Where are system icons

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ken
  • Start date Start date
Ken,

Most of the icons (shell folders) are located within the Shell32.dll file. Those are called 'Resources'. You can view them by:
* Creating a sample shortcut to an application and changing it's icon (Change Icon) and browsing thru c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll
* third-party icon viewers.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k


I was wondering where the icons for various system items,
such as folders, are located.
 
Is it possible to add or change the icons in the
shell32.dll file? For instance, I would like to change
the open and closed folder icons for windows explorer.
The view file types application does not let me change
the icon for folders.
Ken
-----Original Message-----
Ken,

Most of the icons (shell folders) are located within the
Click to expand...
Shell32.dll file. Those are called 'Resources'. You can
view them by:
* Creating a sample shortcut to an application and
Click to expand...
changing it's icon (Change Icon) and browsing thru
c:\windows\system32\shell32.dll
* third-party icon viewers.

--
Ramesh - Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k


"Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in
Click to expand...
message news:[email protected]...
 
Shell Icons
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons]
"Number from list below"="Path to icon, Icon index"The list below specifies the number for the default shell icons.

The path to icon is a dos path to the icon, in a registry file remembe to use \\ (regedit rmoves one \ when merging).

The icon index is used when the icons are coming from a binary file like a .dll or .exe. It is the position of the icon in the file (a negitive number is the inverse of the resource ID). Omit the comma and Icon Index when using an .ICO file.

To get the index create a shortcut, right click and choose Properties, then Change Icon, then Browse. Select the file and click open. The icons are numbered from 0 downwards then across.

Icons can also be set under the Default Icon setting for the object in HKEY_ROOT (which is where Windows stores its' icon information), the Shell Icon setting overrides this.

Value Description
0 Unknown File Type
1 Default Document
2 Default Application
3 Folder
4 Open Folder
5 5.25 inch Floppy
6 3.5 inch Floppy
7 Removable Drive
8 Hard Drive
9 Network Drive
10 Network Disconnected
11 Cd-rom Drive
12 Ram Drive
13 Globe
14 Network Pipes ?
15 Desktop
16 Print Manager
17 Network Neighborhood
18 Workgroup
19 Program
20 Document Folder
21 Settings
22 Find
23 Hint
24 Command
25 Screen Saver
26 Docking
27 Display
28 Sharing Overlay (Hand)
29 Shortcut Overlay (Small Arrow)
30 Default Printer Overlay (Small Tick)
31 Recycled Empty
32 Recycled Full
33 Dial-up Networking
34 Desktop
35 Control Panel
36 Program Groups
37 Printers
38 Font
39 Start Menu settings
40 Audio Cd
44 Log Off
45 May not apply to Win98
46 May not apply to Win98

Download a zip file called http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/images/openfolder.zip containing a green open icon and registry file that makes the current open folder in Explorer green. In later versions of the shell the icon index must be specified (which is 0) and an extra reg file has been added (15/9/00). .

Also see http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/iconlist.html
 
Back
Top