Reg file to easily change most Windows icons.

I like to customize the look of my PC, because I look at it more than anything else. Back in the Win 7 era, I learned the Registry hacks required to change things like drive, folder, and file icons. (Part of the knowledge might be from this site.) However, I hate how long this takes when lots of pics need to be changed at once. So, I made this simple registry file.

I think my included instructions say it best:
"//Place all icons in 'C:\Users\Public\Pictures\system icons' folder.
//A restart is required after changing the pictures.

//This looks for the following files
//Drives: c drive.ico, d drive.ico, e drive.ico, f drive.ico, v drive.ico
//Files: bat.ico, cfg.ico, doc.ico, html.ico, iso.ico, jar.ico, json.ico, mp3.ico, odb.ico,
// odf.ico, odg.ico, odp.ico, ods.ico, odt.ico, reg.ico, txt.ico, wav.ico, zip.ico
//Folders: default folder.ico, open folder.ico".

Basically, you don't have to do tons of registry hacks anymore. Just create a folder called "system icons" inside the "...Public\Pictures" folder. Then name each icon after the thing you want it to replace. It's that simple!

Extra Notes:
- Win 10 may display the public folder in question as "C:\Users\Public\Public Pictures", but I have confirmed that the real address is still "C:\Users\Public\Pictures". Confused? You're not the only one.
- If you want the pictures to be stored somewhere else, then just do a Find and Replace All in my file. It shouldn't hurt anything.
- You don't need to worry about not replacing all the pictures listed. If a certain file doesn't exist, then that icon just won't change.

Curious as to what is in the .reg file turned out it has both a .reg extension followed by an .mp3 extension and tries to play as a music file which fails.

I got the same thing, would never trust so stopped there.

The only .Reg files that I use are from Brink.

That is extreamly strange. I did NOT put a .mp3 extention on that! However, I removed the .mp3 extention at the end, and it looks like the file I made. I'm removing my link til I sort this out. In the meantime, I'm posting the contents of my original file. Just copy it into something like notepad and put a .reg at the end of the file name.

EDIT: Looks like we're not allowed to edit our original posts here, so I have to past the contents here:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

//Place all icons in "C:\Users\Public\Pictures\system icons" folder.
//A restart is required after changing the pictures.

//This looks for the following files
//Drives: c drive.ico, d drive.ico, e drive.ico, f drive.ico, v drive.ico
//Files: bat.ico, cfg.ico, doc.ico, html.ico, iso.ico, jar.ico, json.ico, mp3.ico, odb.ico,
//        odf.ico, odg.ico, odp.ico, ods.ico, odt.ico, reg.ico, txt.ico, wav.ico, zip.ico
//Folders: default folder.ico, open folder.ico


//FILE EXTENSIONS

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\bat.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cfg_auto_file\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\cfg.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CompressedFolder\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\zip.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\html.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\jarfile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\jar.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\json_auto_file\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\json.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opendocument.CalcDocument.1\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\ods.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opendocument.DatabaseDocument.1\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\odb.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opendocument.DrawDocument.1\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\odg.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opendocument.ImpressDocument.1\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\odp.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opendocument.MathDocument.1\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\odf.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opendocument.WriterDocument.1\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\odt.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\OpenOffice.Doc\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\doc.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\regfile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\reg.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\txt.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Windows.IsoFile\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\iso.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.MP3\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\MP3.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.WAV\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\WAV.ico"


//DRIVE ICONS

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\C]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\C\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\c drive.ico"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\D]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\D\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\d drive.ico"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\E]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\E\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\e drive.ico"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\F]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\F\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\f drive.ico"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\V]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications\Explorer.exe\Drives\V\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\v drive.ico"


//FOLDER ICONS: 3=default, 4=open

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
"3"="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\default folder.ico"
"4"="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\open folder.ico"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons]
"3"="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\default folder.ico"
"4"="C:\\Users\\Public\\Pictures\\system icons\\open folder.ico"

WandererReece said:

EDIT: Looks like we're not allowed to edit our original posts here, so I have to past the contents here:

Yeah, we seem to be allowed only about 8 to 10 minutes to post then reread/proofread to correct errors or add stuff.

Berton said:

Yeah, we seem to be allowed only about 8 to 10 minutes to post then reread/proofread to correct errors or add stuff.

In the case of WandererReece, I believe new members are restricted for a short period of time. I'm not sure what that time period is. May be a combo of post count and time. It's done intentionally, I believe, to help control spammers.

You, Berton, should not have any issues editing anything. You're old as the hills, like me!

WandererReece said:

I like to customize the look of my PC, because I look at it more than anything else.

Same here, it is shame, that MS no longer supports themes.

Windows 10 Themes Should Include More than Just Wallpapers

WandererReece said:

I learned the Registry hacks required to change things like drive, folder, and file icons.

Thanks, I just change a few shortcuts, they remain after a clean setup, as long as the path is unchanged.
Your method is better, but folders did not change much, is there some requirement? I did this:

Code:

reg add "HKCR\CompressedFolder\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\7-Zip.001\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\7-Zip.7z\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\7-Zip.cab\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\7-Zip.rar\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\7-Zip.wim\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\7-Zip.zip\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\WinZIP Folder.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\batfile\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Join.me.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\Folder\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\fluttericon.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\regfile\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\VirtualBox.ico" /f
reg add "HKCR\txtfile\DefaultIcon" /ve /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Notepad.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons" /v "3" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\Folder - UserFluttershy.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons" /v "4" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\fluttericon.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons" /v "3" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\Folder - UserFluttershy.ico" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Shell Icons" /v "4" /t REG_SZ /d "D:\Software\Temp\Pics\MLP Icons\Folders\fluttericon.ico" /f

taskkill /im explorer.exe /f & explorer.exe

EDIT: Nvm, I just had to enable this to show all folders. “Always show icon, never thumbnails”

Like with OEM logo in System, it has to be 120x120 and bmp. Registry folders did change though, lol.