Vista - File Extension Type Icon - Change

Hello iforall, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Be sure you have tried to change the CSSfile - DefaultIcon (see screenshot below) to the one you want. If it still does not change, then the program Notepad++ may be overwriting it.



Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thank you, Brink !

Now my Vista is complete

Your welcome LordChen.

Shawn

Hello again, Shawn

I have encountered some more issues and am in need of your assistance once again.

I changed the default folder icon ( 256x256 ) but when I increase the view to thumbnail, it changes to the vista default yellow one with a preview of the folder's contents. Also, the same thing shows in the details pane for any folder that isn't empty. This does not happen to folders I have personally assigned a specific icon to( through the customization tab ). I was wondering if this could be resolved to simply always show the assigned default folder icon, only bigger. I don't need folder previews.

Another problem I have with folder icons is with the ones showing up in the taskbar. When I have the navigation pane enabled, the folder icon in the taksbar changes to a yellow one with a green arrow coming out of it. Disabling the navigation pane 'fixes' this problem but I like the navigation pane. So, I wanted to know how I could change that yellow folder with green arrow icon to something else. Just like I changed the icon to various file extensions or the default folder icon. Or perhaps another way to disable Vista from changing the icon in the taksbar.

Final problem. This one is a little more specific to my machine but still perhaps you know what I could do about it.
When I tell Opera to open containing folder of a downloaded file, it will open a new window of explorer but within that window alone, all folders going for the default icon recieve the old vista yellow default icon ( again, this doesn't include specific icon changes through customization tab ). All other folder settings are preserved ( like folder view etc ), though.

As a last note, I haven't used any third party program, only your tutorials to change icon settings.

Thank you in advance

p.s.

I was wondering, with all these complicated problems stemming from so many path locations pointing to the wrong ico file, why can't one change the .dll file containing the old ugly yellow vista folder ico to have my new ico. This way, with one stone, you kill a flock of birds. Sure, its risky but what is system restore for !

Hi LordChen,

You could turn off thumbnail previews to fix the first problem.


I do not know how to change that open folder icon (yellow folder with green check) in the Taskbar button though. LOL, I wasn't even aware that disabling the Navigation Pane allowed the new Open Folder icon (green circle with arrow) to be displayed instead.

You could change the default folder icon from the Folder key's (step 6) DefaultIcon subkey in the registry. However, it does not affect the icon that you want to change in the Taskbar button.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Turning off thumbnails helped, thanks. Should have seen it myself.

I have already changed the Folder key's DefaultIcon subkey in the registery but it still doesn't affect the folder icons shown while exploring with WinRar or after opening a new explorer window using Opera or Firefox ( they come up as the vista default yellow ones ).

I guess this has to do with the actual program in question and isn't as easy to solve as thumbnail view.

The Folder key only affects the standard yellow folder. Every special folder will have it's own DefaultIcon setting as well. Plus, a program can also overwrite the icon with one of it's own instead like ZIP folders. It's just a matter of tracking down the correct DefaultIcon subkey for it. It's not always so easy though.

You might also give the 15 day trial version of Vista Manager a try. It will help make icon changes easier to do when you have a bunch to do at one time. It is located at Custimization and Icon Manager in the left side of the program. You only have 15 days to change what you want before the trial period is over, but the changes you have made will remain even after you uninstall Vista Manager later or decide to purchase it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thank you very much, Shawn.

Your welcome LordChen.

Mm, since I also was tired of using programs as IconPackager and other, I decided to code one myself, it is currently in beta (but the main part of it does work 100%).. It's called Extension Manager, (v0.3A, v0.4A is under dev). What it does is to provide a UI for the registry steps as described above (+ it also has a "change drive icon" feature).


RapidShare: Easy Filehosting
That's the DL link of v0.3A.
(Needs Framework 3,5 as far as I remember).

Screenies:



Anyways, I'm not posting this for any "commercial" purpose, but just to help people, if any admin sees this as any kind of commercial or other unwanted material, I understand so.


Feedback & Suggestions are as always welcome, with your opinions I can make tha app better.