Change Desktop's Shortcut's Icon

[ChrisGreaves]

Here is a quick way to change desktop icon to the ones available to windows.

Hi Jolas, and thanks for this.
I agree that it is quick, but only if that file is available.
My experience yesterday was that only the DOS cmd.exe icon was available, and it was through this thread that I learned to look for the "imageres" file. Without that file I do/did not see the set of icons I used to see (Win7/WinXP) when I used "Change Icon" on the properties tab.
Cheers
Chris

[hlewton]

Here is a quick way to change desktop icon to the ones available to windows.

Hi Jolas, and thanks for this.
I agree that it is quick, but only if that file is available.
My experience yesterday was that only the DOS cmd.exe icon was available, and it was through this thread that I learned to look for the "imageres" file. Without that file I do/did not see the set of icons I used to see (Win7/WinXP) when I used "Change Icon" on the properties tab.
Cheers
Chris

My problem, as shown above, was I was looking for an "imageres" folder until Hans straightened me out that it was a file. Then it became easy.

[jolas]

The imageres.dll in Windows 10 contains icon image resources that are flat looking and many in sizes of 64x64 pixels.
The windows 10 shell32.dll in the same folder location of imageres.dll is also used by Windows as a source of icon images.

Here's a link to the Windows 7 imageres.dll with the "aero" look that you are looking for if you are still interested in this set of icon resources. Oh, here is an icon extractor if ever you have a need to save icons you fancy.

Here is an article that may interest you guys about changing icons of certain windows element and of course the location of the icon resource in windows.

[ChrisGreaves]

The imageres.dll in Windows 10 contains icon image resources that are flat looking and many in sizes of 64x64 pixels. The windows 10 shell32.dll in the same folder location of imageres.dll is also used by Windows as a source of icon images.

Hi jolas.
If I understand this, there are two sources of images available for those of us who dabble in "Change Icon".
(1) There are the old Win7 style in the System32 folder and
(2) There are the new Win10 style held ion the SysWOW64 folder.

Untitled.png

And as hlnewton says, once you know to search for the "imagres.dll" file both sets will be available to those of us who dabble in "Change Icon".

Thanks
Chris

[hlewton]

Didn't know that SysWOW64 one was there but just checked it out and used it.

[ChrisGreaves]

I am trying to change one of my desktop shortcut’s icon to one of windows standard icons.

A Google Search turned up This Page with a healthy list of potential DLLs.
I have spent a few nostalgic minutes wading through moricons.dll (sigh!)

Code: Select all

%windir%\system32\shell32.dll           Standard
%windir%\System32\wmploc.DLL            OK
%windir%\system32\setupapi.dll          OK, Hardware / Periphals
%windir%\system32\ddores.dll            OK, lot of devices
%windir%\System32\ieframe.dll           IE and warnings, mixed ugly
%windir%\system32\netshell.dll          Ugly and non ugly
%windir%\System32\imageres.dll          Ugly, New ones
%windir%\System32\pifmgr.dll            Ugly, Win95 Ones
%windir%\System32\moricons.dll          Ugly, very old
%windir%\System32\mmcndmgr.dll          Ugly, Very old
%windir%\System32\compstui.dll          Ugly, Very old
%windir%\system32\accessibilitycpl.dll
%windir%\explorer.exe
%windir%\system32\gameux.dll            Some gaming icons
%windir%\system32\mmres.dll             Audio
%windir%\system32\mstscax.dll           Warnings
%windir%\System32\netcenter.dll         Network
%windir%\System32\networkexplorer.dll   
%windir%\system32\networkmap.dll
%windir%\System32\pnidui.dll            Ugly Exlamations
%windir%\system32\SensorsCpl.dll        Handheld devices
%windir%\system32\xpsrchvw.exe 
%windir%\system32\UIHub.dll
%windir%\system32\vpc.exe
%windir%\system32\wmp.dll               Media player
%windir%\system32\wpdshext.dll          Battery and arrows
%windir%\system32\wucltux.dll

Cheers
Chris

[hlewton]

I am trying to change one of my desktop shortcut’s icon to one of windows standard icons.

A Google Search turned up This Page with a healthy list of potential DLLs.
I have spent a few nostalgic minutes wading through moricons.dll (sigh!)

Code: Select all

%windir%\system32\shell32.dll           Standard
%windir%\System32\wmploc.DLL            OK
%windir%\system32\setupapi.dll          OK, Hardware / Periphals
%windir%\system32\ddores.dll            OK, lot of devices
%windir%\System32\ieframe.dll           IE and warnings, mixed ugly
%windir%\system32\netshell.dll          Ugly and non ugly
%windir%\System32\imageres.dll          Ugly, New ones
%windir%\System32\pifmgr.dll            Ugly, Win95 Ones
%windir%\System32\moricons.dll          Ugly, very old
%windir%\System32\mmcndmgr.dll          Ugly, Very old
%windir%\System32\compstui.dll          Ugly, Very old
%windir%\system32\accessibilitycpl.dll
%windir%\explorer.exe
%windir%\system32\gameux.dll            Some gaming icons
%windir%\system32\mmres.dll             Audio
%windir%\system32\mstscax.dll           Warnings
%windir%\System32\netcenter.dll         Network
%windir%\System32\networkexplorer.dll   
%windir%\system32\networkmap.dll
%windir%\System32\pnidui.dll            Ugly Exlamations
%windir%\system32\SensorsCpl.dll        Handheld devices
%windir%\system32\xpsrchvw.exe 
%windir%\system32\UIHub.dll
%windir%\system32\vpc.exe
%windir%\system32\wmp.dll               Media player
%windir%\system32\wpdshext.dll          Battery and arrows
%windir%\system32\wucltux.dll

Cheers
Chris

How do you look at a file like moricons.dll without first acting like you want to change a shortcut's icon? I have tried to open it and it asks what app I want to use to open it. That's when I just close out of trying so I don't mess anything up.

[Leif]

How do you look at a file like moricons.dll without first acting like you want to change a shortcut's icon?

Google for something like IconViewer?

[ChrisGreaves]

How do you look at a file like moricons.dll without first acting like you want to change a shortcut's icon? I have tried to open it and it asks what app I want to use to open it. That's when I just close out of trying so I don't mess anything up.

Hi. I agree with "not mess anything up".
We are not asked to open the DLL ourselves.
Next time you want to change the icon for a shortcut, right-click, Properties, Change icon, then BROWSE to that SYSTEM32 folder and THEN scroll through and CHoose the MORICONS.dll file.

Untitled.png

Now that "browse" dialog has an "Open" command, but in my opinion it would be better labelled "OK", so click that "Open" button and Windows itself will open the DLL file to extract and show to you a delightful pencil-scratchy set of icons as shown below:-

Untitled2.png

Just don't spend the rest of today exploring ancient icons!
Cheers
Chris

[DaveA]

You also need to remember that most program "exe" files contain icons related to that program!

[hlewton]

How do you look at a file like moricons.dll without first acting like you want to change a shortcut's icon?

Google for something like IconViewer?

Thank you.

[hlewton]

You also need to remember that most program "exe" files contain icons related to that program!

Yep, thank you.

[hlewton]

How do you look at a file like moricons.dll without first acting like you want to change a shortcut's icon? I have tried to open it and it asks what app I want to use to open it. That's when I just close out of trying so I don't mess anything up.

Hi. I agree with "not mess anything up".
We are not asked to open the DLL ourselves.
Next time you want to change the icon for a shortcut, right-click, Properties, Change icon, then BROWSE to that SYSTEM32 folder and THEN scroll through and CHoose the MORICONS.dll file.Untitled.png
Now that "browse" dialog has an "Open" command, but in my opinion it would be better labelled "OK", so click that "Open" button and Windows itself will open the DLL file to extract and show to you a delightful pencil-scratchy set of icons as shown below:-Untitled2.png

Just don't spend the rest of today exploring ancient icons!
Cheers
Chris

Yep, that is how I have been viewing them. Was just curious if there was some other way.