Windows Explorer Folder Icons

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr.Tinker.Train
  • Start date Start date
M

Mr.Tinker.Train

I am sure this is somewhere within microsoft.com and perhaps the msdn
network, but I have been looking for going on 4 hours now and have not found
exactly what I am looking for. I know you can right click a folder and change
its icon, however, the default icons use 2 - one for closed folder and one
for opened folder. I assume it is in the registry somewhere. I didn't find
any info on both states using the desktop.ini. How can I change the default
folder icons to represent the 2 folder states, and perhaps even change the
drive icons and so forth? Is there some documentation on this within the
registry?
 
The icons are found in this file:

%SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll

where %SystemRoot% is where Windows is installed, typically C:\WINDOWS

To change the icon for a folder: Right-click on the folder and select
Properties from the context menu, then choose the Customize tab
 
As I had said Mr. Grey, I do know about right clicking and changing the icon
that way. However, when you change the icon that way, it uses that icon
whether the folder is open or not. Whereas the default folder icons, in the
registry somehwere for the windows explorer, have 2 seperate icons - one icon
for open and one icon for closed - of course the additional icons if shared,
etc. Is the ClsID for the explorer icons the same on every copy of XP?

I have found a code project program that does this, written in C++, I have
yet to compile. However, where do people find the registry class breakdown /
definitions? Where can I find it in the registry to do it manually?
 
As I had said Mr. Grey, I do know about right clicking and changing the icon
that way. However, when you change the icon that way, it uses that icon
whether the folder is open or not. Whereas the default folder icons, in the
registry somehwere for the windows explorer, have 2 seperate icons - one icon
for open and one icon for closed - of course the additional icons if shared,
etc. Is the ClsID for the explorer icons the same on every copy of XP?

I have found a code project program that does this, written in C++, I have
yet to compile. However, where do people find the registry class breakdown /
definitions? Where can I find it in the registry to do it manually?
 
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