It is under Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools. That's
where it installed to begin with.
 
Set program access and defaults, at least on my computer, isn't in Control
Panel. It is under Start | Programs | Accessories | System Tools. That's
where it installed to begin with.
Click to expand...

Control Panel> Add/Remove Programs. Should see 4 icons on the left:
Change or Remove Programs, Add New Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components.
These were all in the original release of XP. The last of the four is Set
Program Access and Defaults and it does the same thing as the one in the
Start Menu.
 
I went to Control Panel/Add Remove Windows Components
I have 2 options: Use Windows Media Player or current media player.

So What? There is no option to set it to a new one.

It's set to current media player. What else can I do? That seems
meaningless.

This problem still persists. I have the mp3 files associated with
WinAmp but the mp3 files in Windows Explorer still have the wrong
icon.

I never had this problem with WinAmp and Windows 98.

Robert
 
Your right Sharon sorry. I never even realized it was there I always use the
shortcut in my Start Menu
 
Your right Sharon sorry. I never even realized it was there I always use the
shortcut in my Start Menu
Click to expand...

No problem. There's always more than one way to skin a cat in Windows. ;)
 
This problem still persists. I have the mp3 files associated with
WinAmp but the mp3 files in Windows Explorer still have the wrong
icon.
Click to expand...

Okay, this is the part that I was missing from the thread. Have been trying
out different newsreaders this week and am missing the first parts of your
thread that stated the original problem. And it's why I asked in my last
response where did you want to go next with this.

You want the MP3 extension selected in WinAMP, not in Media Player. I was
going the opposite way with it and putting the association back over to
Media Player. So set the Preference menu in WinAMP (if it's available) to
include MP3. Or try reinstalling the program. That process usually resets
the keys (and the designated icons) for the file types.

If still no joy, use Folder Options>File Types.
Scroll down to the the MP3 files in the extension list.
Hit the Advanced button.
In the top right hand corner is a "Change Icon" button. Click on it.
Use the Browse button in the next window to navigate to the main executable
file for WinAMP. Select it and click Open. In the box below, you should see
the WinAMP icons that are stored in that file. Select the one that you want
to use. Click OK, OK and OK again. The change may not take effect until you
restart the computer.
 
LOL
Usually 10 or 12. I love reading all the different responses to a posting in
here and, in a lot of cases, every one of them is correct. Confusing to the
average computer user I'd think.
 
I have used the folders options routine about 20 times now and it DOES
NOT WORK.

I'll reinstall WinAmp and see if that does any good.

I can't believe this is that big a deal.

I'm getting nowhere fast.

Robert
 
I took your suggestion to reinstall. I put in an older version of
WinAmp and so far it seems to be working.

Thanks.

Robert
 
Back
Top